Welcome to Travelers' Tales

Antarctica Concerto

Except for the gangway’s frenzied chunk-chunk against the flank of the anchored ship, the Antarctic blizzard furies around us in eerie silence. The captain of our converted ice-breaker has sought shelter in the flooded caldera of Deception Island, an ancient volcano north of the Antarctic Peninsula. Despite this safer anchorage, the Polar Star rolls and heaves in the five-foot swells.

Feeling for the gangway’s ice-skimmed steps with clumsy, insulated boots, I inch my way downward. Below, a zodiac bucks at the end of its frozen tether. Other photographers and naturalists, waiting their turn to go ashore, press against the deck railing above me, faces shielded from the stinging snow by Darth-Vador facemasks.

For a split second the base of the gangway comes level with the zodiac. Gloved hands grip my wrists. One, two...THREE, and I land like a diving sea bird among six other passengers hunched against the gale. The outboard guns us forward. Almost immediately the storm envelops us. We can see nothing but a tight circle of black water inches from our backsides.

Crazy Diamond

I couldn’t really ever tell you why I left home. I’d come up with some superficial reasons, of course, but just so that we could avoid an awkward and unhelpful silence. The deeper truth probably lies somewhere in the inherited murkiness of the human psyche, a monkey’s inclination to wander, always, one has to assume, looking for larger bananas, taller trees, and perhaps a place of fewer predators.

Soon after I had arrived in Texas I read the book Bruce Chatwin wrote shortly before succumbing to AIDS: What Am I Doing Here? It did not necessarily answer that particular question for me, nor did it really help me in figuring out the reasons for my perambulations. But it did at least allow me to ask that question of myself, which before I had perceived but never really articulated: What the hell am I doing here? The particular question obviously had existential undertones which were exaggerated by the author’s untimely death, and seemed to refer both to a geographical place and to the human condition itself—the ultimate existential query. Chatwin’s question, presented as the title to a collection of serious travel essays, cast a cloud of shadowy doubt over the whole enterprise of being a stranger, what it means to be away from our family, and to some extent from ourselves, and I found that useful.

Greek Hospitality

Greece was burning. In August 2007, 175 fires erupted simultaneously from the Ionian Sea in the west, Ioannina in the north and the Peloponnese in the south. Fed by gale force winds, walls of flame descended on houses and villages. The land of sun and light, dreams, hopes and illusions, was going up in smoke. On the 9th of September, Theodorous N. Ikonomou, the President of the Greek Forest Owners Association, reported that “for four days repeatedly over 200 fires occurred per 24 hours. Over 150 arson mechanisms were collected in the aftermath of the fires. 75 human lives lost, including five fire-fighters. There was relatively little damage to ancient monuments but considerably more to Byzantine churches and other treasured buildings.”

Greece was burning; I was outraged. The fires burned through my decades and awakened youthful memories; youthful passion; youthful love.

Cefalo

There exists an inherent sorrow in the Italian culture—the kind that drives you towards theatrical hand motions, delicate flicks of the tongue, and designer fashion instead of prescription drugs. It is grief channeled in its most artistic form. Were it not for Italians’ emotional fragility, there would have been no Renaissance, opera, or Versace.

You pick up on these things when you’re half-naked and stranded at sea. Somewhere during the 40-minute ferry ride between Venice and Burano our vaporetto sputtered to a float. Marco, our captain, is busy slashing his hands to conduct an orchestrated overture in Venetian curses, turning to blame any inanimate objects he can find for his luck; the sky, his dead cell phone, the steering wheel, the sky again. He interrupts this opus just long enough to mention that he forgot to add gas before we left. As he peels off his shirt and reclines against the life preservers, he says all we can do now is wait for help, and work on our tans.

The Worst Motorcycle in Laos

It was a 100cc Chinese make – a glorified scooter, actually – the type of four speed bike that is ubiquitous throughout Southeast Asia. The horn was burned out, along with the electric starter and both turning signals. The tires were bald. Neither the speedometer nor the gas gauge functioned. The silver-dollar sized mirrors looked as if they had been ripped from makeup compacts and attached to the bike with safety pins, spinning freely on their mounts like reflective whirly-gigs. The black paint job was ancient and covered in deep scratches. The hand brake didn’t work at all, and the foot brake felt as if it was attached with a worn out rubber band. Despite its many flaws, the bike held one advantage over the only other motorcycle to be had in town that day: It started.

