Adventure of a Lifetime: The Marco Polo Odyssey

When I went to the Adventure Travel Expo last year, I had the great joy of meeting a real adventurer – Harry Rutstein.

Harry is a fellow Seattle resident, and a recognized expert on the life of one of the world’s most famous adventurers – Marco Polo.  Harry gave me his recently published book, and I was finally had time to sink my teeth into it.

Over a period of about ten years, Harry became the first person to re-trace Marco Polo’s 13,000 mile Silk Road across Europe and Asia. 

In three expeditions (1971, 1981, and 1985), and using every imaginable type of transportation (including camels, goatskin rafts, and farm tractors), this journey went from Venice to Israel, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and finally crossed China to Beijing.

During this time Harry also produced and appeared in On the Roof of the World with Marco Polo, a documentary film about his travels.  The film premiered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in 1981.

Following the completion of the last expedition, Harry wrote The Marco Polo Odyssey, chronicling his adventures and authentication of the journey of this famous 13th century explorer.  The book tells the story of Harry’s journey, weaving in a little history from the writings of Marco Polo as well, and how the Silk Road gave birth to what became global markets. 

Combining geography, history, culture, humor, adventure and a love of travel, this book is easy to read, getting you hooked from the very beginning.  It features photos and maps, and I felt like I was along with Harry for the journey as well. 

In Harry’s words:

As journeys often do, my Marco Polo odyssey began in dreams, designed with maps and books.  It began in a love of travel; an eight year old boy’s craving to explore places where ancient cultures lived and still live today.  In the end, my odyssey became “living history” making history come alive by traveling along the Old Silk Road and entering the world of Marco Polo.

The book comes with the DVD On the Roof of the World with Marco Polo.  You can find it at your local bookstore or through Amazon for $20.40.  You can purchase an autographed copy through the Marco Polo Foundation.

Image credit:  Amazon