Migrants are people who move from one place of residence or country to other places of residence or countries, with migrant workers comprising the largest group of migrants. Refugees are different from migrants in international law, those people whose status is regulated by the Geneva Refugee Convention. Recognized refugees within the meaning of the Convention are those who are persecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, political beliefs or belonging to a particular social group.
The main difference between refugees and migrants is that migrants in their country of origin are not threatened with persecution and can return to their homeland at any time. Some migrants also leave their homeland because of extreme poverty and need - but these people are basically not refugees according to the laws.
That is certainly formulated correctly and regulated by law, but does not really improve the life situation for the individual! Wealth (not just money) has to be distributed more equitably, this is the only way to solve problems related with migration!
Back from the attempt to cross the Greater Caucasus on the Georgian Highway in the direction to Russia, Micha and Philipp told us about their experiences along the high mountain road, which leads up to 2,382 meters altitude.
Several times we had reported about the innovative company GentleTent from Vienna, which could cause a stir with their inflatable tent constructions at the various fairs such as the CMT Stuttgart or the Caravan Salon Dusseldorf.
It is sometimes unbelievable how fast development in the caravan and camping industry is progressing in terms of ancillary equipment, which is also true for camper vehicle technology in general.
In Greece we had met for the first time and because there was some work to be done on their really special "Camper mobile home", the intermediate stay of Philipp and Micha extended to a few days.
If someone does a trip, then he can experience lot of things to happen! A saying which basically applies to every traveler, and especially to campers going far away.
There are trends and innovations in all areas of leisure activities, which became particularly apparent at the relevant trade fairs such as the CMT in Stuttgart or the abf in Hanover.
Our already described hike on the Jablanica mountain range had brought us together with a team of trail markers, who wanted to re-mark the path up to the mountain lakes above Vejčani from Gorna Belica as a starting point.
The partly guided tour leads from Shkoder to Tirana, Durres and Elbasan in Albania, to Struga and Ohrid to the lake of the same name, to Stobi, Bitola in Macedonia/FYROM and Vergina, Meteora and Thessalonica in Greece.
Many times we have encountered limits in the course of our project work on the development of gentle tourism and the creation of an easy-to-follow camper route in the Balkans, which we had little or no consideration in the planning of the places to be integrated during the exploratory work.
The purpose of each fair is the presentation of novelties in their industry, but the exchange of information from the participating exhibitors during the trade fairs too, especially when it should reach the traveler and their targets.
In order to continue the preparation of the Camper Cultural Tour through Albania-Macedonia-Greece in April 2017, which will lead through the towns of Shkodar, Kruja, Tirana, Durres, Elbasan, Struga, Ohrid, Stobi, Bitola, Meteora, Rapsani and Thessaloniki, we agreed for a meeting with the operators from Shkodar, Tirana and Struga.
For more than two years, we have been traveling around the Balkans and Turkey within our project work "A journey of Intimacy and Culture along the Roman Roads".
An interesting side aspect of our project "A journey of Intimacy and Culture along the Roman Roads" is getting to know the most varied camping and camper sites and the vehicles located there.
Inside of Turkey the best camp grounds are the BP-Mocamps which are mostly connected with one of the BP petrol stations. The Turkish Government together with the office of tourism has published a brochurecalled “Turkey – Camping” where the best and licensed campgrounds are listed.
Migration almost always leads to problems in two places, at the place of occurrence of migrants as well as at the place migrants have left. This is one of recent biggest problems all over Europe which almost every day appears in the media. (see updated date)
We started our first day in Strasbourg early. One of us had to go to the bakery to buy croissants and warm baguette.
Again, like the years before, we noticed the call of the Caravan Salon 2016 in Dusseldorf going around Europe and the world and it has reached us on the Balkans at our part-time host Alexander and Toni Zampetas from service and accessories trading post in Thessalonica who will make their way to the fair by their own motor home.
As part of our project work, we have visited different camper stops and campsites for you, which are open during the autumn, winter and spring months too and where next to the plots there also are attractive opportunities for recreation, especially walking and cycling routes.
Facing couple of problems which created certain different works have forced us to wait for a long period of time to announce the beginning of our project. But now we can start our journey beginning of April 2014: "A journey of Intimacy and Culture along the Roman Roads".