Travelogues Books

This is the largest, best and most complete guide to contemporary Native American cultural activities and resources ever written. It has helped many Indian people in so many ways. It can help all people to find wondeful places to go. Thank goodness for this great book wtitten from an Indian perespective.

It gave me lots of extremely rich vacation experiences. I visited listed locations in Ontario, Arizona, Montana, Washington, Oregon, and California.

NOTES BY A NOMAD -- TRAVEL STORIES Reviewed, December 2001

There are 4 reasons for you, me, or anyone to read a travel book. The four reasons are questions and Craig Dixon's "Notes by A Nomad" answers 3.5 of them, which makes this book fine reading.

Question 1. Should We Go?

The first reason is to decide whether to go yourself. Here, Dixon excels. Consider his tale: "Foot By Foot Across England." Here, he writes of something I have always wished to do-walk across England, coast to coast. There are NO guidebooks for this type of foot adventure, unless you have fun reading dry, dreary route maps that mean nothing till the day you reach a trail. Nor do guidebooks tell you if you will have "fun"-yes, fun. Instead, they tell you where to stay, where to eat, and what to see along the route.
Dixon does more. He sets himself square in the middle of an English adventure-yes, a genuine adventure-and lets you ride along in his pack, looking out of his eyes. Some days, he has fun; some days he gets lost, or rained on or cold. Sometimes he meets weird and wonderful folk on the trail. Some days his wife Rosy plays Sancho Panza to his Don Quixote. Other days he's quite alone, thoroughly bored and casting his greetings to the passing sheep. On balance, however, he IS having fun-and so are you, taking detailed notes on the pros and cons. On the basis of Dixon's story, my wife and I decided NOT TO GO. Instead, we chose a different trail-which meant that reading Dixon's version was not only entertaining, it was priceless.

Question 2. What can go wrong?

The second reason to read a travel book is to find out what could go wrong on the trip you want to take. Normally, guidebooks NEVER, EVER tell you what might go wrong. They don't lie; they just avoid the topic. Lonely Planet broke the mold by adding a "Dangers and Annoyances" section to its guidebooks. I read it avidly, but it's too short, and tamed down. Dixon is far more honest. He writes of the things that will, in fact, bother you constantly throughout your trip. Want to go to Portugal? Dixon's story "Eight Hours Are Barely Enough" focuses on the sleep you won't get; the dogs that bark all night around your window, and the roosters, fine-tuned to wake you at dawn. He did convince me that Portugal is wonderful-to the point where we have decided to go next year. HOWEVER, THANKS TO DIXON WE WILL PACK 10 PAIRS OF EAR PLUGS. That type of advice makes this book worth reading.

Question 3. Who will we meet?

The third reason to read travel books is to learn what types of people we might meet, and how they will behave. Obviously, the people you meet in Japan will respond differently than those in Jordan. Dixon's stories focus on the people he meets, not the places he sees. One favorite, "My Industrial Strength Summer" travels the Ukraine-which means interacting with Ukrainians. It is a tale of step-and-squat-toilets, vodka, lap-dancers, wheeling, dealing, gifts, bribes and through it all a glimpse into Ukraine's Wild West, in which the cowboys all play capitalist and carry guns. Does this upset you? Go buy a conventional guidebook; it will point the way to every church and monastery in the country, but teach you nothing of life as Ukrainians live it today. Dixon will. How do I know? This time I took his advice and -DID THE TRIP. Was he accurate? Sure.

Question 4. Who is Craig Dixon?

There is a fourth and final reason we read travel books, to learn more about the author. Sometimes nomads are interesting. Sometimes their stories lift us up out of our own little worlds and let us dream. Here, Dixon only gets a half-star. This guy has visited 50 countries, in almost 40 years, finding something interesting in every one of them. Yet, the two-paragraph blurb on the dust jacket doesn't tell us anything except that he can write. We need another chapter, written by the nomad himself about himself. We want to know what started him going, why he went, why he keeps going and why he is so weird and different from the rest of us, in our cozy armchairs, reading his books. That's the chapter he should add to an expanded edition of this book.

Four of the stories that I haven't mentioned above are also worth reading. Try "Back to Bucharest", "South India Startups", "A Day in the Andes", and "Kiwi Kindness". Then start daydreaming. After all, isn't that why we all buy books?

"Notes By A Nomad"
by Craig Dixon

Reviewed by Jonathan Gubin
President, Capital InVentures, Inc.
(...)

