BOOK TRAVEL II: CAROLYN CONFUSES THINGS

So, first my hubby just about had me convinced that we should take another river cruise. But then, just for the hell of it, I went back to reread a couple of Marlena de Blasi's books about Italy. Once I was immersed in those, I became absolutely convinced that we must go to Orvieto. I mean, what's not to love about a town where the average work day includes three trips to your favorite bar for shots of espresso, plus a trip to the drogheria (a spice shop as well as a coffee roaster) to get just enough coffee beans or dried fennel flowers or a pinch of cinnamon for you to use that day, "not because they fear a more abundant stash would grow stale -- the contents of the great glass spice jars are all pre-Flood -- but so they can come back again tomorrow." Then there is "the sanctity of ten o'clock pizza when the whole town craves its paper wrapped dose of it, warm, perfumed with rosemary and crunchy with sea salt," followed by a trip to the bakery to pick up the bread for lunch. Must finish up the shopping by noon, for at half past, everyone goes back to the bars for their aperitivi, where most likely there will be little plates of roasted nuts, fat green olives, shards of crumbling cheese, tiny salted pastries, and prosciutto-wrapped breadsticks, just to whet your appetite for lunch!  After lunch is the sacred nap, then "a little more work, sparkled by another espresso, some tiny marzipan-stuffed confection, or the smallest cup of gelato -- pistacchio or hazelnut or one made of white peaches and black rum. A good stretch, a yawn, and back again for an encore in the bars. The evening aperitivi. Then la passeggiata, the walk down the corso to take the air. A quick stop for more bread and home, then, to the table. And early to bed, since all of it begins again tomorrow." Sounds like my kind of town, no?

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But then my friend Paula arrived a couple of days ago, and she said "Have you ever considered a trip to Quebec? As crazy as you are about all things French, it might be the perfect compromise. Everyone I know who has been to Montreal just loved it, you'd eat great food, but you could probably get a direct flight from Austin, and not have to fret about missed connections or lost luggage. And, think how lovely and cool it would be there in summer!" Sounded pretty good, but still, I do so love traveling "by book", and I am so very invested in these Italian books, after reading them two or three times each!

Then sister Carolyn arrived, and confused things even further. Paula mentioned Montreal again, and Carolyn immediately says "Oh! Have you read any Inspector Gamache mysteries by Louise Penny? The ones that take place in and around Quebec City? You'd love them, and could probably get plenty of ideas for another of your travel-by-book vacations! Well, fudge. Guess we'll be heading to Half-Price Books today, to see if I can find any of her books, and to see if I can make this decision just a little more difficult! Anybody else got any book/town combos they want to throw into the mix, while we're at it?