The extraordinary journey around the world on foot, 100000 km

In 1908, the Touring club de France announced a contest for walking around the world, with an offered prize of 100,000 francs. Dumitru Dan and his countrymen Paul Pârvu, George Negreanu and Alexandru Pascu were all students in Paris at the time, and they decided to take up the challenge, using their own money and resources.





Paul Pârvu, Gheorghe Negreanu, Alexandru Pascu and Dan Dumitru remain in the history as the "ambassadors" of Romanian popular costume, folklore and traditions by interpreting a diverse repertoire of songs and dances improvised and organized on the stages of the great theatres from all the capitals of the world.



The group returned to Romania to prepare, learning additional languages, studying cartography, and doing weight training and exercises for two hours a day. They also walked 45 km per day, travelling plains, hills and mountains in all seasons. They had learned Romanian folk songs and dances and also to play the flute and accordion so that they could support their endeavor along the way by performing their native folklore.

In 1910, wearing native garb and walking in sandals, the group set out on their voyage with a dog, Harap. Much of the route was covered between 1910 and 1916, but Dan's companions did not survive to see the trip's completion in 1923.

The team

• Dumitru Dan (14 July 1890, Buhuşi - 4 December 1978, Buzău)

Was the only suvivor of the Romanian team and the winner of the contest. According to the Contract signed with French Tourism Association, the distance of 100000 km would be travelled on foot in 6 years, but Dumitru Dan had already travelled 98300 km until 1st of April 1916, being forced to interrupt his journey due to World War I and the impossibility of traveling through the areas and the countries who were in conflict. During their journey, 2 members of the Romanian team died and the third member abandoned in the USA.

• Alexandru Pascu (1889? Constanţa - 17 July 1911, Mumbai)

Knew how to play the harmonic, spoke fluently Greek and Turkish and was a student of the Conservatory. He died intoxicated with opium at the sumptuous palace of a rich Rajah from Mumbai.

• Gheorghe Negreanu (1888, laşi - October 1912? Tsang-Sa?, China)

Knew how to play the reed, spoke fluently Ukrainian and Russian and Turkish and was a student of the Faculty of Geography. He fell into a pit in the Nan - Ling Mountains from China, suffering numerous fractures and internal lesions that proved to be fatal.

• Paul Pârvu (1891?, Sibiu - May 1915, Cleveland, USA)

Knew very well how to play the flute, spoke fluently Hungarian and German; he abandoned the contest and remained hospitalized for a period in a Sanatorium from Jacksonville City (Florida), since he contacted a severe polyarticular rheumatism during the difficult route: Siberia - Bering Strait - Alaska.

His legs were swollen and he experienced severe pain. The doctors decided to amputate his legs from the knee down. He taught the Romanian language to the children from the Romanian community from Cleveland for a few months, where he was hosted and received medical care until his death.

• Harap

Was the fifth member of the expedition; he was a small dog of a few months, tiny and black, a shepherd that they took with them in 1910. Meanwhile, the friendly and intelligent shepherd grew and was "approximately the size of a sheep". Since he was black as coal, they named him Harap.

Harap carried their luggage through Alaska, helped them escape from several dangerous situations and wild animal attacks. He would accompany Dumitru Dan everywhere he went, including to the authorities for obtaining the necessary visa ("and Harap and I would wander through the city, through the port, to obtain the visa and autographs from the authorities, etc").

"This faithful Harap did us great services. He would signal any imminent danger and he carried our sleigh full of food and luggage on ice through Siberia and the Bering Strait."

Dumitru Dan remembers this dog with love: "our beloved Harap, devoted, brave, our friend, our trusty companion who had travelled for more than three quarters of the globe and remained with his master, Paul Pârvu, in the USA".