I'm a professional writer and have had the unique privilege to be a traveling companion of Craig Dixon for several trips, as has his wife, Rosy.

Notes by a Nomad is Craig Dixon's first book. Dixon is a "TRAVELER". It's obviously the joy of his life. A joy he cheerfully shares with us through a series of short stories, some almost anecdotal in nature, others of greater length.

Craig treats each story as a miniature tableau, an impressionistic portrait. However, these portraits are far more substantial than simple narrative. Within their framework he carefully weaves a story of a trip, the area, its history, the people, the culture and its economics. And he never moves too far from the adventure itself.

By combining travel adventures with business and economic perspectives, a totally fresh synergy to the short story form becomes apparent. What a fascinating combination when you add money! This is natural to Dixon, because when not traveling, or writing, he is a professional financial advisor to wealthy individuals.

In three stories, for example, he works as a volunteer monetary missionary for the Trickle Up Program. Trickle Up, a New York City-based nonprofit, provides up to $100, yes folks just one hundred dollars in equity capital, to the poorest entrepreneurs in the dingiest places on the planet. This capital is designed to help them start their own business

One such story takes place in villages in South India where Trickle Up capital starts one family in the mushroom business, and another where they make a living as rat catchers. He describes trivial details as well as conceptual macroeconomics with total clarity.

In another trip-story, "My Industrial Strength Summer" traveling and working officially as an executive of a large U.S. financial entity, he narrates his financial adventures for the firm in dealing with politicians, bureaucrats and macro-wheeler-dealers in post-Communist Ukraine.

His keen eye discerns the details of his experience with an equally keen sense of comparison. In "Back to Bucharest" he compares two Romanias, one in 1992 at the end of Ceausescu and one in 1995 on a second journey.

He finds the absurd in reality. Like the light bulb vendors in Bucharest who steal light bulbs from hotels and resell them on the street for home use. Or the fake cops there who accost and accuse him of being a money-changer in their temples. (He tells then to bugger off and they do).

In still another adventure he and Rosy trek across England from West to East. Since it's on Craig's home turf this totally toe-twisting hiking narrative is particularly detailed and interesting.

In "A Day in the Andes" he meets the terror of the trail, as Craig on a hiking trip in the Andes encounters danger and must rely on the help of others to get back. He lives to tell the tale. In Thailand he is kidnapped and swindled. And lives to tell that tale, too.

Stylistically, Dixon reveals a sharp biting, sometimes acerbic English wit. Not particularly strange since, after all, he is from England. His narratives are diary-like, and I'm sure, as factually true as memory permits.

Beyond that, hiding behind each story and beneath each bit of travel advice, is an understanding of people. And the fight for survival. Sometimes a story becomes an implied morality play. Other times it's "what the hell" - with an O. Henry ending. But, in all regards, it's all about survival.

I heartily suggest you read the book. Since Dixon has not discussed one of our several trips together. I'll have to write that one. If I survive.

This book is several books in one. In addition to his varied personal experiences on the road, it includes some well researched history of the countries he visits, both ancient and contemporary. He talks about the big people in history, like Cortes, Clinton, Subcomandante Marcos, Leon Trotsky, Frida Kahlo and Manuel Noriega. He then gives equal attention to the little people he meets along the way, like the Mexican museum curator whose family had been guarding an ancient relic for several generations. He even travels to Paul Gauguin's house with a Playboy Bunny he met in a youth hostel. But he also engrosses the reader with his thoughts about his personal life, most interestingly, his romance with a Nicaraguan girl. Hurricane Mitch, which strikes when he is Guatemala and devastates the region, adds a sinister backdrop to his odd holiday, but in the end he achieves his goals despite numerous setbacks. It is a little bit like a collection of short stories, since it is written in diary form, so each day represents a new thought, and a new mini adventure. The stories about the crocodile and the monkey I almost wouldn't have believed except that he included photos in the book. I especially liked his description of his climbing of the volcano... and was left feeling it is much more enjoyable - and safer - to read his description of it than to attempt such a feat in real life.

Some years past, a colleague suggested a year of travel instead of my intended return to school. It took thirty years to fulfill that suggestion. David Short didn't require any more prompting than a dull, dirty and dangerous job. His destination, prompted by a world-traveling grandfather, became Central America, specifically, the Panama Canal. The journey lasted just short of six months and resulted in this account of his adventures. A spirited read, An Odd Odyssey should inspire anyone of nearly any age to pull up stakes at least once in a lifetime and venture somewhere distant. Short's account shows how richly rewarding travel can be to those willing to make the effort.

