Bookish Journeys: Exploring fictional worlds in real-life locations
Bookish journeys: Exploring fictional worlds in real-life locations
Literature has an astounding ability to transport us to far-off exotic lands, ignite our imagination and awaken our sense of wanderlust without having to leave home.
Books provide us a window by which to explore the world and allow us to experience different cultures, landscapes, just as in actual, without having to move our feet.
Whether you are an avid traveler or simply an armchair explorer, certain books have that unique power to fuel our desire to embark on newer journeys.
The purpose of this blog is to educate readers who love reading about fictional worlds, how captivating books can be in prompting us to visit some of these literary real-life locations, at our own leisure.
Antarctica
A cruise is the best way to explore this least unpopulated place on earth and avail of unparalleled opportunities to view breathtaking landscapes, iconic wildlife and the unique polar environment which has made this place the most fascinating destinations on earth.
For readers of Scott, Amundsen and their race to the South Pole, Antarctica has forever proved to be an inexhaustible source of inspiration for visitors, even more than a century after the deaths of these legendary explorers.
From biographies of these early explorers to memoirs from modern wildlife enthusiasts, reading up the history of Antarctica will contextualize what it means to step foot on the white continent before you step foot on the cruise ship.
Sail on an Antarctica cruise through glacier strewn waters, abundance of bird and animal life and dramatic landscapes in the company of expert naturalists as you slowly glide your way through this land of extremes.
Verona, Italy
Shakespeare may have never set foot in Verona, but that has not stopped this beautiful city of Italy to embrace the classic “ Romeo and Juliet” with full fervour.
Even today, the bronze statute of Juliet on the famous Casa di Giulietta balcony from where Romeo wooed her, draws thousands of visitors every year, while asking for love advice from the team of volunteers posted here.
Besides the romantic background, Verona is a lovely city by itself, especially with the terracotta roof tops, the Roman amphitheater and the narrow winding lanes, that surprisingly provide a moving experience.
Edinburgh, Scotland
You will find much of “ Harry Potter” scribbled on the walls of cafés in Edinburgh because this was the place J K Rowling wrote this famous book. Fans flock to Spoon, The Elephant House and Greyfriars Kirkyard, where gravestones bear the names of “Riddle” and “McGonagall”.
However, apart from the Potter mania, Edinburgh hosts an International Book festival and a Scottish storytelling center and was among the first to get the UNESCO City of Literature award in the world.
In his book, Rowling also relied heavily on the grandeur of the Oxford University and its centuries old tradition which made this place a prime location for scenes from several Harry Potter films.
Paris, France
No matter what you say, there is no doubt that the epic Dan Brown thriller,” The Da Vinci Code” redefined the Paris tourism scene for generations to come.
The novel has a dizzy mix of art, history and conspiracy which has been expertly woven through some of the city’s most iconic locations, including the Louvre Museum and the Saint Sulpice church to name a few.
Even otherwise, visiting Paris is not a bad idea, but the thrill of standing in front of Mona Lisa and knowing well that Robert Langdon sprinted past this very same spot is undeniable.
Alaska and the Yukon
Books like “ White Fang” and “Call of the Wild”(Jack London) set in the Arctic, immediately bring to mind visions of swirling snow and dark evergreen forests, but summer in Alaska is a different world altogether.
With colourful houses, gigantic glaciers against a backdrop of steel-grey mountains and breaching humpbacks, it comes as no surprise that books set in Alaska and the Yukon portray loss, grief and murder.
Luckily, you are not likely to encounter any of these eerie happenings at an all-inclusive lodge where you can practice your fishing skills or take a float plane ride to the edge of the Alaskan Range to enjoy surreal views of the Denali National Park.
Another excellent way to explore Alaska is by cruise by opting for a weeklong voyage either from Juneau or Sitka which includes a shore excursion to Denali National Park.There are a number of mainline cruise companies which operate trips here.
New England, USA
Covering an area of over 70,000 square kilometres from Rhode Island and Connecticut to Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, with all of these great historical places comes equally great literature.
While the American classic “ Little Women” (Louisa May Alcott) tugged the hearts of every reader, New England has always been associated with a sense of calm. People have been flocking to Rhode Island and Cape Cod since generations.
Also with many prestigious institutions and rich summer cottages of the fabulously wealthy based in the heart of New England, it is no wonder that there are so many amazing real-life literary destinations here.
Peru, South America
From Che Guevara’s “ Motorcycle Diaries” to Kim MacQuarrie’s “ Life and death in the Andes” there is plenty of great South American literature that takes inspiration from the various countries of which ishe revolutionary Che Guevara’s epic journey from Buenos Aires to Peru is an excellent example.
There are scores of jaw-dropping real-life literary destinations in South America, but none so impressive as Peru, known throughout the world as the best adventure country.
Here you can follow in the footsteps of the Incas on the legendary Machu Picchu Inca Trail or hike through the incredible Sacred Valley Which sits between Machu Picchu and Cuzco City.
This fetching corner of the Andes od worth exploring with its secluded towns and weaving villages. Star attractions here are the high Inca citadels of Ollantaytambo and Pisac. Also, in South America, it is easy to combine Peru with Chile or Ecuador and Brazil with Argentina.