"The breakup with Harap was very painful and I could not explain to him that I was about to abandon him forever. He was looking both at me and at Pârvu, who stopped him by his side and cuddled him, since he did not know what breakup meant. Probably Harap did not know that Pârvu was his only master because we was used to walking with me through the cities and I took such good care of him, giving him from the food I ate. When he saw that I embraced Pârvu and that we both had tears in our eyes, our Harap barked at Pârvu and wanted to follow me. I left the dog to Paul Pârvu and I remained completely alone." (USA, 1915)

Death of fellow travelers

On 17 July 1911, in India, the group were invited to the palace of the Rajah of Bombay. After sharing a meal there, the walkers went in group to purchase supplies for their journey in town. Alexandru Pascu remained to tell the Rajah about their adventures to that point. His companions returned to find Pascu and their hosts had indulged in and passed out from opium. Although their hosts felt Pascu would likely recover, he never woke. He died as a result of opium poisoning and was buried in India.

George Negreanu died two years into the voyage, when the then trio were crossing a narrow mountain pass in the Nanling Mountains in China. In a brief rain during which they were forced to feel their way with canes, Negreanu - at the head of the group - fell onto rocks from a sharp precipice. Dan and Pârvu carried him to a local settlement and then to a hospital but there was no doctor available there to assist. By the time medical care was found, Negreanu was dead.

Pârvu found himself unable to continue in Jacksonville, Florida. Several years earlier, he had wounded his legs during the more than 2600 km walk across Alaska (coming from China and Siberian Russia) on the route Kotzebue, Fairbanks, Anchorage, Yakutat, Gustavus, Skagway and Juneau, and he developed gangrene. Advised by doctors to stop, he remained in Florida with the dog Harap. Subsequently, both of his legs were amputated, but it was not sufficient to save him. In May 1915, he died.

Delay

Dumitru Dan was forced to put his trip on hold due to the outbreak of World War I, but he completed his voyage by 1923. The value of the prize was substantially diminished, given inflation over 15 years and from the War. According to a 2011 Romanian news article, it had been worth about 500,000 Euros in 1908, but was only worth 40,000 at the time it was awarded. He crossed five continents over three oceans, through 76 countries and over 1,500 cities, wearing out 497 pairs of shoes.

Legacy and later life

Dan died in Buzău, Romania in 1978. Dumitru Dan sleeps his eternal sleep at the Cemetery of Heroes from Buzau City, in a tomb that honors his memory, his notoriety and especially his performance of being THE FIRST ROMANIAN TO TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD ON FOOT. In 1985, his record was entered into the Guinness Book.





The young Romanians travelled wearing the Romanian flag over their national costumes and wore sandals. They visited over 1500 localities from 74 countries from 5 continents on foot, they walked for thousands of kilometers on board of various ships, they travelled the sand and ice deserts, the African jungles and the Pampas from South America, reaching 107 parallels (67° North and 40° South) and the 360° meridians of the globe. They broke 497 pairs of sandals and 28 national costumes.





Dumitru Dan, the first Romanian Globetrotter, initiated a journey around the world on foot with 3 other young colleagues, Alexandru Pascu, Gheorghe Negreanu and Paul Pârvu, being accompanied for approximately 90.000 km by the shepherd Harap.

The Start

Dumitru Dan, the first Romanian Globetrotter, initiated a journey around the world on foot with 3 other young colleagues, Alexandru Pascu, Gheorghe Negreanu and Paul Pârvu, being accompanied for approximately 90.000 km by the shepherd Harap.

The Journey of the four Romanian students started on 1 April 1910, at Bucharest, on a rainy weather and would carry them along the meridians of the globe, meeting at the beginning of the XXth century various notable figures, cultures and populations. The four travelers faced all kind of amusing and dangerous situations.

"On the 1st of April, at the same time with our departure, the weather became dark and a light rain began. All four of us were dressed in national costumes and wore sandals, being accompanied by our faithful companion Harap. We left Bucharest behind and headed for Ploiesti — Brasov on foot."

The young Romanians travelled wearing the Romanian flag over their national costumes and wore sandals. They visited over 1500 localities from 74 countries from 5 continents on foot, they walked for thousands of kilometers on board of various ships, they travelled the sand and ice deserts, the African jungles and the Pampas from South America, reaching 107 parallels (67° North and 40° South) and the 360° meridians of the globe. They broke 497 pairs of sandals and 28 national costumes.

