https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m Made with whimsy en-us 2020-11-04 13:29:52 UTC 2025-10-29 10:56:51 UTC hello@padlet.com 24a1t01 https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m/wish/889808389 Marco Polo and 2 Americans, Denis Belliveau and Francis O'Donnell, started their journey here. ]]> 2020-11-04 13:33:04 UTC https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m/wish/889808389 24a1t01 https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m/wish/889849085 Marco Polo and the American's first stop was Israel. In Jerusalem,  Polo had obtained holy oil from the church of the holy Sepulchre. Belliveau and O'Donnel collected some of the same. This is one similarity between Belliveau and O'Donnel's trip and Polo's account. ]]> 2020-11-04 13:42:56 UTC https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m/wish/889849085 24a1t01 https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m/wish/889926388 While traveling to Balkh, Belliveau, O'Donnel, and their bodyguards encountered a firefight. The soldiers that detained the travelers were from a tribe called the Hazaras, believed to be descendants of medieval Mongol Warriors. The same group had ambushed Marco Polo about 700 years before. This is another similarity between the travelers and Marco Polo's trip. ]]> 2020-11-04 14:01:35 UTC https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m/wish/889926388 24a1t01 https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m/wish/890037666 In order to get into middle China, Belliveau and O'Donnell had to drive on a secret road not far from where China does their nuclear testing. The travelers had to drive during the night and hide their car in the day to avoid being caught. This is one example of the challenges the travelers faced reflecting on the differences in time periods. ]]> 2020-11-04 14:25:33 UTC https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m/wish/890037666 24a1t01 https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m/wish/891335391 Unlike Polo, Belliveau and O'Donnell did feel like they were at home in Beijing at all. They had this view because they were exhausted, homesick, and felt like they did not belong. ]]> 2020-11-04 18:48:06 UTC https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m/wish/891335391 24a1t01 https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m/wish/891516289 Belliveau and O'Donnell visited Dunhuang and I would like to travel to there as well to see the buildings, colors, and food. ]]> 2020-11-04 19:27:54 UTC https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m/wish/891516289 24a1t01 https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m/wish/892591256 One of the main lessons the travelers learn is that the present is what matters most, not the past or the future. This is because the past has already happened and cannot be changed, and the future is yet to come. So, the most important thing is the present because it is happening now, and it is the only time we can be in control. ]]> 2020-11-05 03:25:28 UTC https://padlet.com/24a1t01/kwpo4t5ty1o7387m/wish/892591256