The premise of this book is simple, just jump on a Eurostar train at St Pancras and head off into a lovely city for a weekend break. Great idea but not so easy if you are in Inverness or Blackpool. It is also difficult if you have less cash than writers living the London high life. Another difficulty is Brexit. Since the book arrived in 2011 things re crossing borders have changed, travel now has hold ups not imagined at the time this book was written.
I already have 'Ticket to Ride' and 'From Source to Sea,' two of the authors other books, both of which were an enjoyable read, so I thought I would attempt this one also. There was one slight flaw here. A travel book is about travel, the places visited, and the peoples met. Good writers, and Tom Chesshyre is a good travel writer, and his writing in this book when describing the places and people visited is indeed good. However, on this journey he is accompanied by a female referred to at all times as 'E.'
This is where the book falls down.
Instead of travel writing this is a blog for family and friends about the couples weekends. Weekends in which visiting places and describing the area in a manner which takes the reader into those places is replaced with a quest to see how many references to wine bars and their contents can be found. Half the book, and I only got half way before I gave up, concerns wine bars and alcohol in various countries, the wine, beer and spirit being alongside details of her problems being more important than the city around them. Travel brings problems but do we need to know all the minor ones we at home are already suffering ourselves?
Paris, Lille, Dijon, Lausanne and Antwerp are alcoholic stops for the couple. Now I confess little interest in visiting any of these places, and the writing does not inspire me, especially as if I were to follow the couple around my liver would need replacing by the time I returned. In themselves some of the destinations may be worthwhile for a weekend or longer, however, I wonder about those who appear to notice the surroundings via bleary eyes. I can remove my glasses and get similar pictures and save money.
I confess I gave up in Lausanne. His 'E,' may have been impressed by the despotic cleanliness, the views over the lake, and the expensive room, but her contribution lessened the effect of his writing. It was possible to carry her long with him and stick to describing the places, instead he had to include 'E' in everything. Very romantic, but poor journalism.
Next time, I suggest he throws his baggage in the car, and drops her off at her mothers.
I do not recommend this book, but his others are worth a look.