In order to financially support themselves, they held small conferences and shows, interpreting Romanian poems, songs and dances in all the great cities and capitals of the world.

The shows were often accompanied by musical instruments, such as bagpipe, jews, harmonica, pipe, flute, reed. Songs like "Banu Mărăcine", "BâuleţuI", "Resteiul", "Ciobanul şi Românul" were performed, making the Romanian folklore known all over the world. "Everybody was amazed by the beauty of these songs and dances and many times people asked us to repeat the show. "

In order to attend the contest organized in the French capital, the young Romanians prepared for 6 months in an intense manner. They studied the route, the climate, the oceans and the seas, the populations, the food, the currencies.

They learned several foreign languages, Pascu and Negreanu - the Oriental and Asian languages, Pârvu - the Slavonian languages and Dumitru Dan - the modern languages: French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.

They set the route according to the evolution of the seasons, in order to avoid winter. They learned Romanian songs and dances. They equipped themselves with backpacks, canes, clothes, guns, cameras, spectacles, musical parts, small musical instruments, flashlights, electrical or carbide lamps.

Africa

Their journey through Africa was very difficult. The tropical heat would burn their faces and the sand would burn their feet. The sandals modified their shape because of the excessive heat and they were advancing with great difficulty. Under the burning sun rays, they walked for 18 days through the Arab and Syrian desert, on the edge of Sahara.

At small periods, a sandstorm would occur, blocking their way and burying them even up to their waists. Water was missing almost permanently and the supplies were quickly coming to an end. A caravan or an oasis that offered them more supplies could be found at large distances. Without being used to this sort of temperatures, the Romanian travelers were subject to extraordinary efforts.

"In 11 days, we did not encounter anybody, we did not drink fresh water and we did not see any trees."

The journey through savage places

The journey took them through savage places, forests and places that were hard to reach. The Globetrotters faced some less pleasant "encounters", even some dangerous encounters with wild beasts.

"In these forests we had to fight numerous wolves and monkeys. During the night, when we slept in trees, the monkeys would come and attack us with tangerines, oranges, coconuts and even pieces of wood. They were so many that we had to use the firework machine in order to scare them away. We also fought other creatures here, such as the rattle snake, flying lizards that would immediately change their color and the hamadryad, a bigger and more dangerous boa constrictor. We had our own defense methods for each category of wild beast."

"Soon we passed through the great coniferous forests and the gloomy steppes, which looked as if they had never been visited by humans. We were often stopped by land elevations that could not be passed and had to be avoided in order to continue our journey. One night we could not find a village to rest. But the night and the fatigue forced us to set camp each in one tree. We set the hammocks well tied to the trees. But we could not sleep because of the wild beast that howled all night."

"When we reached a forest, we asked ourselves if it might be possible to encounter some snakes or some wild beasts that could take us by surprise. Every once in a while, a fruit that would fall from a tree would make us shiver and quickly reach for our guns. Sometimes we would sleep in hammocks, in full daylight and we would see their shadows under the trees. We would stay still, being careful not to make any noise. Many times we would wait for the daylight without closing an eye all night."

"We always tried to sleep in trees. We had special beds made of net and hammocks. In the countries with high temperatures of +40° C", we tried to travel during the night by with the torches lit in order to scare the beasts away."

Alaska

Their journey around the world was very difficult and took them up to parallel 67°, at a temperature of -40° C.

When they reached Alaska, the weather was extremely cold and the temperature was -37° C. The skin from their hands had started to peel because of the frost, despite the fact that they wore furred gloves.

Their supplies were completely frozen, especially the meat, which could only be cut with an axe. The snow cyclones covered them in snow up to their knees, sometimes even up to their waists and the only way they could create a path to move forward was with a small shovel.

Their faithful Harap was harnessed to a small sleigh and would carry the luggaqe.

Meeting the V.I.P.

During his journey, Dumitru Dan and his colleagues met with state officials, dignitaries, diplomats, notable figures from various domains, simple secretaries, police agents, postal workers, doctors, priests or sea captains.

