We are bypassing the culinary gluttony this year for. . . What else? Travel gluttony. So, as I was stuffing our bags instead of a turkey, I was thinking about how grateful I am for the freedom and ability to travel as well as the joy it brings.
I recalled a passage from Paul Theroux’s book, “Pillars of Hercules”. Thanksgiving seemed the perfect day to share it with you:
“Did the traveler, doing no observable work,
(Early morning Milano, Italy’s train station)
freely moving among settled, serious people, get a pang of conscience?
I told myself that writing – this effort of observation – absolved me from any guilt;
but of course that was just a feeble excuse.
This was pleasure.
No guilt, just gratitude.”
Happy Thanksgiving ~ we are grateful to all of you for stopping by on this Travel Photo Thursday. Remember to stop by Budget Travelers Sandbox for more armchair travel.
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Insightful from Theroux there - and appropriately complemented by your lovely Italian photos.
ReplyDeletethanks for visiting Sophie!
DeleteLovely photos :)
ReplyDeleteThanks much!
DeleteYour stomach will thank you that you have chosen the pleasures of travel over gluttony. A very Happy Thanksgiving to you.
ReplyDeleteTake 3 on the comments today! Your stomach will thank you that you have chosen the pleasures of travel over Thanksgiving gluttony.Have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteThe comments 'took' and thanks for adding them. We did find ourselves in Jackpot, AZ on Thanksgiving evening after an 11 hour drive. We are heading south through some incredibly beautiful country. . .a feast for the eyes!
DeleteI agree with Leigh, it's much better to create lasting travel memories.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving, Jackie!
Thanks for the good wishes, Marcia. We are on the road trip from our Pacific NW home to sunny Arizona. . .we are feasting on the sites we've passed. . .gluttony of experiences I guess.
DeleteInteresting quote. I have a Theroux novel on my bookshelf right now, one of many books that are waiting to be read. Like my plate at a Thanksgiving feast, I seem to have piled on more books than I can consume.
ReplyDeleteI love this particular Theroux book; would love to follow in his footsteps on this one. I am like you though, too many books and not enough time!
DeleteI haven't read Theroux’s “Pillars of Hercules”, so thank you for sharing a passage here. I am totally grateful for the pleasure of travel.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd enjoy that book. Can't imagine any of us not being grateful for travel and the experiences it brings. Hope you had a good Thanksgiving.
DeleteEach time I read one your "Italian posts" it makes me realize just how badly I want to return to Italy. I've not read "Pillars of Hercules" either, but I am going to add it to my winter reading list. Happy Thanksgiving...and personally, I would rather be stuffing my suitcase than a shopping cart. In fact, I have talked a friend of mine into going to the beach today. It will be cold and sunny, so we'll be looking for some good food and drink after a quick walk on the beach!
ReplyDeleteOh Nancie, just read his book and your travel juices will really be flowing. I keep fantasizing about doing the trip, following in his footsteps. And I love the thought of going to the beach. . .we hopped in the car and are doing a road trip (winter road trip? go figure!) to Arizona. I am writing from Utah. . .more to come.
DeleteWhat a beautiful and fitting passage and I love how you incorporated the wonderful Italian pictures in there. I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving! We decided to combine culinary and travel gluttony this year and spent Thanksgiving on a cruise. We may have just started a travel tradition :)
ReplyDeleteWell, it sounds like you did combine the best of both worlds. I think a Thanksgiving cruise would be a delightful tradition. Hope you are going to write about it! (I've been on the road and a bit behind in my blog reads, will check your site soon. . .) Glad you had a great holiday!
ReplyDeleteI don't think we have to be guilty of anything. Love your style of writing this post though. Gives me an idea to do something like this myself :)
ReplyDeletePaul Theroux’s book, “Pillars of Hercules” and Italy? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting. . .and joining the group of friends who follow our blog! Look forward to hearing more from you. And yes, Theroux and Italy - both two of our favorites!
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