From the get-go, our final destination was Bir Tawil, a trapezoid-shaped piece of desert on the Egypt-Sudan border. We were so enchanted by this place, that we even incorporated the contours of Bir Tawil into the Logo of the expedition.
Political elites and security forces are often considered as the sole proprietors of no-man’s lands. The decisions (or indecisions) of politicians can catalyze their appearance and sustain their existence, often in conjunction with military and policing apparatus.
From 1945-1990, the border between Bulgaria and Greece was a Cold War frontier. For Bulgaria, this border zone was also the heartland of a newly-nationalised and strategically important sector of the economy. This was Cold War wine country.
For contemporary geography, the idea of an expedition seems a remnant from a bygone era. Heroic portrayals of explorers overcoming physical hardships and extreme conditions in search of fame and fortune are now the subject of adventure films rather than scholarship.
Today we were filming content as part of our partnership with the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). Keep your eyes peeled for more information coming soon!