789

789, I want to hitch with Frankenstein
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STORY

A small group of enthusiastic travelers had decided to organize the first European Hitch-hiking Week.

The aim was to give one location and one time for a rally, and broadcast it to all the hitch-hikers of the world. The place was decided to be the "Champs de Mars" in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France; and the time 10pm on the 08/08/08, hence the name of "Project 888".

150 people showed up from all around Europe and stayed for the 3 days week-end. It was a very intense time of exchange, smiles, and french wine.

2008 : The 888 project On 08/08/08 , hitchhikers from all over the world converged to Paris, for the first european hitchiking week.

• • See the trailer of the documentary project
  • Some pics there.

2009 : The 789 project. On 07/08/09, Hitchikers meet again in Odessa in Ukraine, Eastern Europe .

2010 : Let's choose a new destination ! Helsinki ? Moscou ? Where ever you want ! Just some importants things have to been said :

• • We need to pick a place where many people can come without visas and where we have a local organizer.
  • The necessity of having a local coordinator/support, like an HH club can be the best.

PHILOSOPHY

From the 888 to the 789, hitchikers think that the event is more to promote the concept of Hitch-hiking rather than to all meet up somewhere and have a good time and just drink. This is why the proposal of meeting outside a city was ruled out: we want to be seen by strangers and make some actions in the city ; for example at the 789 in Odessa, we have done a flashmobs about hitchiking to somewhere special and next try to get a lift to the event's place.

New fancy name for 2010?

On 789, there has been a discussion on the future name of the 789 festival/project/meeting/week. There have been lots of pro's and con's about changing the name each year (888->789->6810?) or using an uniform name for the festival/meeting/project/week in the next years. Please brainstorm here and add your ideas :-)

• Hitchfest
• 6/8/10
  • What is original ? 888 or 789 was interesting but there, I don't understand...--MiSha 08:43, 27 August 2009 (UTC)
• European hitchhiking week 2010
  • It was the second title every year and also it's too burocratic--MiSha 08:43, 27 August 2009 (UTC)

DESTINATION

• Kaunas, Lithuania
  • + Keliaivis hitchiking club is operating there
  • + Cheap country
  • - Russian, Belarus, Ukrainian & Moldovan people need a visa

• Chişinău, Moldova
  • + Cheap country
  • + Russian, Belarus, Ukrainian & Moldovan people don't need visa
  • - No HH club

• Gent, Belgium
  • + There is a belgish hitchhiking community
  • + It is very central so more people will come
  • - Russian, Belarus, Ukrainian & Moldovan people need a visa

• Rügen, Germany
  • + very nice countryside
  • + german hitchhiking club
  • + It is very central so more people will come
  • - Russian, Belarus, Ukrainian & Moldovan people need a visa
  • - no big town available

• somewhere in the lakes of Finland
  • + There is a finnish hitchhiking community
  • + free camping
  • + very nice countryside
  • - Russian, Belarus, Ukrainian & Moldovan people need a visa, but not far from Russia
  • - Rectum of the world

Please feel free to add your ideas and help organizing the third hitchhiking European week.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE ORGANISATION OF THE THIRD HITCHHIKING WEEK

Graphic for 789 by amylin.