Gods Who Smell Like Goats

Ulrich, a robust 52-year-old pilgrim dressed in a red flannel shirt, told me, “I want to walk through the world without leaving footprints. It's hard work to be silent."

Sitting alone inside the walls of the convent of Santa Clara in Carrion de los Condes, Spain, I stretch out my legs under the early summer sun, relax my back into the warmth of the bricks, and listen through the silence to the twelve chimes. A fresh-faced nun in full black habit pokes her head out the door. I lean my head against the wall, close my eyes, sigh.

Ulrich the pilgrim started walking to Spain from his home in Austria. Paul started out from France. Others came from Scotland, Holland, Brazil, North Carolina, and the Czech Republic to walk the Camino de Santiago de Campostella (the Way of St. James). The Camino, which became known in the 12th century, is a key Christian pilgrimage to the believed burial place of the apostle Saint James (Santiago) on the Iberian Peninsula. His bones were happened upon centuries earlier by a shepherd following a field (campo) of stars (estrellas).

A Rotten Person Travels the Caribbean

"P.J. O'Rourke and Paul Theroux in a blender."
—Luis Alberto Urrea, author of The Devil's Highway

From Nevis to Havana, Antigua to Grenada, and everywhere in between, be the gecko on the wall in Gary Buslik's strange and hilarious love affair with the Caribbean, and, occasionally, his wife. Each chapter of A Rotten Person Travels the Caribbean recounts another island-hopping, culture-clashing crisis that pits the homesick author against falling coconuts, singing Rastas, topless beaches, cricket, steel drum bands, and even the French. Screamingly funny and often poignant, Gary Buslik plies the Caribbean with shark eye and barracuda wit. Read a sample chapter here, or a Q&A with the author, or even find out why he's so rotten.

"Fast-paced, quick-witted, and dangerously irreverent."
—Elliott Hester, author of Plane Insanity

"I thought I knew it all until I read this book—a must-read for every traveler." —Randy Petersen, editor and publisher, Inside Flyer

In The Penny Pincher's Passport to Luxury Travel (3rd edition), world travel expert Joel L. Widzer reveals his method for traveling in the lap of luxury without breaking the bank. Joel’s techniques are simple, proven, and available to even the infrequent traveler. Let Joel show you how to fly first class on a regular basis, stay at the world’s finest hotels at a fraction of the cost, avoid long waits at check-in and security, make tipping pay huge dividends, be the customer luxury companies want back again and again, and much more. Fulfill your travel dreams now! Read Chapter One here.

The Best Travel Writing 2008 is the fifth volume in the annual Travelers' Tales series launched in 2004 to celebrate the world's best travel writing—from Nobel Prize winners to emerging new writers. These 29 stories cover the globe, from discovering a piece of the past in Beirut to probing the layers of Flamenco in Spain to submitting to psychic surgery in the Philippines. The points of view and perspectives are global, and themes encompass high adventure, spiritual growth, romance, hilarity and misadventure, service to humanity, and encounters with exotic cuisine. Read the Introduction by Sara Wheeler, the Publisher's Preface by James O'Reilly, and a sample chapter, "Philomen and Baucis" by Pamela Cordell Avis.

The Best Women’s Travel Writing 2008 is the fourth collection in our annual series guaranteed to inspire women to take their first trip—or to continue exploring the world with wit, soul, and verve, as so many adventurous women do each and every day. These 35 stories cover the globe, from kayaking a wild river in Patagonia, learning to drive a tuk-tuk in Thailand to finding Eros in Venice. The perspectives are global and themes encompass spiritual growth, high adventure, romance, and encounters with exotic cuisine. Read Lucy McCauley's Editor's Preface and the Introduction by Linda Ellerbee, or a sample chapter.

A dizzying amount of media coverage bombards us from the Middle East, yet little filters through about the experiences of ordinary people. Encounters with the Middle East tells their stories through interactions with 30 writers who go beyond the usual reporting to reveal the simple and poignant ways that life goes on. These writers’ experiences with the people and places of the region remind us that the Middle East is blessed with astounding cultural and historical treasures, and offer moving glimpses of lives unfolding behind the headlines. Read the Introduction by New York Times Best-Selling author Bruce Feiler and the Editors' Preface.