There are two kinds of travel books - the "guidebook" with sights, prices, accommodation ideally suited for those seeking comfort instead of adventure. Glossy photos, usually portraying conditions found on movie sets, detailed maps, prices listed. The other type is the personal journal, which, properly done, imparts a far better sense of "being there" than does the guidebook. Short's chronicle is the second type, a vivid sharing of his thoughts, experiences, disasters, even love. The means of travel was by bus. Just finding one was fraught with hazards - timing, crowding or even just running. Once boarded, there was the issue of finding the proper seat: "Sit in the rear. Bandits will shoot through the front window." On a limited budget the "guidebook" hotels were out of the question for Short. Many havens he found for a night's rest became adventures in their own right. Weather, ever a primary topic for travellers, added its own quirks - a major Caribbean hurricane being the most spectacular.

These minor discomforts aside, Short's recital of his travels points up the many benefits of journeying solo. One of these is that you don't remain alone for long. Not every acquaintance is a welcome companion, but none are dull. They bring their lives into his view, and to ours. Short meets former convicts, travellers from Europe, Canada and Australia. Not limiting himself to fellow "gringos" he deals well with the local residents. Although a few are not as friendly as he - he's robbed twice and has the usual tangles with bureaucrats, cheating taxi drivers and sullen hoteliers. Still, he maintains his equanimity, exhibiting strength in adverse circumstances. In this modern age he can turn to internet cafes, at one point spending more on email and 'net surfing than on accommodation and food.

Short is a learner, eager to know the current and historical conditions of the lands he visits. Teotihuacan, Tikal and the world's largest stone sphere. His account leads you along with him in fine descriptive prose. He shares his learning without becoming pedantic or opinionated. His judgments result of thoughtful assessment and it's easy to agree with them. The book becomes not only the tale of his journey, but a guidebook without gloss or sham. By the end of it, we envy his adventures and his ability to relate them. It's hard not to embark on a similar jaunt with the aim of duplicating his effort for your chosen locale.

This book is a joy for the armchair traveler. It takes you back to a place and a time, to a Turkish winter in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire. Burnaby's style is immediate, and compellingly readable. He lets you feel the mud, the cold, the mood of the times -- and the exotic east. It's great stuff. Crossing Anatolia by horseback in the winter, trying to track down rumors then circulating in Europe of anti-Armenian sentiment among the Turks, Burnaby finds the rumors to be baseless. But through every step of his wild goose chase, while we follow him through village after village, Burnaby describes in colorful detail the environment, and the people he meets. The first three-quarters of this book read like fiction, like a good, rollicking adventure story. It doesn't have a crisis near the end, like an adventure novel would, but Burnaby's story is all the better for being true.

Who in their right mind would voluntarily undertake an expedition on horseback thru Asia Minor in winter...Frederick Burnaby did in the year 1876, a time of intrigue in the Ottoman Empire and Russia where the forces that shaped WWI and 20th century alliances took root. This is an opportunity to travel back into time and traverse Asia Minor prior to the invention of the automobile. You will meet people from all classes and cultures; Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian, Persian and more. Burnaby tells of his trip with dry humor and with a suprisingly enlightened view of women, considering the times. This is a good read and worth the price of the book. For adventure travelers with time and money on their hands, retracing Burnaby's route on horseback would be a challenge even today.

This charming, beautifully written book takes the reader on a double journey -- a journey through a tiny German village, where the breathtaking scenery, as well as the kind, friendly, hard working people, warm the heart, and a journey through the life of one incredible German family, as seen through the eyes of their long-time American friend -- artist, photographer and writer, Ronald Harmon. Join Harmon as he celebrates Christmas and New Years with his "adopted" family, and you will experience these holidays in a way you never have before. With each page, you will feel like a child opening his presents on Christmas
Day. In this deeply moving testimonial to love, faith and the important of family, Roald Harmon has given us a wonderful gift.

They don't write books like this anymore, that's for sure. Among the serial killer thrillers and ditzy romances, take some time out to enjoy the simple pleasures of life -- and life abroad -- as author Ron Harmon takes you right inside the cozy Bavarian cottage pictured on his book cover. There you'll find a family you'd be proud to call your own, who lives in a town we all should visit now and again. The writing is familiar and friendly, and from page one you'll be hooked -- and reaching for the hot chocolate! It's holiday fun, but fun you'll enjoy all year round...

