Guest Author -

Travel by the Book

Books and travel. They just naturally go together. A day at the beach with a bodice ripper or a penny dreadful is the ultimate escape for any bibliophile. That is, unless they have the opportunity to literally follow in the footsteps of favourite characters, to eat and drink what they did, to enjoy their familiar surroundings.

Horizon & Co. is one company that is helping travelers with literary interests do just that. “Think of it as a mobile book club of sorts,” says Andrew White, director of sales for the Canadian luxury travel company. “Our Literary Sojourns are designed for travelers who are over 35, luxury-conscious, and who want more freedom than the average group tour will allow. Unlike most group tours, these Literary Sojourns are especially suitable for those who don’t generally like group travel, unless they are with like-minded people. In this case, everyone is reading or has read the same book, so they have a lot in common already.”

Horizon & Co’s Literary Sojourns are the ideal way for travelers to share their ideas about great works of literature, art, and music in a relaxed and informal setting. The company works closely with the Great Books Foundation of Chicago, which provides many of the discussion leaders and guides for these excursions.

Tour possibilities include – among other things - a chance to explore Krakow through the works of poets and writers to see how Catholicism and Communism, and the glory and anguish of the Polish Jews, have shaped the new Poland. Classics lovers may prefer to discuss the many aspects of Greece’s literary heritage while exploring archaeological sites such as Mycenae, Epidauros and ancient Corinth. In Old Blighty, travelers can explore Dicken’s Bleak House while getting better acquainted with the city it depicts. There are other opportunities, too.

For more information, log onto Horizon & Co’s website at www.horizon-co.com Information about the company’s other unique luxury tours is also available on the website.

Other ideas for book lovers:

If you’re a James Joyce fan, see what Dublin Tourism has to offer at www.visitdublin.com/bloomsbury/

Got grandchildren? Harry Potter fans will no doubt enjoy the offerings at this website: www.hpfantrips.com

If you’d rather check out literary sights on your own, this book may be of interest:

Traveling Literary America: A Complete Guide to Literary Landmarks. By B.J. Welborn.
ISBN 0971897425