Half a century ago, the travel book was a respected genre. The author took us down untrodden paths, to places we were very unlikely to go ourselves. He was not on a package tour, but had to make arrangements as he went, stop at places that would not get a single star in our guide books. Now hundreds can make his trip at leisure. As you read this you will be about to go or have just returned.
Travel is addictive.
We have here no lasting city, as the psalmist says, but having seen the sights and tasted the food and marveled at the art, having been rushed and hurried and harassed, having haggled and usually lost, after spending far more than we intended, we unlock the door of our house with that indescribable delight of being home at last. May the voyage of our life end as well.