In the preface, the author mentions that the book is about "food & fun". That's true, however, to me, the main appeal is his diligent research into, sometimes obscure, areas, in order to find restaurants(and derivatives thereof) that combine good food, fine service, and fascinating atomosphere! The reader will be amazed to find so many interesting places, nearby, that they have not yet discovered. All places included in the book are in Ohio, with the exception of a few in Pennsylvania, Indiana, New York, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada. Mr. Zurcher takes you on journeys which include special places, such as...an 18th Century tavern that serves food from a 200 year-old recipe...a 19th Century bed-and-breakfast/tavern that includes beautiful and serene landscapes...an honest-to-goodness fifties drive-in restaurant with a chronologically-correct juke box(I loved it!)...a diner inside a Harley-Davidson dealership...a restaurant that features an antique-car museum and antiques in general...a tuba museum/restaurant...fine Amish restaurants(discover Amish history while in the area)...an actual castle with a restaurant that serves exotic food such as buffalo and ostrich...tearooms with elegant atmosphere and beautiful, rustic surroundings. He, in addition, provides a virtual "who's who" of purveyors of pizza, ice cream, cheese, hot dogs, popcorn, and more! Neil Zurcher's presentation is clever, concise, and really easy to read...the book will entice you onto the road. For a modest amount paid for the book, the reader receives a whole lot more than a "tankful" of memories and interesting dining experiences...TED DRISCOL

Having read Mr. Zurcher's two previous One Tank Trip books and having found them thoroughly enjoyable I approached this third edition with great delight. It certainly did not dissapoint me. I found the publication absolutely entertaining and full of great stories and places to eat. What a great surprise to open what I thought to be a book on restaurants and find myself laughing from cover to cover. The way the author intertwines reality with good old front porch stories and humor is nothing short of editorial wizardry. The book is a masterpiece of education and entertainment. I personally will not only use it as a where to go to eat bible but will undoubtedly re-read it for it's entertainment qualities. I highly reccomend the book and think it should be in every home, car and christmas stocking. Thank you Mr. Zurcher for the hours of delight. I can't wait for the next one.

I've read all but one of Mr. Johnson's books and find myself taking the trip with he and his grandchildren. I have recently introduced my 14 yr old son to Mr. Johnson's adventures and he too finds it hard to put the book down. I would find his books interesting even if I were not from the same area. I hope Mr. Johnson keeps on publishing his travels. Thanks for the arm-chair travels you have taken me on.

This is not the usual grandfather-grandson account of catching fish on a calm pond. Rather, Canoeing the Wabash by author Allen Johnson is high adventure for any age range. The skilled writer easily holds the reader's attention through 500 miles that he and 10-year-old grandson paddled. Though he disclaims any intent to write a "scholarly account," his story is peppered with history, indicative of careful research. His stated goal, "that reader get a couple of chuckles each session," estimated at four half-hour reading periods, may have been intended to lower expectations. The final effort delightfully exceeds such modest goal. The reader's interest will grow with the river being traveled-from the step-across beginning to the joinder of its mouth with the larger Ohio River. It is at that point that the magnitude of the trip, including the personal risk, is apparent. Barge wake in the big river almost swamped the tiny canoe. "The longest five minutes of the trip. The Wabash had been a little choppy at times, but the Ohio was an ocean." Many intrigued grandfathers and grandsons may duplicate the trip in their minds. A few may actually do so. None will write a finer account of his voyage.

This is such a great read, interesting and well written. Hard to put down and NOT a journal type account. If you are interested or thinking of adventure touring you have to read this excellent Canadian journey.

PARTNERS IN GRIME
252 pages
Escaping the Rat Race
Cycling Across Canada
by Neil Anderson
$18.95 US/ $28.95 Canada
www.cyclelogicpress.com

If Bob Hope had ever done a "Road" movie about bicycling, Partners in Grime would have been it. Sharon and Neil Anderson are the adventurous duo who toss 21st Century amenities to tour across Canada. Like layers of skin, The Andersons shed belongings, their home, jobs and cars--but thank goodness, not their bicycles. And in doing so they come to the heart and soul of whom they are.

And just who are they? Two young married kids who go questing for an exciting and different lifestyle. But they discover (rather quickly) that riding a bike exposed to the elements is not as glamorous as they envisioned. Searching for safe places to sleep, decent food, fending off traffic and animals are all part of the outdoor experience.

