so I begin by asking a question; it’s not new in fact far from it. why the incessant wanderlust inherent in human nature? at this time in our history we have the ability to trace the ancestry of the entire human race (that’s right, THE ENTIRE) back to it’s origins in east africa some 200000 years ago via the matrillineal line. mindboggling. from there apparently some 80000 years ago the movement began until we ended up in all the far flung corners of the globe. so in fact we are all related.

our cultural and religious variations developed in isolation. how could we have been open and accommodating to the ways of others without fear, anger and suspicion? how could we have known we were all related anyway which may have offered a means to get along. over millennia not much has changed. our curiosity remains however to see and engage with the world, given the opportunity. perhaps now it is more important than ever while it is still possible with the advent of relatively cheap air travel before the window closes perhaps due to energy and above all climate change considerations.

so this picture of a port somewhere in southern europe symbolises a begining; the start of a journey to who knows where. hopefully a journey that will foster better relatedness with others, better tolerance and understanding of the differences between us. after all we are all related.