Reseña del libro "A Long Lens On Other Places (en Inglés)"
Embark on a poetic journey through the world with A Long Lens On Other Places. This collection of poems, complemented by striking photographs, chronicles travels across continents and cultures, capturing the richness of these experiences in verse. From the heights of the Alps and Andes to the Caribbean Sea, these poems explore both the grandeur and the details of travel that leave lasting impressions. Enjoy the record of flying past Mt. Everest (Nepal) and the Nascar Lines in Peru. Ride camels (Egypt); horse-drawn carriages (Versailles), tuk-tuks (Thailand) as well as cable-car rides in Caracas and Rio. Take boat rides of various kinds on fabled rivers and seas (The Nile, The Thames, the Seine, the Mediterranean). This collection presents travel as more than just a destination, it is an experience of discovery, adventure, and reflection. The poems transport readers from the bustling open markets in Bangkok to the historic Khan El-Khalili market in Cairo to holy sites like The Vatican, Bethlehem, and the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Share visits to ancient wonders like the Pyramids of Egypt, the Leaning Tower of Piza and the Great Wall of China. The collection also offers a glimpse into cultural treasures, from admiring Rembrandt's The Night Watch in Amsterdam to witnessing the evolution of Titian's palette at the Louvre. In sum it takes readers to historic markets, museums, and holy sites, enriching the reading experience with historical and cultural insights.
Towards the end of the collection, the "Quick Notes" section presents snapshot-style poems-each a brief yet powerful reflection, like a travel diary capturing moments in just a few words. These serve as poetic postcards, encapsulating the essence of different places visited throughout the journey. These bite-sized poems are perfect for readers looking to savor travel moments in a more compact form.
On a pesonal level, A Long Lens On Other Places, is a collection of stories, written over several years, that highlight my adventures when I took a trip around the world, alone; as well as, stories from subsequent trips to Europe; South East Asia (India and Nepal); China; Russia; and, South America. Early adventurers travelled by sea and land; my excursions were by air and land. My love for travel grew out of having been born on an island that was part of what was then known as, The British Empire. I was always aware that there was a much larger world 'Out there'. At that time, travelling anywhere was a big deal. I remember when people dressed in their Sunday best, to travel by air. In my country, when people traveled abroad, whole families went to the airport to see them off. Times have surely changed. So many places and things we take for granted today, and are fairly easily accessible today, seemed so far away and unreachable, then. Reaching the top of Mount Everest was first accomplished when I was a teenager. Flying past Mount Everest and flying over the Nazca Lines in Peru were thrills I had not even dreamt about as a kid. They weren't even goals. It all seemed so distant then. My actually getting close to those places in later years, was especially thrilling.
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There are places I wish I had visited, and still do, for example, I want to go to the Artic Circle. I read that when you crossed into the Artic Circle using a particular route, you are given a certificate. I wanted one of those. I would love to see the Aurora Borealis. Another unaccomplished goal, is going around the world by sea. But I'm still here, and all things are possible, meanwhile, I hope you enjoy stories of places that I have in fact visited, over the past thirty years.