Like many cyclists, the Andersons revel in the kindness of strangers who are inspired by modern day explorers. People put them up in farm houses, their own homes, in back yards, but there are plenty of times when sleeping on the ground is evident and described. For example, Sharon wakes up one morning and asks the eternal question of every cross-country cyclist, "Is it possible to wake up more tired than when I went to bed?" Yes.

Neil Anderson's writing is fresh and honest. He doesn't paint a pretty picture, though the book is sprinkled with gorgeous photography. It is one of the first books on cross-country touring that doesn't distort reality. Two of his quotes are right on--"The next bike I get is going to have air-conditioning." And politically astute: "Canadians have a small Canada flag on their backpack. Americans have a large Canadian flag on their backpack."

This is a truthful book about what it takes to cycle long distance. It doesn't promise a hot shower every day, a warm bed and forget about fine dining. But what you will gain is something money cannot buy, which is the exhilarating bicycle ride of a lifetime. The Andersons are no doubt deeply bonded through their cross-Canada trip, and others that followed. By the end of the book they have landed in France!

Travel with the Andersons through every village, climb the hills and coast the descents... feel every bump in the road. Their adventure will knock you off your seat and back on the saddle. To ride the open road takes determination, stamina--and it helps to be Partners in Grime.

Gianna Bellofatto Reid, writer, "Life is a Bike."

What a wonderful,innovative hiking guidebook! As a hiker andPalm Springs resident, it is a joy to read Linda's prose that soappropriately captures our beautiful desert trails.

I amparticularly impressed with Linda's description of the IndianCanyons. Each year, HIKE FOR HOPE is held in these beautiful canyons,offering 7 different guided hikes to raise money to fund women'scancer research at The City of Hope. Linda understands the magic ofthose canyons and the wonderful spirit that exists there. Linda hasbeen a terrific supporter of this event... we met her because of herbook and our admiration of it...

During our drive out to Palm Springs, I skimmed through the book and map to find hikes that would be near our hotel. I read about six different hikes/chapters and then chose two that I thought would be close and not too long since I would be hiking by myself.

Not familiar with the area at all, the first thing I did after arriving at the hotel was ask the concierge where the nearest hiking trails were. I was told there were none.(The concierge could use a copy of your book.)

Back at my room, armed with your book I found one three blocks away. Perfect! I set out the next morning, found the trail easily and started up. What I enjoyed most while hiking was remembering what you had written about your experience and it was like sharing my trek with an invisible friend. I noticed the canyon below that you had mentioned and wondered if I would have admired it as much if it hadn't been pointed out in your book. When I reached the top with that incredible view of the Coachella Valley, I sat for a long time.I was looking forward to telling you that I had 'made it', it was worth the uphill climb and to say thanks because if I hadn't read about this trail, I would never have known it existed!

I had originally planned to run up the trail--that lasted about one third of the way up. But I did run all the way down on the way back. Yahoo!!!

I finished the rest of the book and intended to do a second hike but ran out of time. We did check out the famous homes listed in your book while driving around.

I heard about the book and read it with great interest,and passed it on to my son,who was age 19 at the time. We both enjoyed it,and moved on to other interests. The next year, my son traveled by auto to Alaska(from Virginia) and upon his return,he said to me,"Dad, this is a beautiful country,but you can't see it very well from a car. Why don't we go on a bicycle adventure from Richmond to Toronto like that father and son did in "Pedaling Northward" . At the time I was 48 and son was 20, and we were targeting the following summer. I looked him in the eye,and said, "Sounds like a good idea to me." We did it in 12 days inclusive, and 10 days of cycling. We followed the same course as the author until Elmira,NY at which point we headed northwest toward Buffalo and Niagara. We stopped along the way to talk with people Lind had met ,and learned from his mistakes. We were luckier with the weather...it was cool and dry. I recommend the book as a guide for any father and son who want to enjoy the beauty of this country, the power of bonding, and who want to create a memory that will last a lifetime.

This book made me wish my knees were not so creaky. In this time of point-to-point travel (skipping everything in between) it is wonderful to be on the land with this father and son as they make their way north. Their adventures and misadventures have the immediacy of real-life experience. I recommend it to arm chair travellers and bike-seat travellers alike! It is suitable for young adult readers as well as adults. My children loved the audio version!