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GoNOMAD Book Excerpt:
Award Winning Tales of Travel Fiascoes Edited by Roger Rapoport, Bob Drews, and Kim Klewscewski Roger Rapport, Bob Drews, and Kim Klewscewski have put together a conglomeration of true stories of travel fiascoes from destinations all over the globe. In I should have just stayed home travelers share their true vacation nightmares and unique touring debacles with interested and weary readers. Whether you find yourself naked on a beach in Indonesia after a wave steals your bathing suit or you're nearly strangled over a spilled beer at the Oktoberfest, this collection of short stories will humor, enlighten, and even terrify its readers.
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Time passed. Maybe all of ten seconds. The turbulence in my brain receded just a little. I was groggy, but so far-undamaged. Surprise: the lamp on my nightstand worked. Now to check off the items for the traveler's mantra: Passport-Wallet-Tickets, Passport-Wallet-Tickets, Passport-Wallet-Tickets.
They were on the dresser on the far side of the room. Problem: there was no longer another side of the room. Where it used to be - along with the bathroom and my suitcase - was a gaping void, and a mess of splintered timbers, mortar, twisted wires and broken glass.
I'm a San Franciscan, and my first thought was, "This is the Big One." But I was a long way from the San Andreas Fault , and it just didn't feel like an earthquake. What it turned out to be was much more prosaic - part of the outside wall of the building had collapsed, because of a sink hole.
The place was in shambles but nobody was seriously hurt. Four rooms were affected. We huddled in a little group in the lobby in various states of undress. The night clerk, the fire department and assorted functionaries comforted us, twittering their concern. Apologies and glasses of cognac were offered and accepted. Within a few hours new, and presumably more durable, accommodations were found for us.
When I returned to the hotel, after meeting my colleagues the following morning, repairs were already under way. There were more apologies, and even better, my belongings had been found, only slightly the worse for wear. My suitcase bears a wonderful array of dings and scratches from the incident, bestowing character and status, much like those colorful luggage labels that used to adorn old steamer trunks.
Buy This Book From Amazon I Should Have Just Stayed Home: Award-Winning Tales of Travel Fiascoes (Travel Literature Series)
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Buy This Book From Amazon I Should Have Just Stayed Home: Award-Winning Tales of Travel Fiascoes (Travel Literature Series) |
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