My Holiday: Volker Gerling
What was your greatest holiday? My first long walk from Berlin to Basel, Switzerland, with no money in my pocket. I survived by showing people I met on the streets, in their gardens and in pubs my flip-book exhibition, which I carried on a hawker’s tray. And the worst? Taking a lift when it was raining heavily. In the end he dropped me off somewhere
much effectively, further he than threw I could me into have the walked future, that which day. was So, a terrible feeling. It took me three days to be at one with myself again. If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing? Jogging, hiking, laying in a hammock and reading, having a sauna, eating. If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be? In a treehouse in the middle of the woods.
How about for a dream holiday internationally? My greatest wish is to spend three days in my own little forest and sleep in a tent, even if it wasn’t an international trip. What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever done when travelling? To get into someone’s car if you just want to walk. Aisle seat or window seat? Window to the right. Only in this position can I sleep while flying. Complete this sentence: I can’t travel without… jogging shoes. I love to run, and discover things I wouldn’t discover if I just went for a walk. What’s the best travel tip you’ve ever been given? Everything has its own pace.
What was the most memorable meal you’ve
had while travelling? Near Zurich, old farmers invited me to their kitchen to see a flip-book. When they saw an old man take off his baseball cap and look into the camera with shining eyes, the farmers laughed like children. They gave me bread with goat’s cheese and fresh, sliced tomatoes from the garden. It tasted unforgettably good. What’s the best thing you’ve brought back from a trip? That I can manage to survive just from showing my flip books. Favourite airport to land at? I very much prefer walking or taking the train. What’s the next trip you’ve got planned? My next trip is to bring my show, now based on almost 12 months of walking, to New Zealand. I am so looking forward to returning to your beautiful country.