THE 15 BEST TRAVEL BOOKS

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There are hundreds, thousands of travel books, but not everyone has the power to make you travel for real, without moving a muscle (except the eyepieces, of course). Travel, how can it be otherwise, we like it a lot, but when we do not, we try to keep our minds off with any of these travel books.

Those who have made long trips know that backpack weight It is one of those key factors. Maybe not the first week, but when you go with your life behind your back, after the months it shows. And this is what happened to us on our first trips ... We carried a book by the head, which we were exchanging for others in the hostels, but they were not always the ones we wanted, so we began to miss a good reading.

Peeeero we soon discovered the wonderful world of ebooks that, although "it is not the same", we assure you that they are a success: to be able to have a library of hundreds in your pocket, thousands of books is the most. Thanks technology! It does nothing, in addition, we discovered Nubico, a online library With more than 40,000 books (there are also 50 magazines) that is very cool and which you can access unlimitedly for about € 9 per month (and is valid for up to 5 devices). If you are a voracious reader ... it's a bargain!

If you are looking for inspiration for your next readings, we will tell you what our 15 favorite travel books... take note and you will not regret (we hope).

1. In the antipodes - Bill bryson -

Bill Bryson is one of our favorite writers, we discovered him in the United States with his book “The Lost Continent” or “America Perduta” in Italian, and we met him again thanks to his book “In the antipodes” while we were traveling by van through Australia. It has a very smooth prose, with funny points (many points) and a facility for sneaking historical data, without you noticing and without getting bored, overwhelming.

2. The end is my beginning - Tiziano Terzani-

Jo, Titian is our weakness, one of the first travel books I read is his. It's called "In Asia," I think the Spanish version doesn't exist and it's a real shame because it's a pa-sa-da. Although if you have several translations, one of them is "The end is my beginning", and of course, it is another work of art. He saw the light, paradoxically, when the writer was ill, about to die.

In it, Titian tells his son Fulco some of his greatest adventures: from an experience in the Cold War to his years living in the China of Mai, his experience as a chronicler in the Vietnam War and his years in the Himalayas. A genius. And besides, good people.

Emotion in its purest state, this book tells 10 terrible stories of 10 Asian children who have something shocking in common: they do not own their destiny and despite everything, they face what comes next with dignity and courage.

It is a book that discovers the Asian continent in all its rawness, away from cocktails under the palm trees of Bali or the Full Moon of Thailand.

I confess that, a priori and having seen the movie, I didn't have too many expectations ... But I had to reculate. It is a book written well, from the soul, honest, in which the author undresses. There is no lack of odd humor, something that is always appreciated.

It is the autobiographical story about his adventure along a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail, a road that runs along the entire West Coast of the United States. In this crazy trip, she is accompanied by Monster (her huge backpack), trekking boots that are too small and emotional luggage that includes her mother's death, a divorce because of her promiscuity and a close friendship with drugs. Make this emotional and tender journey, which will heal and restore hope.

A work that, although it was first published a few decades ago, it is never wrong to include it in your library of recommended readings. This book by Galeano talks about the historical situation in Latin America, from European colonization to the most modern era. Curiosity: after the V Summit of the Americas, former President Hugo Chavez gave Obama a copy of this book! Have you read it? Anyway, if you want to know more about the history of this part of the world, don't miss it.

We continue in Latin America, but in this case we have to go down to the south, very south, until we reach one of the most wonderful and mysterious lands in the world: Patagonia. In this volume, which the author wrote after visiting the region for about 6 months, we can find stories and characters that seem to come from another time. And there is no place like it:

"Patagonia! She is a demanding lover. She bewitches you. She is a sorceress! She catches you in her arms and never lets you go."

It is not easy to describe any place, but there is one in particular that seems the most complicated of all: India. The reason is simple, this subcontinent is so different from other places that it seems to belong to another universe. Even so, Ramiro Calle manages to bring us closer to this enormous country, its inhabitants and its magic, thanks to its stories. In them we discover the most mystical Varanasi, the mountains of Drjeeling tea, the chaos of Calcutta and much, much more.

Are there still authentic destinations, far from the tourism industry and foreign to the stick-selfies? This is what the British author wonders before embarking on a trip that will lead him to venture through steel jungles such as Dubai or Bangkok, before finding the true jungle of Papua New Guinea.