They had the chance of meeting representatives of the Royal Houses, state presidents, state or province governors, ministers, consuls, commanders and military figures, mayors, presidents or directors of organizations and companies, secretaries, police officers, librarians, museum guardians, reporters etc.

Dumitru Dan, "Ambassador" of Romania, would always come in front of the official authorities and on stage dressed in his beautiful national costume, decorated with medals and distinctions received along his journey. He never forgot to wear the Romanian flag on his chest.

Both during his shows and during the various events and dinners offered in his honor, he would speak about his native country making the history, the folklore and the Romania traditions known all over the world.

"Traveling, getting far and far away from the borders of your country and knowing other nations, you manage to understand better the soul of your nation." (Dumitru Dan)

• King Ferdinand and Queen Marie of Romania

• King Alphonse the XIIIth of Spain

• The President of Cuba, Mario Garcia Menocal

• The President of Venezuela, Dr. V. Marquez Bustillos

• The Royal Commissioner of Tourism in Spain, El Marques de Vega Inclan

• The Governor of the State, Maryland, Phillips Lee Goldsborough I

• The Governor of the State, New Jersey, James Fairman Fielder

• The Governor of the State, Indiana, Samuel M. Ralston

• The Governor of the State, Pennsylvania, John K, Fener

• The Governor of the State, Carolina de Nord, Locke Craig

• The Governor of the State, Puerto Rico. Dr. Arthur Yager

• The Governor of the Province Havana, Cuba, Pedro Bustilio y Dominguez

• The Governor of the Province Matanzas, Cuba. dr. Rafael Yturralde Y Sischka

• The Governor of the Province Santa Clara, Cuba, Francisco Carrillo y Morales

• The Governor of the Province Oriente, Cuba, Alfredo Lora y Torres

• The Governor of the Province Camaguey, Cuba, Bernabes Sanchez y Batista

• The Governor of the Federal District Caracas, Venezuela, A. In. Delgado Brunier

• The Mayor of the City Indianapolis, J. E. Bell

• The Mayor of the City Chicago, Carter H. Harrison

• The Mayor of the City Erie, Pennsylvania, William J. Stern

• The Mayor of the City Lorain, Ohio, J. J. Pollock

• The Mayor of the City Liege, Gustave Kleyer

• The Mayor of the City Toronto, Ontario, H. C. Hocken

• The Mayor of the City Hamilton, Ontario, John Allan

• The Mayor of the City Akron, Ohio, Frank W. Rockwell

• The Mayor of the City Niles, Ohio, J. E. Bryan

• Tile Mayor of the City Warren, Ohio, Edward Parks

• The Mayor of the City New Castle, Pennsylvania, Walter V. Tyler

• The Mayor of the City Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Joseph G. Amstrong

• The Mayor of the City Newark, New Jersey, Patrick W. Brian

• The Mayor of the City Richmond, Virginia, George Ainslie

• The Mayor of the City Raleigh, Carolina de Nord, Jas. I. Johnson

• The Mayor of the City Jacksonville, Florida, Van C. Swearingen

• The Mayor of the City Matanzas, Cuba, Jose R. Montero y Broin

• The Mayor of the City Santa Clara, Cuba, Emilio Gonzales Coya Casanova

• The Mayor of the City Santiago de Cuba, Prisciliano Espinosa Julivert

• The Mayor of the City Sancti-Spiritus, Cuba, Judas Martinezmoles y Echemendia

• The Mayor of the City Camaguey, Cuba, Felix de Quesada Cespedes

• The Mayor of the City San Juan, Puerto Rico, Roberto H. Todd

• The Mayor of the City Arecibo, Puerto Rico, E. Landron

• The Mayor of the City Palma de Mallorca, Jaime Suau y Ponce

• The Mayor of the City Soller, Balearic Islands, Spania, Juan Puig y Rullan

• The Mayor of the City Alicante, Spania. Eugenic Boti Carbanell

• The Mayor of the City Madrid, Spania, Carlos Prast

• The Mayor of the City Alcoy, Spania, Francisco Molto Pascual





During his journey, Dumitru Dan and his colleagues met with state officials, dignitaries, diplomats, notable figures from various domains, simple secretaries, police agents, postal workers, doctors, priests or sea captains.





