Whenever I travel, I love to simply walk the streets and get to know a city from its cafes and bookshops. I don’t pass a single independent bookstore without going in to peruse its shelves. Whether in New York, London, Rome or Denver, each has such a unique personality. Visiting these shops and talking with their owners always gives me a great perspective on what's important to that community - old volumes and classics, regional food, history, political sway or modern literature. It also makes me feel connected despite being surrounded by strangers - wherever I am, there are bookish types that love to provide recommendations and discuss the newest items on the shelves.
National Geographic has compiled their list of “Top Ten Literary Cities”. I’ve visited a few, and now have great incentive to hit up the rest.
What literary travel experiences have you had? Any cities to add to the list? We’d love to hear from you - please share your thoughts!
Mural of Neruda graces the Bellavista neighborhood in Santiago, Chile. Photograph by Tomas Munita, The New York Times/Redux