Among its pages there is humor and laughter guaranteed, but also the seed of reflection: are we loading the world with the democratization of the trip?

At last! Everything about the great explorers of the past has been written, but what about women? Did they stay at home waiting for the return of their favorite adventurers? Well, most may, but not all, and this book tells the story of the main travelers who set foot in Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries. Mary Livingstone, Mary Slessor, Alexine Tinne, Florence Baker and Osa Johnson, are just some of the names that cease to be names and take on the form of legendary women, who rejected the role that their time had designated them.

I will never learn to write his name without before google it, and I will never forget one of the most legendary chroniclers and correspondents of our time. "Ebony" is probably his masterpiece, where for the first time the protagonist's axis changes completely: this time the attention is not on the white man, the great explorer who comes from the "civilized" world to Africa, but the Great protagonist is the African people. In the book he not only tells us about them, but places us among them. There is no desire for superiority, criticism or idealization. It is a raw book, but that catches you from the first words:

"This continent is too large to describe it. It is a whole ocean, a separate planet, a whole heterogeneous cosmos and an extraordinary wealth. Only by a reductionist convention, for convenience, we say" Africa. "In reality, except by name geographic, Africa does not exist "

It is certainly one of the best travel books ever written and if you have not read it yet ... you are already taking it.

Unlike the previous one, this travel book is not one of the best ever written, but it seems to us that it reads very easy and is entertaining. Gilbert's prose gets caught with his fluency, with his anecdotes and closeness. I finished "Eat, pray, love" in a couple of days and thanks to him I moved to the terraces of Rome, savoring - even if virtually - dishes of carbonara and Amatriciana. I traveled to India and in the air I breathed curry, jasmine and incense. And finally I arrived in Bali, the Island of the Gods, one of the most curious and fantastic places in the world. I missed a good Brazilian hug but, really, I can't complain about my Spanish 😉

This Italian author traveled a lot and, luckily, he also wrote a lot. "Travel and other travel" is an anthology in which some of his traveling chronicles are collected. It will take you to discover corners as different as Portugal, Egypt, India, Mexico or Australia (among others). But do not expect only stories of places ... with his writings, Tabucchi opens his heart:

"A place is never just that place: that place is in a way us too. Somehow, without knowing it, we carried it inside and one day, by chance, we reached it."

I admit that it is not my favorite travel book, its reading at times became something heavy, but I also recognize that I knew it was before a book that marked a before and after in the narrative, and already just for that, I have a lot respect.

It is, in fact, the cult book of the beat generation and in which you can read the adventures that the protagonists (novel but absolutely real) lived along a roadtrip through the United States (with a jump in Mexico City included).

The story is a mixture of comings and goings, rebellion, confusion and some absurdity, which shows us a America from the '40 -50's quite distant to which we all imagine. At times it causes anguish, sometimes envy, sometimes incomprehension and other absolute empathy. One thing is clear: it is not a book that leaves anyone indifferent.

Now, I know: another Italian writer (well, technically born in Cuba). The book begins like this: "In the invisible cities there are no recognizable cities. They are all invented", but don't be fooled: is there a better trip than what we can invent with our mind?

Thanks to this book, Calvino will show you places where you were already (although you don't know it until that moment), others where you would love to go and others that you never want to step on. Full of symbology and enigmas, it is one of those readings that are not for once ... In each new reading you may discover (or understand) something different. And to finish off the fantasy, the protagonist and narrator is Marco Polo himself. Come on, a book that is not for everyone, but if you are among the "chosen" you will love it.

A shoulder bag and a look that knows how to go beyond the facts. When I came to live in Spain, Reverte was one of the first authors I read and the truth is that I am only very fond of it. We could recommend many of his books, but "The adventure of traveling," where he recounts some of his extraordinary adventures, takes the cake.

"From a very young age, traveling seemed to me the best of adventures. Later, my work as a journalist turned the trip into a part of my job. Later, the trips became important in my work as a writer. Then, they became almost a drug. Now, I live them as an adventure. The old man returns to the child's side "

If you are a traveler, it is impossible not to feel identified.

Obviously, others are left out of this short selection travel books They deserve, without a doubt, a reading. Do you think we have left some essential? Tell us in the comments!

* Photocredit last photo: by Kinga Cichewicz

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