Wayfarer’s Handbook

This small book is subtitled A Field Guide for THE INDEPENDENT TRAVELER.  Evan S. Rice is the author and he showcases much knowledge about traveling generally — without respect to any particular locale.

The irony of me reading this book is that I don’t plan to travel anywhere.  Ohio is as far south as I like to go, Chicago about as far west, and Maine is at the extreme northeastern edge of my normal journeys.  With books like this one and the National Geographic Channel, I am loathe to leave the comfort of my couch and my ready to hand supply of safe drinking water.  Not to mention air conditioning.

A couple of months ago, I wrote about another travel-type book Atlas Obscura.  My son said it was one of my best posts.  I suggested that that was because so little of the prose was original, it had largely be taken from the book.  He did not disagree, so it’s time to try that approach again.

The book defines a word I had never seen:  dromomania, which is an uncontrollable psychological urge to wander or travel.  We probably all have it to some extent.  Mine is quite local, I like to walk around.  Many people like to travel the world.  Now you know why:  you are a dromomaniac. (p. 37)

There are 1052 World Heritage sites, which are defined as “cultural or natural sites of exceptional significance, beauty, or historical relevance to humanity.”  A couple of examples in the United States are the Grand Canyon and Monticello.  Can you guess the three countries that have the most World Heritage sites? (p. 62)

Fifty-five World Heritage sites are considered endangered.  Examples include the Okapi Wildlife Preserve in Congo and the Ancient City of Bosra in Syria.  Those two countries lead the world in endangered World Heritage sites with six and five respectively.  Libya also has five endangered sites.  (p. 62)

Some countries are smaller than familiar US landmarks.  For instance, Vatican City is small than Augusta National Golf Course.  Monaco is smaller than Central Park in New York City.  Nauru is smaller than the main campus of Penn State.  Liechtenstein is smaller than Washington D.C.  (p. 101)

The oldest hotel in the world is in Yamanashi, Japan.  It has 35 rooms and has been continuously in operation since 705 AD.  (p. 169)  The oldest restaurant in the world is Sobrino de Botin (Botin Restaurant) in Madrid, Spain.  It has been continuously operated since 1725.  The signature dish is cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig), which my son describes as delicious.

The book mentions another phobia that many of us have without knowing that there is a word for it.  “Nomophobia” is the fear or anxiety associated with being without a cell phone or cell phone service.  (p. 186)

Italy has 51 World Heritage sites, China has 50, and Spain has 45.  The Sobrino de Botin is not one of them.

There are 44 landlocked countries in the world, but only two that are double-landlocked, meaning that they are landlocked and border only countries that are also landlocked. (p. 196)  Hint:  until the breakup of the Soviet Union there was only one double-landlocked country.

Another new word: asolare.  I love new words, though this one is Italian, so it probably doesn’t count.[1]  We all should asolare more often.  It means to pass time in a meaningless but delightful way.  I’m not sure whether this covers watching TV.  (p. 226)

Fun Factoids:

94% of people in the world have never flown in an airplane.

66% of people have never seen snow in person.

45% of people (aged 15 and older) have never consumed alcohol.  (p. 231)

I have highlighted the trivia that appeals to me.  I encourage you to read the book, which also contains much substance.  For example, it explains how to pack efficiently, the importance of sun protection and how it varies around the globe, how to barter and bargain, how to escape a riptide, various myths about wildlife, and how to protect yourself from dangerous wildlife.  The book also describes 27 common scams and how to avoid them and includes much more useful information.

Despite feeling better prepared, I will likely continue to do most of my traveling from my arm chair, relying on books and TV to take me to places I want to see but have no desire to visit.

[1] I was having dinner with some friends, including a few professors, the other night.  One of them used the word “indolent,” which another had never heard.  It amazed me that my very smart friend had no previous exposure to that word.  The word is very familiar to me because others have so often used it to describe me — or was that “insolent.”