They had the chance of meeting representatives of the Royal Houses, state presidents, state or province governors, ministers, consuls, commanders and military figures, mayors, presidents or directors of organizations and companies, secretaries, police officers, librarians, museum guardians, reporters etc.





The young Romanian artists arrived in the Republic of Peru. The passage of the four Romanians through the areas inhabited by the dangerous head hunters could only be full of adventures.

Meeting the indigens: NOT WELCOME

The young Romanian artists arrived in the Republic of Peru. The passage of the four Romanians through the areas inhabited by the dangerous head hunters could only be full of adventures.

After passing Trujillo City, the Romanian Globetrotters hired an Indian who knew well the habits and language of the Jivaroan people. They gathered supplies and hit the road. After a few hours, they reached the area inhabited by a tribe.

Their houses were faraway from the main road, but a few tribe members were standing on guard and the Romanians could not pass without their permission.

After the guide explained the situation, they had to sound a horn that had to be obtained by the guide. If they received two answers, the Globetrotters could pass, but if they only received one answer, the Globetrotters had to go to their cottage. In their case, the guards only replied with one answer and the Romanian travelers had to prepare for the visit.

In order to prevent any misunderstanding and to prove the good intentions of the Romanian travelers, their guide painted their face in red, with various symbols, as well as their chests and hands, according to the habits of the indigenous. They attached feathers to their hats and they dressed in a special costume, a sort of native coat. After that they left for the cottage.

Arriving in front of the Jivaroan people, they saluted and started a conversation through their guide. The indigenous were looking at the Romanians with curiosity, being mainly fascinated by their weapons. During the discussion, Pârvu observed a big oven that was operated by a strong fire in the back of the cottage. They immediately thought that the Jivaroan people were expecting a white man steak.

With all their rules, the guide explained that the Globetrotters were expected in the city and that they had to arrive there on time. The saluted the indigenous in the same manner and left. But the furious Jivaroan people threw their spears and walked behind them for a few meters, towards the access road. Pârvu was observing their moves with his hand on his gun in order to avoid a potential attack. But they escaped unharmed this time as well.

China - Peking Wedding

"One day, Dumitru Dan and Pârvu were in the center of Peking City, where they examined the Chinese people full of curiosity. They would walk on the streets with all sort of strange costumes, others would pull wagons that transported the audience, when an extremely hilarious show appeared before their eyes.

It was a Chinese wedding. The groom and bride walked dressed in silly costumes and were accompanied by a crowd of people dressed in multicolored costumes. Some of them had a belly in the shape of a pear, while others lodked like circus clowns. Seeing all these hilarious images, I could not stop myself from laughing. Pârvu was behind me and tried to make sure that nobody noticed me.

Suddenly, a big Chinese came next to me, grabbed me and made a sign. Three yellow heads appeared in the next moment and I was grabbed like a package and raised on the shoulders of two Chinese, Sons of the Heavenly Empire, without having the chance to oppose any resistance. I was sure that these people were not taking me to a nice place. Where were they taking me?

I immediately realized. A big gate opened and I found myself in a big, square room, in the middle of which there were 4 Mandarins. Almost 15 minutes had passed without anyone asking about me. In the end, a new character who spoke French pretty well appeared before me. He was an interpreter sent to examine my case.

He looked at me and started speaking in a weird French, which I did my best to understand. He asked me if I was European and informed me that I was guilty of a crime that the Sons of the Heavenly Empire never forgive. You mocked one of the most sacred ceremonies, the ceremony of marriage. You shamelessly laughed before the convoy. If you were Chinese, you would have been sentenced to death immediately. However, you quality of European and Romanian citizen saves you from death since you do not know the Chinese laws. You will not be decapitated and your legs will not be ripped from your body and fed to the dogs. If you were Chinese, the Emperor himself would have commanded your execution since the Emperor represents marriage. Somebody will punish you with the torment of the wooden bar or block.

