While travel may be put on hold for a while, it can be hard for those of us who spend a decent portion of our lives doing just that. It’s tough knowing when I may see some of my favorite places again. So what’s a travel blogger to do? I’ve been enjoying a little mental vacation here and there by going through some of our old travel photos. But there are other ways to get your travel fix, too. Plenty of books, movies, and even music can take you around the world. I thought I would compile my favorite ones for a mental vacation of your own.
Books
(Disclaimer: several of these take place in Italy or Paris – I’m partial to these places, what can I say?)
I will always recommend the book before the movie, but some of these are pretty great movies as well. I’ve linked everything so you can access a quick summary and purchase a copy, if you like. I have read each one of these and recommend each with love. Some delve into serious issues while others are a carefree break. I think there is something for just about everyone. For more detailed book reviews, be sure to check out my book list posts here. And let me know what you’re reading in the comments!
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen
The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi
The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
A French Wedding by Hannah Tunnicliffe
Under The Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes (also a great movie)
Children of the Jacaranda Tree by Sahar Delijani
The Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel
The Glass Room by Simon Mawer
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
The Bookman’s Tale: A Novel of Obsession by Charlie Lovett
The Martian by Andy Weir (for a far out adventure)
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (honestly, just read everything by him – so good!)
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
11/22/63 by Stephen King (a superbly crafted time travel adventure and one of the best books I’ve read in a long time)
Movies
The Devil Wears Prada (I include this one because of the trip to Paris)
Just Married (a comedy I always laugh out loud to)
The Tourist (an underrated favorite)
Any James Bond or Jason Bourne movie (who is your favorite Bond?)
National Lampoon’s European Vacation (the ultimate travel comedy)
Music
This is a wide and varied mix of some of my favorite songs that feature cities, in no particular order. From the catchy to the slightly corny, and classics in between. Add to your playlist!
City of Blinding Lights by U2 (you may recognize it from The Devil Wears Prada – so good!)
London Calling by The Clash
San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) by Scott McKenzie
Paris by The Chainsmokers
Galway Girl by Ed Sheeran
New York by Alicia Keys
Albuquerque by Neil Young
Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn
Amsterdam by Coldplay
New York Minute by Don Henley
Amarillo by Morning by George Strait
Englishman in New York by Sting
Angel of Harlem by U2
Berlin by Snow Patrol
Pompeii by Bastille
Beverly Hills by Weezer
Ventura Highway by America
City of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie
Escape from LA by The Weeknd
Havana by Camila Cabello
Los Angeles by Blink 182
Silver Springs by Fleetwood Mac
Take Me Back to London by Ed Sheeran
Malibu by Miley Cyrus
Vienna by Billy Joel
West End Girls by The Pet Shop Boys
Miami by Will Smith
Moscow Underground by Simple Minds
Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John
The Girl From Ipanema by Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto
Viva Las Vegas by Elvis
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Tell me, what are some of your favorite travel books, movies, and music?
xo – Erin
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Can’t Travel? Here are My Favorite Books, Movies, and Music for a Mental Vacation appeared first on CathedralsandCafes.com. If you see this content published anywhere else, please email cathedralsandcafes@gmail.com.
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