We know you are looking forward to the day when all the restrictions will get lifted and it’ll be safe to venture out into the world again. Until then, curl up on your sofa with a cup of tea and enjoy these classic travel stories for some armchair travel. By Manya Saini
While the radius of travelling for most people in the world has been reduced to different corners of their own homes right now, it is still possible to sit back and be transported to exotic destinations across the world. Fuel that globetrotter spirit with these travel stories set in places far and wide. Beat the lockdown blues by experiencing culture, history and communities through the eyes of these writers. These travel memoirs are the perfect way to satisfy the wanderer in you from the safety of your home.
1. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
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Explore Paris and its romance with this deeply personal account written by the celebrated author in his twenties. The memoir takes the reader around Parisian cafes and alleys through the eyes of a starving artist. It is an emotional account which brings the city of lights to life.
2. The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey by Ernesto “Che” Guevara
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If Latin America and its vibrant culture fascinate you, then this book is your chance to experience it up close and personal. The book, with its light prose and humour, is written with compassion as the writer reflects tradition, race and poverty throughout. A New York Times Bestseller, this is the perfect read to explore South America from the comfort of your living rooms.
3. Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert
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A classic and a popular film, this book took the world by storm. It follows Elizabeth Gilbert’s journey to finding contentment and satisfaction in different parts of the world. The book is a must read for anyone looking to find self-satisfaction and happiness to rally through tough times.
4. Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle by Dervla Murphy
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The memoir, based on the daily diary of the author, recounts Murphy’s adventure across Europe, crossing Persia, Afghanistan and Pakistan on her bicycle to reach India. A traveller all her life, she has written over a dozen books that map her travels around the world. The book holds an incredible story of resilience, teaching the importance of perseverance and never giving up on your dreams.
5. How Not to Travel the World by Lauren Juliff
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There are many travel memoirs that tell one how to travel, but this book is a rare gem written by an author who decided to impulsively backpack around the world in hopes of rediscovering herself. It recounts her many challenges and teaches the reader to accept and laugh at their own self with hilarity.