Far and Away, and Farther and Farther Away

While daydreaming about the upcoming trip to Europe, I was thinking of how not so many years ago, there was quite a bit of work associated with the actual planning of it.  If one were not using the services of an Agent to book every single thing, then it was up to oneself (and one's traveling companion, perhaps) to decide where to go, what to see, who to see, et cetera.  Not that long ago, I remember spending a few weeks abroad, merrily hopping from one country to another with only a guidebook in one hand, partner in the other, and not caring a whit whether everything was of the best quality- you can of course blame that on youth and summer love.  How humorous in retrospect to think how it was to open a guidebook, drop some coins in a payphone and then try to book a room in languages that seemed not alien at all- again, the remarkable joy of being young and fearless.

Anyway, I happen to have a fun little item in my book collection.  It is the following- A Satchel Guide to Europe, which was from the turn of the last century.  Owned by one Mary E. Merkle, it was started in Rome in '99 (1899, mind you- not 1999) and has her notes in the back, a small American flag affixed to the front page, some flowers she collected and placed inside to be flattened, as well as a photograph/souvenir from a place she visited (and dated).  Lots of fun to look and read through, for the many descriptions.  How many of those places still exist?  How delightful it would be to revisit a hotel that Mary stayed at and say, "Good afternoon.  Mary E. Merkle stayed here on such and such a date," (then showing the proprietor the guidebook), and then adding, "According to this, the rate for a suite according to this book is roughly three dollars US, quite a good deal I would say,"  Of course I'd never do it, but I thought of it for the hell of it.

Even better is seeing how in the book, there are plenty of advertisements for ocean liners, as there were no planes back then for travel.  Nowadays, it's so dreadfully easy to book a flight and be there in no time at all.  Travel is meant to be enjoyed at a slow pace, no?

'99- as in 1899, not 1999, mind you.