Books And Travel

As I write this in the middle of March 2020, the world is gripped by the spread of coronavirus COVID19. Countries are shutting their borders, people are asked to stay indoors, shelter in place and self-quarantine inside. Restaurants, bars, gyms, schools, and other public places are closing. Airlines are on the verge of going bust […] The post Sanctuary, Retreat, Belonging. The Importance Of Home In Difficult Times appeared first on Books And Travel.

Travel can be about place, but it can also be about time, and in this interview, I talk to Alison Morton about how the ancient Roman empire continues to inspire her alternate-history Roma Nova thrillers. Alison Morton is the author of the Roma Nova series, Roman-themed alternate history thrillers with tough heroines. Show notes The […] The post The Roman Empire And Alternate History With Alison Morton appeared first on Books And Travel.

Mumbai is a fascinating city with diversity in religion and architecture, and in this interview, Vikram Chandra talks about the colonial impact of the Portuguese and British, as well as the Zoroastrian, Muslim, Hindu and Christian holy places in the city. It’s also a feast for the senses, as Vikram evokes the taste of seafood […] The post Bhel Puri On The Beach, The Gateway To India, And Bollywood. Mumbai With Vikram Chandra appeared first on Books And Travel.

Sometimes we can only find our true selves by leaving everything we thought we wanted behind. Matt Buchman was a successful business consultant, but when he lost everything, he set off to cycle around the world. It was a way to escape his old life, but also to find a new path. In this interview, […] The post Cycling Around The World With ML Buchman appeared first on Books And Travel.

In today’s episode, we’re heading for the Northern Territory of Australia as Dr. Amanda Markham talks about some of the Aboriginal Dreaming stories of the area and how the vast landscape impacts living and working there, as well as the best places to visit if you’re traveling. Amanda is of Wiradjuri Aboriginal descent and speaks […] The post Sacred Australia And The Northern Territory With Amanda Markham appeared first on Books And Travel.

What would you do if you only had a short time to live? Most people have some kind of travel on their bucket list, and when Susi Holliday had a near-miss in the London terror attacks, she decided to head off on a round-the-world trip. Her experience on the Trans-Siberian Express resulted in a crime […] The post Traveling On The Trans-Siberian Express Across Mongolia And Russia With SJI Holliday appeared first on Books And Travel.

In today’s episode, we’re heading north for cross-country skiing under the aurora borealis, sailing amongst the Baltic islands, and silence amongst the Finnish forests. I worked in Helsinki one summer in my twenties. The nights were bright and we drank vodka in the sauna and then jumped in the Baltic to cool off. I remember […] The post The Happiest Country In The World. Finland With Helena Halme appeared first on Books And Travel.

There are books that remain with you over time, that spark the imagination and echo down the years of your life. I read The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon by Richard Zimler in the late 1990s around the time I read The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco while I was studying Theology at Oxford, […] The post Traveling Through The Eyes of Faith With Richard Zimler appeared first on Books And Travel.

New Orleans is one of those cities that has a special place in the imagination of a traveler, even if you haven’t been there. It’s famous for loving life — for Mardi Gras parades, a vibrant music scene, drinking and eating and gorgeous architecture in the French Quarter — but it’s also known as the […] The post The City Of Life And Death. New Orleans With Laura And Dan Martone appeared first on Books And Travel.

China is a rising world power, increasingly challenging the USA in terms of global influence and technological development, especially around artificial intelligence and biotechnology. It’s also an ancient culture with fascinating places to visit, and in this interview, thriller author L.H.Draken shares her thoughts on traveling to Beijing.   LH Draken is the author of […] The post Ancient City, Modern Life. Beijing With LH Draken appeared first on Books And Travel.

Australia is truly a land of two halves. There is nature in all its diversity — from the vast outback to ancient rainforest, from the coral reef to the desert;  and then there are the great international cities, from Sydney’s Harbour Bridge to Melbourne’s coffee culture, where multi-cultural Aussies work and play in the Lucky […] The post Outback Nights And City Days In The Lucky Country. Australia With J.F.Penn appeared first on Books And Travel.

“Solvitur ambulando: It is solved by walking.” St Augustine We live in a mostly sedentary world, with our days seated at a computer working, and our evenings in front of streaming entertainment. This life shows in our physical and mental health, but since much of our modern malaise can be solved by regular walking in […] The post Walking The Camino De Santiago With Ashlee Cowles appeared first on Books And Travel.

Traveling by train is fantastic because you can watch the world go by from the carriage, sometimes for days on end, and you have somewhere to sleep and wash and eat while you travel. You can catch glimpses of places you might never visit as the train passes through and you arrive in the heart […] The post Traveling By Train Across The USA With J Thorn appeared first on Books And Travel.

Greenland is the world’s largest island. Three-quarters of it are covered in a permanent ice sheet and with only 56,000 people, it’s the least densely populated country in the world. It is considered a region of Denmark, but Greenland has recently been in the news as President Donald Trump talked about buying the island for […] The post Living On The Edge: Greenland With Christoffer Petersen appeared first on Books And Travel.

Djibouti is a meeting place of cultures with French, Somali, and Yemenese influences. It’s shaped by its geographical position between the desert and the sea, on the borders of Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea as well as the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. In this interview, Rachel Jones explains how she came to love […] The post Between The Desert And The Sea. Djibouti With Rachel Pieh Jones appeared first on Books And Travel.

Traveling to a new place is about art, architecture, food, and culture, but it can also be about the people you meet and the memories — and even souvenirs — you bring back. In today’s interview, Laura Morelli talks about Venetian artisans, the joys of limoncello, and shares her tips for finding the perfect way […] The post Venice, Art History And Italian Artisans With Laura Morelli appeared first on Books And Travel.

The north-east of England combines the ancient history of Viking raids and English castles, with the stark beauty of Lindisfarne island cut off by the tides, and the vibrant city of Newcastle linked by its seven bridges. In today’s episode, mystery author, LJ Ross talks about love of home, why she sets her books in […] The post Northumberland: Ancient Lindisfarne, Modern Newcastle With L.J.Ross appeared first on Books And Travel.

Berlin is a modern city with vibrant street art, a growing tech scene and world-renowned museums and galleries — but it also has the dark history of the Nazi Third Reich and the Berlin Wall. In today’s episode, American thriller author Rebecca Cantrell talks about her love of the city and how it features in […] The post Berlin: Dark History And Modern Art with Rebecca Cantrell appeared first on Books And Travel.

I sat there on my first morning in class, heart pounding, as I realized there was no way I could keep up with the work. I would fail here. I would have to leave Oxford almost as soon as I had arrived … That was day one at Oxford and I’ll finish that story during […] The post Oxford: Decadence, Discipline And Dreaming Spires With J.F.Penn appeared first on Books And Travel.

Hawaii is more than just a paradise of beaches and blue sea. In this interview, mystery and memoir author, Toby Neal, brings the wild and beautiful islands to life. Toby Neal is an award-winning ‘USA Today’ bestselling author of mysteries, thrillers, and romance with over 30 titles. She’s also a mental health therapist, and today […] The post Wild And Beautiful Hawaii With Toby Neal appeared first on Books And Travel.