Review: Like her style
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 8, 2012
Ms. Crosley is going to Quito, the capital of Ecuador, because a travel magazine wants a story about the area, complete with interaction with the locals. She doesn't speak Spanish by the way, just one indication of the poor planning involved in her adventure. Before she leaves home someone suggests that while she's in the area she should climb one of the highest active volcanos in the world. It turns out to be not as easy as the receptionist at her hotel indicates (she and her boyfriend went last month.) She does arrange a guide for Ms. Crosley, assures her "He is a climber who is a very good climber," leaving out the fact that he speaks very little English. The woman indicates that our intrepid traveler will enjoy the experience. She doesn't.Ms. Crosley's "aversion to over-packing and its uptight cousin, overplanning" almost did her in. She's also geographically challenged, gullible, and stubborn enough to succeed in spite of herself.I had previously not read any of Ms. Crosley's work. She has a real talent for humor and for telling a story. Her writing style is crisp, easy to read, and I enjoyed this essay very much. I'm going to buy her books.