Didier Rousselet, former artistic director of Arlington’s fondly remembered French theatre company, Le Neon, is presently undertaking a 40-day, 800 mile walk from Paris to Berlin. While doing so, he is documenting a meditation about the relationship — past and present-- between France and Germany in "celebration of the spirit of peace." The walk began on March 21 and Didier is anticipating a May 15 return to Arlington.

A Global Reason: On October 17, 2003, at the European Summit, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who was leaving Brussels, gave his proxy to Jacques Chirac, the French President. After centuries of conflict, to see Germany being represented by a French head of state was a powerful and symbolic statement. But this French-German friendship, which has existed for fifty years, is mainly a series of strong relationships between politicians : Adenauer and De Gaulle, Kohl and Mitterrand, Schröder and Chirac. These relationships have not translates into similar strong bonds among their respective peoples. To think that these years of good relations will go on forever may become an unfortunate illusion if we do not pay serious attention to nurturing and broadening French-German relations, if we do not relentlessly work at improving the understanding between the two nations and if we do not embrace the unique opportunity that is ours today. When France and Germany are in unison, all of Europe benefits from this harmony, the Europe of today that is at peace.

A Local Reason: Arlington, where Didier lives, is the Sister-City of both Reims, France and Aachen, Germany. Reims and Aachen are two towns rich in history and were the sites of meaningful events, symbolic of the relations between the two countries. Aachen was the capital city of Charlemagne’s empire to which the two countries belonged.  Reims played a role in both world wars, which were climaxes of the lasting confrontation between France and Germany. The project will help Arlingtonians learn more about these Sisters-Cities and, in turn, enlighten Americans about the history and culture of both France and Germany.

A Personal Reason: Like many French people, Didier studied English and Spanish in school. Later, through studies in history, and work in literature and the arts, he was only sporadically in touch with German culture. He profoundly regrets this fact, especially since the rare German books and movies he enjoyed convinced him that he is on the same wave length as many contemporary German artists.

Why Walking?  By its meditative pace, the images it conjures in the mind of pilgrimages and peace marches, and the intimate glimpse it provides of cities and countrysides, walking is the method of travel best suited to Didier’s vision.

Didier has said, "The travelog will be the story of my journey. It will be a meditation on the common past the two peoples have shared and, most importantly, it will incite readers to visit the two countries and create their own itineraries."