I wanted to protest, but 4 Chinese grabbed me and introduced my neck, my arms and my legs in a double wooden board which was tied very well and paralyzed all my movements. This board was very heavy and I felt a violent pain. Despite all my protests and shouts, my executioners pulled me outside in front of the people, according to the tradition of the Chinese laws. All the people who passed before me started spitting, others kicked me, while some of them cursed and insulted me in Chinese. This torment lasted for 12 hours and I was a free man again. Comrade Pârvu was laughing and waiting for me. He saw when I was picked up by the Chinese and ran to the French Consulate who intervened for me in order to be searched and released as soon as possible.

China is a great and thrilling country, but the Chinese laws are far too harsh.

This adventure served as a lesson for me in order to stay away from any manifestation in the future. During my stay in China, I did my best to stay away from any manifestation so that my bones would not remain in this cursed country.

As we stayed in Peking, we held 2 conferences followed by flute and pipe songs performed by Pârvu, so we gained enough money to cover our expenses. The Chinese watched us in a curious manner examining our national costumes and our sandals. Our sandals looked like their sandals, except for the fact that the Chinese sandais were made of wood, and not leather." (Fragments from the Memoirs of Dumitru Dan, 1978)





"I wanted to protest, but 4 Chinese grabbed me and introduced my neck, my arms and my legs in a double wooden board which was tied very well and paralyzed all my movements. This board was very heavy and I felt a violent pain."





S.S. Aquitania



Unfortunately, during their journey through frozen Alaska, Dumitru Dan, Paul Pârvu and Narap did not encounter any village. However, they saw in the distance some black and thick smoke. Searching the map and the compass, they noticed that they were getting close to the Bering Strait. They used the binoculars and observed with great joy a ship in the distance.

After walking for hours, they came close to the ship. Although it was not on their route, they made a detour in order to reach the ship, with the hope of finding supplies there.

When they arrived, they saw a frozen ship that they had also encountered in Rotterdam. The sailors from the ship threatened them with their guns, believing that their purpose was to wreck the ship. They immediately informed the Captain and they took them on the deck of the Dutch ship Sekeveningen, which was under the command of Captain Dordhreith.

The entire crew was surprised when they heard the adventures of the young Romanians and offered them food and conditions to rest and to recover. The crew members were impressed when they saw thedocuments of the Romanians, as well as the certificates and documents obtained from cities where they had travelled.

When they left the ship, the Romanians thanked the Captain for his hospitality and for the supplies he had offered (canned beef, a few pounds of smoked meat, sugar, chocolate, conserved fish, tea, bread crumbs, butter and a few bottles of brandy and whisky).

"The Captain invited us on the ship in order to rest, invitation that we accepted with gratitude. We were all very tired and hungry. Anyone who would see us that time would feel sorry for us. Without shaving for months and covered in furs, we did not look very attractive. This is the main reason for which the sailors got scared when they first saw us."

Crossing over the seas and the oceans

A big part of our journey was performed on the decks of the ships while crossing over the seas and the oceans. In order to add as many kilometers as possible, the Globetrotters would march 10-12 hours a day, sometimes in very difficult weather conditions.

The trip from Glasgow (Great Britain) to Quebec (Canada) was performed on board of the "Grampian" Steam Ship from Allan Line Water Company, which had offered 100 free seats to Canada. On board of the ship, on 25.06.1914, Dumitru Dan was vaccinated and received the endorsement of the medic from the ship. The Journey lasted for 10 days and the arrival of the Romanian artists on the American Continent had a great impact in the cities inhabited by Romanians.

As for the journey on water, it was also included in the general distance by adding the kilometers measured with the help of the pedometer wore by each traveler. The distance on board of the ship was then certified by the Captain of the ship. A large nomber of sailors and passengers would encourage the Romanian Globetrotters, being amused by all their efforts.

The young Romanian travelers embarked on the "Rangoon" Ship from "Asiatic Line" Company and were about to travel a large distance from Panama to Tokyo.

