She was the granddaughter of a landscape gardener who worked on the grounds of a castle in Scotland. It was from my mother that I had learned the guiding role nature plays in how we map out the geography of self. Germain-des-Prés that have become my home-away-from-home. In Paris, for instance, there are several small hotels on the Left Bank near St. I’m willing to spend a little more on such a hotel it can make all the difference in the world to a solo traveler to feel at home in the neighborhood. I try to find one located in a lively, friendly neighborhood, one that has cafés and food markets, sandwich shops and small family-run restaurants. One of the most important decisions for me when planning a trip is to pick my hotel carefully. Museums frequently have cafés or full-service restaurants many are open at night. There are also places where a woman alone can feel comfortable for lunch or dinner. This book is not so much “travel writing” as it is “memoir during travel”. Still, there was just enough description of each city to whet my appetite, thus making me want to travel to each locale on my own and experience much of what she experienced. Her stories focused on the emotional impact of her travels more than the actual locations. My only complaint-if you can call it such-was the lack of detail in the sites she saw. I felt a kinship to this author and will look forward to reading more of her travels. And she inspired me to venture out alone (once more) in some heretofore unvisited city with only a loose agenda and an eye for adventure. I felt as if I was traveling with a friend. Steinbach spoke to my own desires throughout the book.

White A Moveable Feast by HemingwayĬomments: There is much delight to be had in the reading of this book, but none so much as one who can relate wholeheartedly to the author. Other titles suggested in this book: The Journey’s Echo, a selection of travel writings, as well as The Valleys of the Assassins and The Southern Gates of Arabia: A Journey in the Hadhramaut, all by Freya Stark Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark, by Jane Fletcher Geniesse Here Is New York, by E.B. As I have not reached that point in my life, I simply live vicariously through all who have an opportunity to do so.įurther reading by this author: Educating Alice : Adventures of a Curious Woman Though my destinations would differ to some extent, I long to be free from the constraints of five-day work weeks, household responsibilities, and financial insecurity.

Why I chose to read this book: The author’s journey is a dream of my own. Recommendation to others: Inspiring to all women with wanderlust or anyone with the desire to simply “quit real life” for a bit. How Acquired: BookCrossing Bookring, begun by fizzfred

Without reservations by alice steinbach