After watching the first episode of the Netflix series “Transatlantic” I was immediately captivated by the show. I was even more interested when I learned that the show is based on a true story. The work of Varian Fry, Mary Jayne Gold, and others is simply not talked about (or maybe I’m just unaware). Regardless, their work and the people they helped save have amazingly rich and hopeful stories that I am excited to learn more about.
When I heard we could actually go on the route from France to Spain that was discovered by a refugee who guided others to safety, I was ecstatic. On a personal note, my ancestors had to flee and quite literally run out of Poland when the Nazis took over, so attempting to understand this experience via the hike was an amazing prospect. I knew that the hike was about 9 miles, very scenic, and had some historical commentary about the famous writer Walter Benjamin. What I did not realize was just how treacherous that journey must have been for those escaping.
Although I am an unexperienced hiker and found the trail to be very difficult, so did those who were experienced hikers. The pathways were extremely narrow, often on the sides of cliffs. In some spots, if you took the slightest misstep, you would literally fall of the side of a cliff. In short, it was no joke. It had extreme inclines and declines where you had to crawl. All of this being said, I cannot imagine trekking through the mountains without proper footwear, clothing, daylight, food, and water. Throughout the trail, there were a couple of signs marking places where Walter Benjamin had stopped, crossed the border, and gave some general context; however, the signs are unable to do the journey justice. The idea of walking through the mountains attempting to cross the border to another country is unimaginable. Let alone doing so when someone is being chased by the Nazis. Similarly, I simply cannot imagine having to travel day and night in a constant state of fear in an unfamiliar country.
Aside from it being unimaginably difficult and terrifying, the trail opened my eyes to a refugee experience. Thankfully, I have never been in a situation like Walter Benjamin, and as a result, I simply could not conceptualize the difficulty of his journey prior to the hike. After completing the hike alongside friends, in a place where I knew I was legally allowed to be, with resources, I realized that making this journey during World War II is a tremendous achievement. The fact that it took me watching a Netflix series to learn about this amazing trek and the individuals involved in saving thousands from the Nazis is absurd.
Overall, physically experiencing the journey of thousands of refugees was an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. Sure it was beautiful and scenic, but even attempting to complete their journey under much better conditions will stick with me forever. In case you could not tell, this was truly a life changing experience that opened my eyes to the real bravery and courage of those who embarked on this journey in pursuit of freedom and safety.
Revolutionary Cities 