Travel two ways

When vacation begins, I am most excited about

Reading new books- I cannot travel without

A couple of them- both e-books and paperbacks

So that at no point in time I lack

Stimulation for my brain, or get bored

During long journeys with nothing to explore

For me, curling up with a book in a place new

Is included in my vision of an idyllic vacation too

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It is especially interesting to find a read

That is set in the place of my travel, indeed

It allows me to get an understanding comprehensive

Of my destination, and how people in it live

I compare what I see to the image in my head

Based on the description of the place I’ve read

To do it in real-time gives me a thrill inexplicable

An elevated travel experience for me it enables..

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I have traveled widely through books, but I confess

Traveling in person I have done much less

But each time I see a place I’ve read about extensively

That place takes on an otherworldly charm for me

I want to string into words my unique impression

Of the place, give my sense of awe some expression

*

In an engrossing book set in the place

Of my upcoming travel, I bury my face