Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Paperback Travels

The concept of 'world travel' crosses my mind frequently throughout the year.  When March hits I get starry-eyed just thinking about a trans-Atlantic flight and by May I get butterflies in my soul just thinking about medieval streets and mass transportation.
-sigh-
Unfortunately, I do not jet across the world on a regular basis.  I occasionally plan make-believe European vacations in my head and once a year I enter the Olive Garden Italian vacation sweepstakes as many times as possible (http://olivegarden.promo.eprize.com/cit/).  Five years submitting my name has still produced no lucky win. Alas, Europe will just have to wait a little bit longer for this five foot two museum goer, food and wine lover and history maniac (is that what I am?) to step foot on her soil. 
Be still my beating heart and take heart other travel kindred spirits who, like me, love to jet-set but unavoidable obstacles prevent you from actually going.  There is an option...books.
Books?  Yes.  Books.
Every summer I jump into at least one book that takes my traveling mind to Europe.  Two years ago, a biography on Marie Antoinette took me to the inner circle of Versailles and the busy streets of Paris.  Last summer Francis Mayes, once again, let Cortona became my neighborhood and near by Italian regions were my backyard.  So where to go this summer?  I'm not for sure all the places I'll read up on, but here's my initial summer reading list and I intend on getting my European travel fix while sitting and reading on the beach in my mother-land.
La bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language
Every Day in Tuscany: Seasons of an Italian Life
Lunch in Paris
Queen Victoria: A Personal History


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