Saturday 7 February 2009

Best travel book of the year !! ;-)

Back in the autumn of 08, a certain young man of the house went a travelling...he went on his own....and thus a certain mum adopted a new name...'The sobbing woman of the house.'
In truth , she hardly sobbed but behaved just like any other mum would behave.
When you love someone and they go away on their travels,they are always in your thoughts.
But all was fine,the 6 weeks flew by and now I am able to re-live it all again!
He's written a book!! And what a book it is.
And so , come journey with me across the sea... and back to the autumn of 08.
(The text is a mix of his texts to me and quotes from his book.)



'Holland is flat!!
My day was good.Amsterdam is beautiful..I'd buy you some tulips if I was not away for so long''


'Tonight I have a date with Marco Van Basten...well I tell a lie. Van Basten is definitely here..but I can't see him very well and he certainly hasn't noticed me.



'I suppose that's Berlin for you:fast,noisy and as uncompromising as any other capital city in the world. And for some reason,some crazy,nonsensical reason- I love every minute of it.'



' I step back at various points to examine the art work and graffiti...Buerlinica..a brilliant take on the world's most famous anti war work of art.



'Hello,I've reached my hotel in Munich.
The journey was lovely...everywhere is autumnal..hills decked in beautiful reds,oranges and yellows of autumn.'


'I was immediately struck by the quiet, relaxed atmosphere of the city ...'

' Hello.I've had an amazing day seeing the Roman remains.
I'm off to see the Pope tomorrow!'

'I finally got to Ostia!'
'It never ceases to amaze me how cultural and sophisticated people were, two thousand years ago.. and it inspires me every time I come across a piece of Roman heritage,that it was made so long ago,yet still exists.''



Hello..I've reached my next hotel and it has BBC news!! Time to catch up with what's been happening..have Tottenham sacked their manager yet?'



'I went to Milan Cathedral today..it's very big and impressive.'



'Today I went to the Old Town and the harbour,it was very pretty and atmospheric'
'I like the city and its relaxed way of doing things.'
This is a place that I have wanted to visit for a while, so perfectly was it portrayed in F Scott Fitzgerald's, 'Tender is the Night' .

'I visited the Marc Chagall museum today'
'It intrigues me that Chagall frequently used animals in his work.'

'Hello..I had a long walk to my hotel because..I couldn't find it!!'


'Hello.Montpelier is lovely. I bought a French stick for my tea..although I guess they just call it a stick,here.'


'I peer tentatively through the curtains of my room and crane my neck upwards until I can see,high above the courtyard walls,the first blue sky since I arrived in Barcelona.
The news from Devon is of terrible weather.'



Where else could the medieval splendour of the cathedral sit so at ease with gingerbread houses and quirky sculptures,than Barcelona?'


' Hello..I've just watched the Grand Prix..in Spanish!
'I've been to both football grounds..The Bernabeau is huge!! '


'The Museu de America..I am able to identify the names of the many cultures displayed.'

'I'm waiting in the ferry terminal.Just checked in.All of the English are turning up,loaded with wine and tobacco'


'I never thought I'd be so glad to see Plymouth!!' ;-)



' Mine is not a unique trip but Europe is a unique continent looking to the future,whilst justifiably proud of its past.
I will be forever grateful that I was afforded the opportunity to experience some of it.
I will never forget the autumn of 2008.'



(Lost? He didn't tell me that bit!!)

26 comments:

  1. What a great idea! I think Tim should do that about all his football trips. He's followed Chelsea all over Europe for years now.

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  2. what a lovely book from a lovely son, you must be very proud of him!
    Josie x

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  3. Hey that is amazing. All the photos look brilliant. How talented is your son!

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  4. It looks a great book and the photos look stunning. Like the use of the quotes, too:) You must be thrilled with it.

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  5. What a fabulous souvenir of a memorable trip!

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  6. fantastic! you must both be so proud of him. the book looks amazing and the photography stunning.
    Bet you are glad to have him back though!
    love ginny xx

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  7. Looks like a great book, you must be very proud :) x

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  8. What a great way to remember such a significant time of his life. I would be proud to have it on my coffee table. You must be so proud. Well done him, congratulations, Margaret

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  9. Hi Sal

    What a wonderful reminder. You were proud of him before, but I bet you're just a wee bit prouder still (is that possible?) now he's an author!!!

    Sue x

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  10. Nich certainly has a way with words. He takes after his Mum!

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  11. Amazing amazing Sal..what a wnderful book...how did he do it...the photos are fantastic...I love the coment about the french stick...ope you are happy and warm...off to see Cath Harrogate on monday and I have already fallen in love with another bag or two...I am out of control...

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  12. Haha, thank you for the blog, it gave me a little trip down memory lane. I forgot about those texts ;-)

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  13. That book looks fascinating! Lovely photos :)

    xxx

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  14. lovely Sal, you must be one proud Mum
    twiggy x

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  15. What a hero that boy is! To have achieved soooo much and still so young. First book published already... and it's brilliant.
    Bet your chest is so puffed up with pride and rightly so.
    :O)

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  16. Looks a super book with excellent photos.He's obviously talented. Just wondering what he is going to do next.

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  17. What a fabulous achievement Sal.. and a wonderful diary for you and others of Nich's adventures.
    I am sure it will be a big seller..
    Is Nich planning on visiting our Waterstones for a public signing in the near future..??

    Love
    Michele xx

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  18. Oh how amazing, what great pictures! I would love to talk Nice with him, I've been there four times and miss it a lot. That pictures brought back memories :)

    Thanks so much for your comment on the post about my Dad, it is so lovely of you.

    Mel xxx

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  19. What do you mean? You didn't sob a lot.
    It wasn't until the rising damp rep had asked me whether anyone was away, that I realised that there wasn't anything wrong with the house and that it was "wailing woman syndrome"
    I could have spent a fortune otherwise.
    More seriously though, a book to cherish.

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  20. You must be bursting with pride!

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  21. An excellent book indeed! Anyone who's anyone should buy a copy :-D

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  22. Wow! I'm really impressed.

    Tracey

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  23. hi Sal, Nich's book looks fab, what a fantastic way to remember an amazing experience!

    ps happy belated birthday for last week! xx

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  24. Tres bien!

    Aren't the book publishing thingys great.

    I want to go to that shop Gazebo sounds fab. I have either read about it on your blog or someone else like Vintage Magpie not sure?!?!?!

    What a lovely treasure of a book - very witty in places. Like the french stick comment.

    Love Emma xxxxx

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  25. Oh Sal, Thank you for sharing. What a wonderful son you have. Photos are so beautiful.

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Thank you for taking the time to comment! ;-)