"The ship was like a floating city. It weighed 52.000 tons, being the second largest ship in the world after the "Imperator Ship, which weighed 60.000 tons. This ship had elegant saloons, a concert hall, a ballroom, a bar, a theatre-cabaret with artists, international music, a gym, a club, a library a terrace with natural flowers, sleeping cabinets with double beds, but also a print shop that printed a newspaper containing the most interesting news from all around the world, news received through the wireless telegraph. The paper brought international news every week. During the night, when the ship travelled with its fights turned on, it looked like a 15 floor palace in the middle of the ocean.

But there were full days and nights with great storms, during which the passengers would gather in one place, waiting for the moment when the ship will sink or will be damaged. They were all thinking about the life boats and lifesavers, which were not enough in comparison to the number of the passengers. There were days when the women and the children would scream and cry. Some travelers used to pray, being terrified by the fury of the waves that covered the ship and moved from one side to another. The ship became the toy of the ocean. Only those who had travelled on seas and oceans are aware of the damages that a storm might produce."

After a journey that lasted for 27 days and nights without seeing any land, they finally reached Tokyo, in Japan.

"I left for the port and I encountered this ship".

It was an average ship, of approximately 18.000 tons, which belonged to the Spanish Companies "La Maritima". The ship was called "Santo Cristo" and was leaving from Jacksonville, with stopover in Martinique Island. They offered 2 free seats for Dumitru Dan and Paul Pârvu, under the condition that their Passports would contain endorsements for Martinique Island and the USA.

The Captain of the ship presented them to the sailors and to the passengers on board who formed a circle around the Romanian travelers. Unfortunately, Pârvu was not feeling very well. They were all curious to meet them and listen to their stories. In the evening, they went to the bar, where they met some of the great Brazilian exporters who travelled with merchandise in the Antilles and in The USA. During dinner, the two Romanians dressed in national costumes and sandals, wearing medals and the Romanian flag on their chest. The other passengers cheered for them and invited them in the middle of the dinner, manifesting their desire to hear stories from all around the world. The two Romanian artists only told the most important accidents and curiosities, also presenting Certificates, autographs and newspaper articles from the localities where they have passed. The passengers congratulated them, applauded and asked for their photos and autographs.

From Venezuela to Spain (April-May 1915), Dumitru Dan travelled on board of the French Transatlantic "Granville", of approximately 30.000 tons. On the Mediterranean Sea, the ship came across a very dangerous storm.

"The Captain gave the order that all the passengers must go in to their cabins. Anyway, it was forbidden for them to stay on the deck. All the windows from the three rows of cabins were closed so that water might not get in. Also, the life boats and the lifesavers were prepared, for any case, so that a part of the passenger could be saved. But the ship started rocking harder. The waves came over the deck. The Captains were at their stations and were trying to reach the maximum speed in order to cut the waves. They only used one engine so that they could have the second engine available in case any damage occurred to the first one.

Time passed, the ship continued its journey and the storm stopped when daylight came. None of the passengers had slept, not even the older ones, being frightened by the storm.

We reached Port Alicante around 15:00."

During such journeys on water, Dumitru Dan tied beautiful friendships with the passengers who were on board of the ships, but also with the crew members, telling them about his adventures numerous times. We would even organize small shows for the passengers. Being very careful with his outfit, Dumitru Dan always dressed in the national costume and wore bronze sandals in order to shine as brightly as possible.





R.M.S. Grampian





S.S. Empress of Ireland





Dumitru (Demetre) Dan (14 July 1890 – 4 December 1978) was a Romanian geographer, professor of geography and globe-trotter. He took the world record for walking around the world.

Dumitru Dan - Returning Home

"The journeys through Greece and Bulgaria were the hardest the most tiresome and the loneliest journeys for me. In the small villages and communes, everybody was looking at me without having the courage or the curiosity of talking to me. My entry in Serbia gave me a very painful impression. Each commune I passed through, I could only see women and small children. I rarely saw an old person or a crippled person.

Everybody was mourning and most of the houses had an icon outside, a candle on the wall or a piece of mourning band next to the icon. All the women were sad and they were all crying because they had lost their husbands in war. The war with Austria-Hungary from 1914 had started in Serbia."

