I just finished reading Around the World in Eighty Days, a book some say is one of the “best travel books of all times”. Since The Heritage Traveler, in large part, is a blog for bookworms who love to travel, I thought I should give it a read.
In case you don’t know the book, the plot is simple: Phileas Fogg is a Londoner who accepts a sizable bet from four members of his prestigious gentleman’s club to go around the world in eighty days. He and Passepartout, his valet, set out. They are hotly pursued by Detective Fix of Scotland Yard, who thinks Fogg has robbed a bank and is traveling to avoid arrest. On their journey, the three encounter accidents, diversions, and surprises.
Actually, at first, I didn’t think Fogg was much of a traveler since he “descends the whole length of the beautiful valley of the Ganges without ever seeing it.” But he proves his mettle later on.
Still, this is a journey that revolves around time rather than the experience of place.
Did Fogg make it back to London and win his bet? You’ll have to read the book to find out. The other thing you might discover — or at least think about — is: “What kind of traveler are you?” And what role does time play in your travels?
A recent study suggests that there are five kinds of tourists. They are:
- passionate
- well-rounded
- aspirational
- self-guided
- keeping it light.
Hopefully, The Heritage Traveler has something to offer each. However, I’m also interested in travelers who don’t fit neatly into one of these marketing categories. You might call them the ‘intentional’ or ‘purposeful’ traveler. These are the people who are committed to protecting the cultures and environments they visit. I hope you are one of them.
Why do you travel? Is it:
- to escape from your daily routine?
- to make your heart grow fonder?
- to experience different cultures?
- because you have wanderlust?
- to seek creativity?
- because your friends expect you to?
- to avoid problems at home?
- to do away with boredom?
- because your job requires it?
- to see the natural wonders of the world?
Or — do you want to do good and change the world?
Contribute your thoughts and your comments. Let me know what you’re interested in and what you want to talk about. I look forward to getting to know you.
The Heritage Traveler will help you decide where and when to go, but we also offer lots of tools and techniques to help you preserve your experiences and share your memories. For, after all, no matter where we go or what we see, there is always a story to tell!
If you’d like to learn more about the travels of Phileas Fogg and Passepartout, check out The Extraordinary Journeys: Around the World in Eighty Days (Oxford World’s Classics)
My name is Lisa (pronounced Liza) Wolfe. I'm a writer, photographer, political scientist, new media maven and editor/creator of The Heritage Traveler. I earned my travel stripes as a trip planner and tour leader in the Middle East, and as a "top 10" travel agent in the United States. I've also designed individualized tours to hard to reach places and established exchange linkages while working in World Heritage areas in the Caribbean. My goal now is to provide you with accurate and complete information on ethical and sustainable heritage travel. I hope you will visit The Heritage Traveler often. Meanwhile, Happy Traveling!