Review of A Toast to Travel
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Esther Msafari
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- Latest Review: A Toast to Travel by Fraser Beath McEwing
Review of A Toast to Travel
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Toast to Travel" by Fraser Beath McEwing.]
A Toast to Travel is a brilliant travel book of epic proportions. It chronicles the adventures of a couple who are passionate about travel. The pair journey to destinations that appear on many a bucket list. This book is by no means a glossy travel brochure. It is an honest account that sheds light on both the joys and the unglamorous side of travel.
For example, you may need the patience of a saint to process entry formalities for some countries. Also, it is common for travelers to succumb to food poisoning, putting a damper on things. Unscrupulous cab drivers may attempt to overcharge you. In addition, travel is fraught with uncertainties. For example, the day the pair was departing from Sicily, Mount Etna spewed an ash cloud. Needless to say, this resulted in considerable flight delays.
But this interesting tale shows that the joys of travel far outweigh the discomforts. The author shares views that are candid and unfiltered. His accounts are humorous with ‘’tongue in cheek’’ laugh-aloud moments. In an interesting twist, he describes the merits and demerits of hotel toasters that they encounter along the way.
The travel book contains useful tips. Do think twice about requesting a wheelchair on a sector of your journey. This is because service providers down the line may treat you like an invalid. The end result will be ‘’wheelchair humiliation’’ as the author describes it. Remember to source for last-minute theater tickets. You may catch memorable performances such as ''La Traviata" at the Venice Opera House.
You will delight in the marvelous word pictures in the book. These bring sights, tastes, and colors to life. A memorable example is the description of the color transition in the sky at the Taj Mahal in India. The couple witnessed an array of shades when they viewed the monument at dawn and later at sunset.
As much as travel is enjoyable, there are fears about its sustainability. In St. Petersburg, crowds of tourists overrun the museums, leading to overcrowding. Venice, a city of 65,000 inhabitants receives a massive 60,000 visitors daily. Visitor numbers are also overwhelming in New York and Santorini. This poses a threat to ancient monuments.
Yet, these facts do not take away from the delights of the travel tales. I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 because it is an enjoyable, fast-paced, and entertaining read. Also, I found no error which is proof of meticulous editing.
The one change I would suggest is to section the book into volumes. Some readers may be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of details and anecdotes. They may prefer to focus on just a few destinations at a time.
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A Toast to Travel
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
A Toast to Travel is a brilliant travel book of epic proportions. It chronicles the adventures of a couple who are passionate about travel. The pair journey to destinations that appear on many a bucket list. This book is by no means a glossy travel brochure. It is an honest account that sheds light on both the joys and the unglamorous side of travel.
For example, you may need the patience of a saint to process entry formalities for some countries. Also, it is common for travelers to succumb to food poisoning, putting a damper on things. Unscrupulous cab drivers may attempt to overcharge you. In addition, travel is fraught with uncertainties. For example, the day the pair was departing from Sicily, Mount Etna spewed an ash cloud. Needless to say, this resulted in considerable flight delays.
But this interesting tale shows that the joys of travel far outweigh the discomforts. The author shares views that are candid and unfiltered. His accounts are humorous with ‘’tongue in cheek’’ laugh-aloud moments. In an interesting twist, he describes the merits and demerits of hotel toasters that they encounter along the way.
The travel book contains useful tips. Do think twice about requesting a wheelchair on a sector of your journey. This is because service providers down the line may treat you like an invalid. The end result will be ‘’wheelchair humiliation’’ as the author describes it. Remember to source for last-minute theater tickets. You may catch memorable performances such as ''La Traviata" at the Venice Opera House.
You will delight in the marvelous word pictures in the book. These bring sights, tastes, and colors to life. A memorable example is the description of the color transition in the sky at the Taj Mahal in India. The couple witnessed an array of shades when they viewed the monument at dawn and later at sunset.
As much as travel is enjoyable, there are fears about its sustainability. In St. Petersburg, crowds of tourists overrun the museums, leading to overcrowding. Venice, a city of 65,000 inhabitants receives a massive 60,000 visitors daily. Visitor numbers are also overwhelming in New York and Santorini. This poses a threat to ancient monuments.
Yet, these facts do not take away from the delights of the travel tales. I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 because it is an enjoyable, fast-paced, and entertaining read. Also, I found no error which is proof of meticulous editing.
The one change I would suggest is to section the book into volumes. Some readers may be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of details and anecdotes. They may prefer to focus on just a few destinations at a time.
******
A Toast to Travel
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: A Toast to Travel by Fraser Beath McEwing