After 6 years, Dumitru Dan returned to his country, in March 1916, alone, from an extraordinary journey.

"When I saw myself on Romanian land (Turnu-Severin), I thanked God and sent telegrams to Bucharest, to my friends, to Buzău, to Bacău - to my relatives, informing all of them about my arrival in Romania. Our encounter was a dramatic one. Everybody was kissing me and they were all crying with joy that I have returned to my country in good condition. A lot of people knew me in Bacău and the news of my arrival had already spread. I was invited to the Prefecture of the County, where a reception was organized in my honor. The Mayor of the city, lawyers, officers from the Court, workers from the factories, as well as workers from all over the institutions took part in the reception and came to see me and to congratulate me for my arrival and for my success."

The show must go on!

Along with his comrades, Gheorghe Negreanu, Alexandru Pascu and Paul Pârvu, Dumitru Dan remains in the history as one of the "ambassadors" of Romanian popular costume, folklore and traditions by interpreting a diverse repertoire of songs and dances improvised and organized on the stages of the great theatres from all the capitals of the world. We must also keep in mind the extraordinary physical and mental effort of the young Romanian travelers and artists, reason for which their story must go on.

"With all the visits and walks through the city, I could not believe that I was alone after returning to the hotel: I had forgotten about Pascu and Negreanu, but I could not forget about Pârvu. I was thinking of all the cities and countries that we visited together, about all the people that Pascu entertained with his harmonica and Negreanu and Pârvu entertained with their reed and flute. Those comrades had left me alone.

Loneliness was very sad for me, especially among strangers, other countries, fields, forests, etc... It was pretty difficult to think about the fact that I could not verify the map and the land with anyone and that I could not ask the advice of another person in the case of presidential visits, governmental visits or shows.

It was especially hard to organize a show by my own. The Romanian band had disappeared. I was alone. But still I encouraged myself, I had to go on, I had to defeat all the obstacles, I had to finish my journey, I had to receive the 100 000 francs prize and more important I had to receive the title of World Champion."

Their journey around the world brought numerous funny and beautiful adventures, but also sad, dangerous, critical or even desperate adventures. They experienced adventures with the Custom representatives, tribes and dangerous populations, miners or gold diggers who did not value their life, the frightening head hunters, Scottish suffragettes, Kings, Presidents or Generals in full revolution, thieves and robbers, actors, wild animals or dangerous insects, natural obstacles or full orange meadows appeared only after a few months from the terrible colds in Alaska.

The young Romanians met with various nations and cultures, saw beautiful landscapes, splendors of nature, visited museums, theatres, libraries, palaces. They slept under the clear sky, in trees, in modest hotels or in luxurious places where they were invited by their generous hosts. Three of them died far away from their country. Dumitru Dan was the only one who managed to reunite with his family and friends and could enjoy telling his story that was forgotten by time.

"More than the cash prize offered by the French Society Touring Club de France, I appreciated the welcome performed in my country and abroad by the French athletes, the Romanian athletes and the population of the Capital. My journey around the world was registered in the history of world tourism as the most daring and the biggest journey performed on foot. I am happy that I could offer this honor to my country. Also, I am pleased with the fact that after spending 6 years all around the world, suffering various injuries and passing through different adventures, seeing how the world looked like back then, I managed to return to Romania, my beloved country."

Dumitru Dan sleeps his eternal sleep at the Cemetery of Heroes from Buzău City, in a tomb that honors his memory, his notoriety and especially his performance of being THE FIRST ROMANIAN TO TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD ON FOOT.





Objects that belonged to Dumitru Dan





Objects that belonged to Dumitru Dan





Objects that belonged to Dumitru Dan





During his journey, Dumitru Dan and his colleagues met with state officials, dignitaries, diplomats, notable figures from various domains, simple secretaries, police agents, postal workers, doctors, priests or sea captains.



Source: Buzău County Museum, the exhibition A journey around the world on foot. The story of 497 pairs of sandals.

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