Reading on Location: Preparing for travel one page at a time

How time has flown. To think that less than a year ago I became engaged and that in just eight weeks I’ll be married. While most of the wedding plans are well and truly under control, I’ve spent the past few weeks with my partner browsing accommodation and sightseeing activities for our five week trip to Europe- our honeymoon. I’m VERY excited! Europe is one of my three travel destinations to conquer before I’m thirty (only two years to go!)- a mini bucket list I’m well on my way to achieving 🙂

1. Asia. Tick. Three years ago I visited Cambodia and Thailand, last year I travelled to India.

2. Europe. Tick…. well soon anyway

3. South America…. this trip is one that keeps getting pushed backwards…. I’ve tried to get there for several years now but I am determined to make it happen. World Cup 2014? Maybe.

When I think Europe, I think great food, rich culture, delicious wine and plenty of history. It’s my lifelong dream to sit on a terrace overlooking the Tuscan countryside sipping a glass of wine and eating olives. In fact this picture has been on my work PC desktop background for several weeks now.

It’s a lovely reminder of what all those hardworking hours are paying for….

So where does the reading come into this? Well, with every trip I take I like to go prepared. As much as I love packing my bags and readying myself for the trip- it’s all part of the anticipatory excitement of a holiday- I also like to sink into stories of the places I intend to travel.

During one of those Book Depository 24 hour sales where I wake up bleary-eyed and hit payment on a bunch of books I’d probably not buy had they not be on sale, I am happy I picked up a copy of Reading on Location by Luisa Moncada and Scala Quin. Alas I’m not the only one who enjoys reading stories both fact and fiction about the destinations I wish to travel. I like to immerse myself and learn about the culture, the language, the history and the people. This book, along with some of the Goodreads country themed lists I came up with a list of books I’d like to read either in preparation or while I’m away.

So, over the next few Fridays I’m going to chat about books relating to Italy, France and Germany- what I’ve read in the past and what’s on my TBR shelf. Be warned… there are plenty of LISTS on the horizon. But feel free to add your recommendations as I have every intention of filling up my kindle with plenty of goodies as well as browsing second hand book stores in Europe.

But for now… Au Revoir, Ciao, Auf Wiedersehen!

Check out my downloadable lists of Top 10 Books to Read When You Travel….