![]() ![]() But then the reality of war-torn Africa hits home as he is prevented from travelling south along the route he had chosen. ![]() Travelling by train across the desert to Khartoum, he has a magical experience riding on the roof and meeting the passengers who travel up there for free. From Egypt, where he spends time with some tourists from his own hometown of Sheffield, Michael travels south through Sudan, where few tourists ever venture. Then he tackles the biggest challenge of all – Africa. In Turkey, Michael relaxes with a bath and massage that turns out to be more vigorous than he had bargained for. Two days after he leaves, there is a coup against Gorbachev, and the Soviet system starts to unravel - a truly historical moment. A detour to Chernobyl gives him a sobering insight into that disaster and its effects, but overall it is the warmth of the Russian and Ukrainian people that is the dominant memory he takes away. Then, entering the USSR for the first time, Michael encounters the reality of life and bureaucracy under communism as he visits markets and tries to get a token to allow him to buy vodka. In the Arctic, Michael meets a solitary trapper who hunts for survival. In Pole to Pole, Michael followed the line of 30-degree-east longitude from North Pole to South, an incredibly challenging route across the USSR, Africa and finally Antarctica. This episode explores how the success of Around the World in 80 Days opened the door for Michael Palin to tackle an even more ambitious journey for his next series. But he has completed the challenge in 80 days, and with it, he has discovered his passion for travel. Finally, after crossing the Pacific, the USA and the Atlantic, Michael arrives home to find England greyer - and less friendly - than he would have hoped. Michael's journey through China reveals a country and a people most of his viewers had never seen in this way. From here, it is on to Hong Kong and into Communist China, which, at the time, was a closed and mysterious land to most Westerners. India presents huge challenges, but a train journey from Bombay to Madras also offers a chance to meet more local people and capture the character of this huge country. On board, he discovers a natural talent for engaging with people from completely different backgrounds – a style of presenting that became his signature. Gradually, Michael, who began the series nervous about the scale of this undertaking, sheds his inhibitions and embrace the joy of travelling.Īfter a detour overland across Saudi Arabia, Michael experiences a magical voyage on an open-topped boat called a dhow across the Arabian Sea to India. Then it is on to Egypt, where he is thrown into the maelstrom of Cairo life and starts to get a taste for the unexpected. ![]() ![]() Journeying from London to Venice, Michael first encounters the grubby side of that famous city as he does a shift with its refuse collectors. Little did he know the resulting series would become a huge hit, changing the face of TV travel programmes. And fans and friends including Sir David Attenborough, Joanna Lumley and Simon Reeve reflect on his achievements. He looks back on the programmes and his diaries to reveal how the series was made and the impact it had. How ex-Monty Python comic Michael Palin became an accidental traveller when he accepted an offer to go around the world in 80 days, following the route of Phileas Fogg in the classic Jules Verne story. Michael revisits his TV travels and fans reflect on his achievement. Travel Documentary hosted by Michael Palin, ![]()
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