Hey Shades Readers!

We hope you are having an awesome October!

As you know, this month, we focused on traveling and finding out about the big world out there that we live in.  We’ve shared some of our favourite memories of trips gone by and we have also discussed some practical tips to help you plan your next journey.  We hope you have enjoyed and gotten some use out of our weekly entries. 

As we wrap up October and this topic, we wanted to share how you can learn about other countries and cultures but this time, without having to leave the comfort of your own home!  You might be wondering how to do that?  Well books and movies can transport you to different places in an instant!

There are a ton of books and films about traveling out there.  They can teach you so much about people and their culture or ways of life. 

One of our favourite movies is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) which is about the lead character going on a trip around the world, only to find out that what he has always wanted and needed was right at home.  It is a lovely movie that not only takes us on a global adventure, it also shows us how important it is to find ourselves as well.

A book that I read many years ago, but I still think about every so often is An Embarrassment of Mangoes by Ann Vanderhoof about her and her husband giving up corporate life to sail around the Caribbean.  She describes in detail the two-year journey that they experienced and she also adds some local recipes as well.  It is a great summer read. 

The quintessential travel guide comes in the form of a critically acclaimed tv show: Parts Unknown, starring the late Anthony Bourdain.  If you have not watched the show, you may think it is about cooking but it really isn’t.  Mr. Bourdain did more than show the local dishes of the country or the regions he was highlighting.  He showed the people and their ways of life, their struggles and their successes.  It is so sad that he is not with us anymore, but he has left quite a legacy. 

Shades readers, if you have ever wondered about a place or a people, pick up a book, watch a movie or a show – you might be surprised at what you learn.  Do you have any favorites you want to share?  Please comment!

Have a great week and please share us.