Books are great travel companions, especially when you need some sort of distraction, for long hours of flying or even relaxing on the beach under the umbrella. And as reading is always an easy and enjoyable way to get to know other places, new cultures and to experience magical stories through the characters, it can also serve as a source of inspiration for your next trip.
Momondo, a flight search engine and hotel reservations, has prepared a list of works that will make you want to pack your bags in the first pages. With the most varied destinations as a backdrop, the selection includes classic books such as On the Road, Jack Kerouac’s Road, Alex Garland’s Beach, The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende, among others. From the United States to Japan, through India, Chile, England, Thailand and Italy, is inspiration that does not stop. Check it!
On the Road – by Jack Kerouac – United States
This iconic book is a great company for a road trip from coast to coast across the United States, as did the characters Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty. Starting in New York with a visit to one of Beat’s favorite places: The Village Vanguard in Greenwich Village. Before heading west, stop off at Hudson River Park and enjoy New Jersey sunsets.
The next destination is Chicago. At The Green Mill, you can enjoy jazz in all its forms. The journey continues to New Orleans to take the ferry to Algiers, a charming neighborhood where you will find typically Victorian-style cottages and many specialty shops, such as Southern Candymakers. Another great request is to make a stop in Denver, capital of Colorado, a former “Beat” point, and visit Larimer Street, heart of the community that now houses cool restaurants, chic apartments and several microbreweries.
When you finally get to San Francisco, head to Telegraph Hill and experience the spectacular scenery of the Bay Area. Enjoy to think of the incredible trip you completed.
Kafka by the Sea, by Haruki Murakami – Japan
The book tells the story of two characters: the elderly Nakata and Kafka, a 15-year-old teenager fleeing from her home in Tokyo to the small island of Shikoku. Although their journeys across the various cities are mappable, exact locations are more difficult to identify. But this does not matter much as this evocative and magical story will draw your curiosity to this fascinating country, known for combining tradition with ultra-modern technology.
Start your journey through the capital Tokyo. There, you’ll meet the geek universe in the electronic district of Akihabara, where you’ll find a vast collection of electronic equipment, as well as comic strips and pop culture hoaxes. Take the train to Osaka, where you will find one of Japan’s oldest shinto shrines, the Sumiyoshi taisha. Then head to the quiet area of Shinsekai and try the Kushikatsu, a dish based on fried snacks.
Continue the journey to the charming city of Kobe and taste a sake in the neighborhood of Nada, home to several drink producers. And do not miss a tour of Akashi Kaiko, the longest suspension bridge in the world.
Napolitana Series, by Elena Ferrante – Italy
A mysterious writer under a pseudonym enchanted the world with the first of a series of four books with a history of growth and maturity. The “Ferrante fever” was launched. The four books tell the life of two friends, Elena and Lila, from childhood to adulthood, over a period of 50 years. The setting varies from several locations: from the suburbs of Naples, through opulent Florence to the paradisiac island of Ischia.
Naples is the heart of the series. Explore Rione Luzzatti, the girls’ neighborhood, stroll through the elegant Piazza Martiri and sample the sfogliatelle, the salty, shell-shaped stuff. If the bustle of Naples tires, escape to Ischia, the beautiful island located only an hour by ferry.
Florence also appears a lot in the books, especially the area around the Porta San Niccolò, a three-storey gate of the 14th century, on the ancient city wall. Florence is considered the cradle of the Renaissance and walking through its beautiful buildings is to understand why the city was the center of culture, commerce and finance of Medieval Europe.
The Beach, by Alex Garland – Thailand
This is probably the most famous book with Thailand in the background, as well as his film adaptation with actor Leonardo DiCaprio. The book tells the story of the backpacker Richard and his quest for an isolated and untouched island known only to a small international community of travelers. The book captures the mysterious and wonderful atmosphere of the Thai islands in a realistic but also magical way, which will make you feel like traveling as soon as you start reading.
Richard’s adventure (and yours) begins in central Bangkok on Khao San Road. What once was a large rice market, today is a meeting point for backpackers with cheap accommodation, vibrant nightlife and exotic foods, including the famous bbq barbecues.
Following Richard’s journey, you will reach the Gulf of Thailand. The open sea will take you to several islands such as Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Samet, Koh Tao, just to name a few.
Salman Rushdie’s Sons of Midnight – India
The book portrays the history of modern India through the life of Saleem Sinai, who was born at the exact moment of the country’s independence and has telepathic powers that allow him to connect with another thousand children born at the same time. With a powerful, poetic and magical narrative, this work will instigate your imagination and leave you wanting to pack.
The novel moves from locations across the Indian subcontinent, from Kashmir to Agra and then Mumbai. Set in a valley and surrounded by the Pir Panjal mountain range, Saleem dreams of the idyllic landscape of Kashmir: the winding river at Serinagar, the snowy mountains of Gulmarg and the fields of Sonamarg.
India’s most famous landmark, the Taj Mahal, appears in the book when Saleem’s family moves to Agra for a short time. Built by emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century in honor of his third wife Mumtaz, the stunning construction is among The Seven Wonders of the World.
Mumbai, the most populous city in India, will take you to a whirlwind of emotions and experiences. Home to the country’s productive film industry and with an extensive tropical urban forest, Mumbai also boasts colonial-era architecture, such as Chhatrapati Shivaji, the city’s Gothic-style train station.
Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen – England
The book tells the story of Elizabeth Bennet, one of five sisters who lived in the hinterland of England during the Pre-Victorian Era. Although the locations of the book are imaginary, Jane Austen was deeply inspired by the real English fields, like Hampshire and Derbyshire. With its small villages, hills, winding roads and ancient woods, you will not have trouble imagining the characters wandering around.
Start your trip in Derbyshire. You can take a stroll along the beaches of the Peak District National Park and stop at the top of the Stanage Edge on Hathersage Moor, overlooking the surrounding countryside. Visit the magnificent Chatsworth House, where you can stroll through the beautiful gardens and even milk a cow on the farm behind the big house.
For Austen’s devoted fans, it is possible to visit the writer’s house in Chawton (Hampshire district), her birthplace in Steventon, as well as Basildon Park, which inspired Netherfield Park in the book.
The House of Spirits, by Isabel Allende – Chile
The book by Isabel Allende portrays the history of several generations of the Trueba family and their life in the interior of Chile and also in the capital during a period of many social and political changes. With the use of magical realism, the book explores the landscape and identity of Chile and is a captivating read before, during or after a trip to the Country.
Chile is famous for its inspiring nature, from arid deserts to glaciers and volcanoes, as well as fine wines. If you are the type that is interested in wine tasting, plan a visit to the valleys of Casablanca and Colchagua. With a little research, you’ll be on your way to sample the best Chardonnay of your life.
To contemplate the local flora and fauna, go to Tolhuaca National Park, where you will see araucarias, Pudú deer and black woodpeckers. Not to mention the Volcano Tolhuaca with its two thousand meters high, dominating the landscape of the park.
Photos: Reproduction