Do we all descend from Charlemagne (in Dutch 'Karel de Grote')? Yes, most of us - just like you and me - white 'homo sapiens' in Europe descend from this king that lived 1,200 years ago. Sensational for you? For me not.
Most of the time our ancestors of more than three generations ago hardly feel close or familiar. Most of the time they feel as strangers. Most of the time I am indifferent about their dreams, tears and fears.
Last Sunday I walked for four hours. My first "big" walk since I finished the Nijmeegse Vierdaagse two months ago. I realized that walking brings me most close to our ancestors of 100 or 500 or 1,000 or 1,200 or 2,000 or 10,000 years ago. Not books. Not music. Not food. Not a film. Not a documentary. Walking!
Walking as historical sensation. Dust on the road. The need for drinking and eating. The limitations of the (walking) body. Never really know what comes next. Strangers. Cautious and scanning looking people. Dogs. In the back of your mind know and remind where home is. Follow the sun for orientation. Scan the sky for rain. ... In this respect life hardly changed since 10,000 years.
