Books And Travel

“Man’s real home is not a house, but the Road, and that life itself is a journey to be walked on foot.” Bruce Chatwin In late October 2020, I walked the Pilgrims’ Way from Southwark Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, 182 km/113 miles on foot, alone, carrying my own gear… during a […] The post This Too Shall Pass. Thoughts From The Pilgrims’ Way With J.F. Penn appeared first on Books And Travel.

From the ice of the glaciers to the black church near the lava fields and on to the steaming hot pools of the blue lagoon, Iceland is a country of stark natural beauty and interesting folklore. In this interview, Michael Ridpath talks about the hidden people, the trolls, and the ghosts in the mist, as […] The post Lava Fields, Trolls, And The Hidden People. Iceland with Michael Ridpath appeared first on Books And Travel.

From the stunning Northern Lights of Lofoten, to the fjords of the western coast, scenic train journeys across the mountains, Viking history, and the culture of the cities, David Nikel evokes a country that has much to explore. In this pandemic year, I’m certainly dreaming of kayaking the fjords! David Nikel is a British writer […] The post Fjords, Vikings And The Northern Lights. Norway With David Nikel appeared first on Books And Travel.

“The face of the water, in time, became a wonderful book … it was not a book to be read once and thrown aside, for it had a new story to tell every day.” Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi The Mississippi River runs through ten states and has brought life to countless generations, from […] The post Life On The River. The Mississippi River Valley With Dean Klinkenberg appeared first on Books And Travel.

“All that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity.” William Shakespeare, Hamlet If you enjoy walking in cemeteries, exploring graveyards, and discovering the artistic bone structures of ossuaries, then you’ll love this interview with Loren Rhoads. We discuss our mutual love of these places where nature often reigns in peace and beauty, and share […] The post Life Obsessed. Cemeteries, Graveyards And Ossuaries With Loren Rhoads appeared first on Books And Travel.

“It’s not the mountain we conquer, it’s ourselves.” Edmund Hillary As I write this, I’ve started four ultra-marathons and finished three of them. I did the Race to the Stones 100km in a weekend (2016); Cotswold Way 50km (2017); Isle of Wight 50km (2018 — I dropped out at 22km); Chiltern Challenge 50km (2020). I’ve […] The post Walk Your Own Race: Lessons Learned From Walking A 50km Ultramarathon appeared first on Books And Travel.

If you spend years planning your dream trip, what happens when life gets in the way? Do you change your plans or do you plow on regardless? Is the journey more important than the destination, and are you living in a way that honors that choice? In this wide-ranging interview with Doug Walsh, we talk […] The post Facing Fears And Changing Your Mind While Traveling. Cycling Around The World With Doug Walsh appeared first on Books And Travel.

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” Ibn Battuta Mallorca is a beautiful Spanish island in the Balearics, rich with history and culture, from the medieval architecture of Palma’s old town to the picturesque coastal village of Deia and the mountainous interior. Many come to the relaxed island for an […] The post Murder In Paradise. Mallorca With JJ Marsh appeared first on Books And Travel.

“Man’s real home is not a house, but the Road, and life itself is a journey to be walked on foot.” Bruce Chatwin Walking for a longer-distance can bring clarity of mind, a reconnection with nature, and a sense of well-being that does not emerge with a short stroll. It takes time to settle into […] The post Solo Long-Distance Walking In England With Holly Worton appeared first on Books And Travel.

If you look below the surface of an ancient city, you can travel through time and find its deeper layers. In this episode, David Morrell talks about how he researched Victorian London for his historical mysteries about Thomas De Quincey, and how he brought to light the “chasms and sunless abysses” of the first British […] The post History As A Fine Art. Victorian London With David Morrell appeared first on Books And Travel.

Bath is known for its ancient Roman spa, medieval abbey, and sweeping Georgian terraces. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site in Somerset in the south-west of England and visitors often come on a circular cultural trip that takes in Stonehenge and Stratford-on-Avon. But it’s not all Jane Austen bonnets, Regency dresses, and afternoon tea — […] The post Druids, Freemasons and Frankenstein. The Darker Side of Bath, England appeared first on Books And Travel.

In this wide-ranging interview with Ben Aitken, we talk about challenging cultural stereotypes, identifying as the ‘Other,’ and how to find beauty in the ordinary, as well as thoughts on where to visit and what to eat and drink when visiting Poland. Ben Aitken is a freelance writer, playwright, and the author of three travel […] The post Finding Beauty In The Ordinary. A Different Side Of Poland With Ben Aitken appeared first on Books And Travel.

The word Kosovo brings to mind images of the Balkan War — a place of blood — but Elizabeth Gowing talks about it as a place of sweetness, a place of honey with wonderful food, welcoming people and a complex patchwork of religion that manages to get along together in a tiny country. She also […] The post Travels In Blood And Honey. Kosovo With Elizabeth Gowing appeared first on Books And Travel.

Adventure is a mindset. You can find it in a pocket of wilderness in your local area just by doing something different and seeking out the unusual — or you can find it by running Great Britain barefoot, cycling the Andes, and running the length of New Zealand! In this interview, adventurer Anna McNuff talks […] The post A Pocket Of Wilderness: Adventure Travel With Anna McNuff appeared first on Books And Travel.

The word Ararat brings to mind an adventure into myth and history and in this episode, I talk to Rick Antonson about his journey to the fabled resting place of Noah’s Ark, as well as some of the research into Biblical history and ancient myths of the flood. My ARKANE thrillers center around Biblical archaeology, […] The post Full Moon Over Noah’s Ark. Ararat With Rick Antonson appeared first on Books And Travel.

Great cathedrals are places of awe and wonder, no matter your religious belief. Whenever I visit a new place, I always go to the cathedral or church, or place of worship in the area. There is always something new and interesting to be found and you can get a particular sense of a region that […] The post Pilgrimage. The Architecture Of Faith With Derry Brabbs appeared first on Books And Travel.

Would you cycle across Europe on a ‘sit up and beg’ bike with little experience and no map reading skills? Helen Moat talks about how her adventure unfolded in an inspiring interview that will have you reaching for the guide books and considering where you could travel next. Helen Moat is an author and freelance […] The post A Time Of Birds: Cycling Across Europe To Istanbul With Helen Moat appeared first on Books And Travel.

There are certain places in the world that are so full of stories, they become ‘catnip for a novelist,‘ as Layton Green talks about in this interview. We delve into the lure of far-off cities, why the occult draws us both, and how to turn a trip to a new place into a book. In […] The post Catnip For A Novelist. Traveling For Book Research With Thriller Author Layton Green appeared first on Books And Travel.

“Wine is sunlight, held together by water.” Galileo Galilei So much of the joy of travel is eating and drinking and I certainly love to try local wines when I visit new places! In this interview, Caro Feely talks about why she and her husband gave up successful careers to take on a rundown vineyard […] The post The Taste Of Place. French Vineyard Life With Caro Feely appeared first on Books And Travel.

Hello travelers, I’m Jo Frances Penn and in today’s episode, I talk to Angelina Kalahari about Namibia in southwest Africa. We recorded the interview a few months back as I tend to batch my interviews and so it was well before the coronavirus changed our perspective on world travel. But perhaps in difficult times, it’s […] The post Desert Nights, The Skeleton Coast And The Cry Of The Fish Eagle. Namibia With Angelina Kalahari appeared first on Books And Travel.