Thursday, May 23, 2019

Armchair travels to some Novel Destinations



We remain in 'detention' (as we call it) here - unable to leave Greece while awaiting those credit-card sized permanent residency permits, aka, our tickets to travel outside Greece.




Road trips will be what we do this spring in Greece

The latest update on our renewal status was that the review process has become 'more detailed and complicated after the system update'. . .hmmm. Does that sound ominous to anyone else but me?

Morning on Hydra Island 


We are both feeling the travel bug's itch though and with Greece having an estimated 160 to 227 (depending on the source) inhabited islands, we are going to make the most of as many of them as we can while living here.

This weekend we are returning to one we visited a decade ago; so long ago that most of the details of that trip have faded. I do remember the pounding rainstorm we had there - the one that kept ferries from coming to the island because the sea was so rough.  The Scout, on the other hand, remembers the wonderful walk we took when the rain let up a bit. Funny, how memories differ when looking back on trips.

Ferry arrives at Poros Island

I'll tell you more about this island next week but since the focus of today's post is armchair travel and novel destinations, I'll give you a teaser about the island:  John Fowles conceived the idea of his novel Magus while he lived on this island in the 1950's teaching English.  It took him 12 years to complete the book that has often been called the 'cult novel of the 20th Century."  Any guesses based on that clue as to where we are going?

We have had a few great 'novel' and 'not so novel' getaways in recent months so join us in some armchair travels:

Greece:  

Sailing to a Greek island


Yes, I know we live in Greece, but I love getting insights into this country's history through novels.  Patricia Wilson, a novelist living on Rhodes, took us back in time in her books, Villa of Secrets, set in Rhodes and her Island of Secrets, set in Crete. Both novels are based on actual events that took place during World War II and the tales were so interesting that we read the books back-to-back and had to impatiently wait for the arrival of her most recent book, Secrets of Santorini (which just came out).  You want a great get-away, I guarantee these books will take you there.

India:

The Taj Mahal Hotel - Mumbai, India


Sujata Massey's novel, The Widows of Malabar Hill, is a mystery book set in 1920's India. In it she introduces her character Perveen Mistry, Bombay's only female lawyer and a mystery sleuth as well.  I am delighted to see she is keeping this character around and has just had her next book in this series published. As a former newspaper reporter, I love seeing reporters-turn-writers. Massey was a reporter for the Baltimore Evening Sun before becoming a full-time novelist.


Not so Novel Destinations

Me at the real - not movie version - Bramasole


So many long years ago Frances Mayes with her Under the Tuscan Sun tales got me to thinking that 'one day' we just might have a similar adventure.  The book, now more than 20 years old, is still one of my favorites. I am re-reading it again this summer for a taste of Tuscany. . .and recommend it as a great armchair getaway. For those of you who've seen the movie, do read the book as she has practical things like mouth-watering recipes as well as inspirational tales of taking a leap into the unknown. It is particularly interesting to see where that leap took her: she and Ed sell Bramasole-labeled olive oil and wine, she just wrote another book about Italy, this one a travel guide, Meet Me in the Piazza and was interviewed at Bramasole on U.S. television's, CBS Sunday Morning.

When I finish with Frances I am moving on to Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence as he was another that helped formulate my daydreams. Mr. Mayle died last year and his last book, My 25 Years in Provence, Reflections on Then and Now will soon be on my bedside table.

Karen and Rich McCann at Petro's in Trahilio

And in today's mail I received Karen McCann's Dancing in the Fountain, How to Enjoy Living Abroad. I have a copy back in the State's --  she also provided a nudge back in 2012 when I read of the adventures she and her husband Rich had experienced when moving to Seville, Spain.  If you missed my last post, she and Rich were in The Mani with us for three days - days filled with tale telling and much laughter.  I am certain I will love the book all over again and you would as well.

That's all the armchair travel time I have for today -- time to start packing.  What books are you reading? Any recommendations?

Thanks for the time you've spent with us - hope to see you back next week when I'll be telling tales from 'that' island. . . have you guessed it yet?

Linking this week with:

Through My Lens
Our World Tuesday
Wordless Wednesday




16 comments:

  1. Loved reading your post today! We are thinking of where we will travel next now that we are able to move about. I have already put “holds” on your book recommendations at out libraries in Hawaii and Minnesota! Thanks again for another inspirational book list!

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    1. Glad you love the list -- think you will enjoy the books. I am a real fan of Patricia Wilson now!

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  2. I love the book list. Have you done a similar movie/TV list for Greece? One of my wife's favorite movies is "Shirley Valentine," with Pauline Collins running away to Mykonos. And we recently enjoyed binge-watching the British series "The Durrells," based in part on Gerald Durrell's novel "My Family and Other Animals," set on Corfu.

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    1. BTW, I am saving the B.B. Cantwell book for my Pacific Northwest list of novel getaways. And we really haven't thought about television (we don't have one) or movies as they are also a long ago and far away activity, but I sure like the idea and may have to do some research!)

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  3. One of my favourite books is
    Reflections on a Marine Venus by Lawrence Durrel set in Rhodes

    Hilary

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    1. Durrel was definitely one of the folks we read prior to making our leap to Greece!

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  4. hmm... a Year in Provence and Under the Tuscan Sun...(2 of my favourites)... so what will your book be called Jackie??? Gerald Durrells series is another favourite, and have you read Lydia Laube's books ie Behind the Veil? When I read The Home of the Blizzard by Tim Bowden, I couldn't wait to get out of the snow and ice after 400+ pages!
    I envy you the islands you can visit around Greece while you are "stuck" there LOL Happy travels!

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    1. You were the only one reading between the lines so far Jill. I am giving thought to the title (and all that comes with it) xx J.

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  5. ps - oh I didn't know that Peter Mayle had died. I must check out that book, I have his others. I love the "travel-life style" books.

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    1. Such a loss. I am glad Frances is still pumping out books!

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  6. My post this week also talks about future "armchair" travels. Thanks for suggestions for books and novel destinations!

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    1. Ahh, it sounds from your post that you and I are traveling similar roads again!

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  7. Frances Mayes and Peter Mayle were always favorites of mine back in the day and I certainly enjoyed many armchair travel delights when them. I hope your "detention" in Greece will blossom into many delightful visits around those islands. I can think of worse places in which to be detained. And may those residency cards be forthcoming quickly!

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    1. Thanks much! Yes, and isn't it hard to believe that 'back in the day' is now 25 years ago plus! Thanks for commenting - hope to see you back again soon!

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  8. Is it really 20 years since Under the Tuscan Sun? I absolutely loved that book! I hope you get yourselves sorted soon (although I can think of much worse places to be "trapped" than Greece...)

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  9. Oh my, how exasperating about those travel places! At least there are beautiful places to explore in Greece. I love armchair travel - it really can transport you! I'll check out some of those books on your list.

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