Way back in the ’90s, readers and critics alike loved the stories of women travelers in A Woman’s World, which won a Lowell Thomas Gold Medal for Best Travel Book. Twelve years later, best-selling author and editor Marybeth Bond continues to champion women’s travel in A Woman’s World Again with thirty-three remarkable journeys ranging from the middle of nowhere to middle America. Whether they are exploring identity in Ireland, sharing tea with a carpet seller in Turkey, or apprenticing with the silversmiths of Niger, these women will inspire you to create your own adventures.

What is it like to live and work in the coldest, harshest climate on Earth? The stories in Antarctica: Life on the Ice reveal the challenges and rewards of exploring this otherworldly continent. Through a rich range of wise and funny essays, twenty writers introduce us to a wild cast of characters, share intimate details of daily life on the Ice, take us into a fantastic landscape, and capture the spirit of a fascinating, forbidding land. Read editor Susan Fox Rogers's Introduction, or a sample chapter, In This Dream by Joe Mastroianni.

"These writers have wonderful stories to tell...the book demonstrates the power of place in inspiring imaginations and nurturing creative souls."
—Maureen Wheeler, Lonely Planet Publications
Venturing in Ireland is filled with true stories that transport the reader to the southwest region of the Emerald Isle where a dynamic young society thrives, pubs are filled with lively folk music, and modern and traditional culture coexist in a land where ancient stone tombs predate the Pyramids. Explore aspects of life in Ireland from luxuriant gardens to local stout breweries, from castles and ancient ruins to whale watching in the Celtic Sea. Join these writers as they plunge into Irish culture.

We giggled all the way to the beach reading Jen Leo’s women’s travel/humor anthology Sand in My Bra, nearly laughed our britches off perusing Whose Panties Are These?, cracked up over The Thong Also Rises, and enjoyed even more hilarity when What Color is Your Jockstrap? transformed the “Leo trio” into a coed quartet. Fans feared that this fabulously funny “Empire of the Underwear” series might come to an end right then and there, but no way Jose! Jen along with fellow travel writer and misadventure enthusiast, Julia Weiler, just couldn't resist all those requests to keep the comedy coming. So slip on your sarong, slap on some sin-block, and get ready for the funniest beach read this season with More Sand in My Bra: Funny Women Write from the Road, Again!

The Best Women’s Travel Writing 2007 is the third collection in our annual series guaranteed to inspire women to take their first trip—or to continue exploring the world with wit, soul, and verve, as so many adventurous women do each and every day. These 32 stories cover the globe, from wandering the Sinai desert with small children to learning to salsa in Cuba to climbing a volcano in Ecuador. The perspectives are global and themes encompass spiritual growth, high adventure, romance, and encounters with exotic cuisine. Read Lucy McCauley's Introduction, and a sample chapter.

Seeking the tranquility of a Buddhist meditation center? The raucousness of a rumba club? 100 Places Every Woman Should Go by Stephanie Elizondo Griest will not only inspire but compel you to hit the road—in a group, with a friend, or solo. Divided into sections such as “Powerful Women and Their Places in History,” “Places of Indulgence,” and “Places of Adventure,” this guidebook includes contact information, resources, and recommended reading. Its “Ten Tips For Wandering Women” features safety advice and pointers on how to stop departing airplanes and avoid getting tossed off Trans-Siberian trains. Read the Introduction by Holly Morris and the Preface by Stephanie Elizondo Griest.

“Travelers’ Tales books luxuriate in that complicated, beautiful, shadowy place where the best stories begin, and the most compelling characters roam free.” —ForeWord Magazine

The Best Travel Writing 2007 is the fourth volume in the annual series Travelers' Tales launched in 2004 to celebrate the world's best travel writing—from Nobel Prize winners to emerging writers. These 29 stories cover the globe, from probing the depths of a culture in Jerusalem to becoming a sex slave in Zambia to riding the rails in India. The points of view and perspectives are global, and themes encompass high adventure, spiritual growth, romance, hilarity and misadventure, service to humanity, and encounters with exotic cuisine. Read the Introduction by Tony Wheeler, and the Publisher's Preface by James O'Reilly.

“A vicarious delight for the virtual tourist, as well as an inspiration for the most seasoned culinary voyager.” —Mollie Katzen, author of Moosewood Cookbook

From the casual cook to the seasoned traveler to the serious gourmand, The World Is a Kitchen inspires readers to experience food in a new way, exploring new lands, new cultures, and new cuisines. Chefs, travel writers, and dedicated foodies transport readers into kitchens around the world, revealing the diverse traditions of other countries through their cuisine. Explore the gastronomic side of travel, trying the hard-won and treasured recipes as you go along.