Travel and home are invariably intertwined
“Travel writing isn’t really an exploration of where you’ve been, so much as an explanation of where you’ve come from. All journeys end up at the same address. Back home. Travelers don’t write for the people they visit, but for the people they’ve left behind.”
–A.A. Gill, AA Gill is Away (2002)
March 8th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
No matter where you travel to, you always remember the little girl (or boy) you were who would be so excited to see how your life has turned out. Part of that is writing to inform people at home of how much that child has changed – either to prove that their way is wrong or just to talk and contintue the converation. Most of us don’t talk abotu travelling in everyday converstaion because it comes across as pretentious or is just boring to those at home. So when we write we offer them the choice to read it or not, to become part of our new world or not.
March 8th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
I like the childhood analogy, Niamh — thanks!
March 10th, 2010 at 8:00 am
This post was the most beautiful thing to read first thing this morning! I agree in every way!
March 11th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
This hits me as bitter-sweet…