That's something I've never done but is a necessary element of a story I'm working on. I'd be interested in recommendations for stories, preferably on SOL, covering car travel between the UK and the continent so I can avoid making my version too unrealistic.
Cheers, AJ
Well, there's the small matter of crossing the English Channel. Ferry, or chunnel?
One requirement is to leave as little a paper trail as possible. I was veering towards the chunnel.
AJ
One requirement is to leave as little a paper trail as possible. I was veering towards the chunnel
Either Chunnel or Ferry would require a ticket and documents checked.
Even crossing as a foot passenger and hiring a car would need a some form of ID and credit card, unless you can find a rental place that would take cash? These days, most places will take a copy of ID and need some kind of proof of License.
Some friends of mine do that (go as foot passengers and rent in France) as it can be cheaper than paying to transport the car.
Hope that helps.
It's getting to the point where any travel across a border generates electronic and/or paper trails. Vehicle rental, at least here in the states, has required ID and proof of license for at least the last 30 years.
If they haven't already, I can see the EU putting all travel documentation into a single database to ease tracking individuals if the need arises.
Without hacking or some other cyber mischief, you either go on a private plane, or tramp on a commercial ship. That information is fifteen years old, but I believe still valid.
Driving these days is very problematic in areas of high surveillance such as most major European cities. Try driving around London, Paris, Milan, Berlin, etc and take note of the cameras. I doubt you can drive five minutes in any of those places without being tagged by a camera. Not just the camera, but facial recognition software associated with them.
A old motorcycle would take care of a lot of the Camera problems as it gives you an excuse to hide your face with a helmet. It comes with its own problems, but for tracking purposes, it's your best option. It is also possible to hitch rides on a lorry, but that also comes with its own problems.
***** SPOILER ALERT *****
Protagonist is a 14yo boy. His mum has volunteered to drive him to Italy and back so he can steal back an item the Italian government stole from him.
Since Italy is in the Schengen zone, I assume the pair will be able to get in and out of Italy by road without problems, but once the Italian government discovers the object is missing, they might monitor the airports for British travellers.
I have no idea of what might happen were the Italian government to issue a European Arrest Warrant.
AJ
Corona?
if I were trying to get to the med in secret, I'd take a small sailboat. Although Biscay can be brutal, small yachts regularly make the trip and slip unobserved between countries. Nobody cares.
As for being hunted by the Italian authorities, perhaps being hunted by the Vatican is a classic trope?
As for being hunted by the Italian authorities, perhaps being hunted by the Vatican is a classic trope?
While I will admit that once in while the Italian police have sometimes shot first and asked questions later, The Vatican can just make people disappear. And they have a very long reach and even longer memories.
As far as leaving a paper trail, if one knows what they are doing, there are almost always vehicles for sale without bothering with such silly thing as papers.
The Vatican can just make people disappear. And they have a very long reach and even longer memories.
I'm no fan of the Vatican by a long shot. However, I've read many second hand reports of such activities but have yet to find any solid documentation of them. Do you happen to know of a source for the latter point?
A sailboat can work, assuming you know how to sail, and assuming no run in with EU naval and coast guard operations regarding human and drug trafficking. That's been exasperated by the African refuge operations on top of that.
https://www.operationsophia.eu/about-us/
Still it's an option, probably slightly safer than a car.
Schengen zone
Awnlee, I have no idea how Brexit has affected the shengen area. I believe it was established for free travel between countries in the EU. Brexit may have changed that.
I have no idea how Brexit has affected the shengen area. I believe it was established for free travel between countries in the EU. Brexit may have changed that.
No. The UK was always outside Schengen, not sure what Ireland's status is. Covid-19 could be a problem.
I was in the bank today and 3 men walked in wearing masks.
Everyone in the bank trembled at the thought of Covid-19
Then there was a massive sigh of relief as the 3 men pulled guns. They were only there to rob the bank
On that note, it's very rare that I agree with Donald Trump on anything, but in this case:
Around a week ago I read an account of a young man in Wuhan who caught Covid-19 and almost died. He was not even tested until it had been blindingly obvious for a while what he had. Four or five family members appeared to have caught it from him but they were not seriously ill so the authorities did not bother testing them.
From that I gleaned:
- far more people caught it than in the official statistics.
- the death figures are probably a lot closer to the true picture.
Bottom line, the percentage who die from it will be a lot less than the 3.5% I have seen.
Having said that, other statistics indicate it is fairly harmless until you get to the 50-59 age group, worse for 60-69 and much worse for 70+. Those with respiratory and cardiac problems are affected worst. If Covid-19 in its current version really takes hold, both the SOL Readership and the Authors are really going to take a hit.
Another group which was hit hard in China was the doctors.
As far as the long memories go, look how long it took them to admit that Galileo was correct.
I'm aware of that point. I'm also aware of rumors for disappearing people etc. All of which is poorly documented.
I'd like to find some solid documentation as anytime I try to argue the point, it circles back to that. Oh well...
I'd like to find some solid documentation
I think there are some stone tablets in the Vatican archives.
Easiest way to get to Italy & back anonymously is take a coach holiday and give a slightly wrong spelling when booking. so if the name is Jones give Joens.
You can leave a coach trip anywhere you want and if you tip the courier rejoin it anywhere on the route.
In continental Europe, you can still buy train tickets with cash, no problem. The Channel crossing is the biggest hurdle, plus a 14 year-old travelling alone might get questioned (faint chance, but still possible). Paying cash for train tickets takes away the need to present ID. It is even safer taking secondary train connections, i.e. not the TGV. The French-Italian border is not a problem either; there are also any number of mountain passes and old Alpine military roads between the countries. If the guy is fit, he can ride a road bicycle across the border, wearing a fancy jersey, and he'll be taken for one of the thousands of wannabe racers.
So, you're the Brit. Figure out a way to get across the Channel. Perhaps going via Jersey? There were no ID checks when we went to Jersey from the French mainland and back.