Arnie Weissmann
Tough couple of years. No matter where in the travel ecosystem you sit, whether in the C-suite of a major cruise line or at your dining room table, you have overcome challenges. Serious challenges.
And you're still here.
Time to reward yourself. I hope that somewhere in the next few weeks you'll have a little well-earned downtime. In anticipation of that, as you're shopping for others, keep an eye open for something that you'll enjoy.
If you're in need of unsolicited suggestions, I have some -- a smattering of books that came across my desk (or rather, my dining room table) in 2021.
First, from the folks who brought us the wondrous "Atlas Obscura" (Workman Publishing, 2016) comes "Gastro Obscura" by Cecily Wong and Dylan Thuras (Workman Publishing, 2021).
Its predecessor shined a spotlight on myriad lesser-known attractions around the world. For example, the Museum of Counterfeit Goods in Bangkok, which showcases 400 fake watches, handbags, perfumes, etc., displayed next to the real deal. The Atlas also, for instance, tells readers where, in Florence, to find Galileo's preserved middle finger, artfully displayed in a clear goblet.
"Gastro Obscura" takes a similar approach, but with a focus on unique epicurean offerings. There are, naturally, food festivals featured: I learned that the citizens of St. George, S.C., who claim to eat more grits per capita than anywhere else, celebrate this accomplishment annually by, among other things, jumping into a 3,000 pound vat of corn mush.
There are destination-related origin stories; Clamato was not, it turns out, the first clam-juice-infused tomato drink.
There aren't recipes in the book but enough descriptive clues to inspire and help you surprise your holiday guests. If you've a mind to prepare, for instance, stink bug tacos (douse 'em in lime and wrap 'em in a tortilla), the book will tell you where, in Taxco, Mexico, to find the critters. Their flavor, it's noted, is reminiscent of cinnamon and mint, though with a pungent flavor.
Did I mention the tacos are to be consumed while the bugs are still alive?
Like the Atlas, the book is organized around destinations so, no matter where you're headed, you can quickly consult it for dining suggestions.
The best destination-focused book I came across in 2021 is "Magdalena: River of Dreams," by Wade Davis. (Knopf, 2020). Although the hardcover came out last year, I'll use the release of its Vintage Books Edition paperback this year as an excuse to include it.
Wade, a prolific chronicler of often remote and beautiful places, links the landscapes and people who live along the Magdalena River to the nation of Colombia itself, writ large. Much more than a travelogue -- its sweep is historical, environmental, cultural and societal -- it's nonetheless the best type of travelogue and would make a fantastic gift not only to yourself but to any client headed in that direction.
On the other hand, "The Passenger," by Chaney Kwak (Godine, Publisher, 2021) is probably not the book you want to give to a client, particularly if they're headed out to cruise the fjords in Norway. Travel writer Kwak was aboard the ill-fated Viking Sky voyage when its guests were dramatically rescued after the ship was battered by a terrible cyclone.
It's a sobering read for anyone associated with the cruise industry. The writer focuses on the 27 hours between the initial problems and his rescue, overlaying the drama of his personal life onto events. His writing can certainly be entertaining; he's both self-conscious and self-aware in his observations, projecting his biases about cruising but also aware he's doing so. It's a fast read and one that industry readers will find falls somewhere on a scale where "insightful" is at one end, "provocative" is in the middle and "annoying" is at the far point.
Another industry-related volume was penned this year by consultant Cindy Bertram. In "Message From the Dog ... Learnings From Great Humans" (self-published, 2021 -- available on Amazon), Bertram -- or her dog, co-author Miss Zooey -- draw life lessons from well-known industry personalities, including Southwest Airlines founder Herb Kelleher, AmaWaterways co-founder Rudi Schreiner, MSC Cruises USA chairman Rick Sasso, Epic Enterprise Tours owner Patricia Rickard, former Visit Orlando CEO Gary Sain and Celebrity Cruises' Capt. Kate McCue.
And finally, travel in the pandemic is well-documented in the latest edition of "Best American Travel Writing" (Mariner Books, 2021). This edition of the series is edited by model-turned-"Top Chef"-host Padma Lakshmi.
It includes pieces from well-known travel writers like Paul Theroux and Bill Buford and reprints articles from high-profile travel publications, including Travel + Leisure and Outside. But also represented are Playboy and the New Yorker as well as lesser-known travel websites. From the Borneo rainforest to the canyons of Las Vegas, from Senegal's music scene to a Manhattan pandemic exile's adjustment to West Virginia, the book shows the ways that even a lockdown results in creative travel experiences.