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A great book can transport us to a different world and make us fall in love with a place. It can also be an excellent resource for trip planning. I asked members of the Stratford Reads Facebook Group what novels inspired them to travel to a particular country. Here are some of their responses.




While telling the story of the main character’s last 100 days of life, living the way he always should have and making every moment count, Fausto Brizzi paints a beautiful picture of the Italian landscape.

 

A tale of the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name.



 

Kate Mosse paints a vivid picture of southwest France in this historical fiction series.



 

From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. A memoir describing a 1,100-mile hike and journey of self-discovery on the Pacific Crest Trail through California and Oregon and into Washington.


 

Based on a true story of a man who breaks out of a maximum-security prison in Australia and flees to the underworld of Bombay where he works as a doctor in the city’s poorest slums.



 


A story about two misfits who walk along the Camino de Santiago from France to Spain to find themselves and, perhaps, each other along the way.



 

A magical description of Taiwan. Interlacing a personal narrative with Taiwan's history and terrain, Two Trees Make a Forest is an intimate examination of the human relationship with geography and nature, and offers an exploration of one woman's search for history and belonging amidst an ever-shifting landscape.




 







Here are some virtual travel experiences to enjoy from the comfort of your own couch.


1. Discover the beaches of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve in British Columbia and the magnificent peaks of Banff National Park via Google Earth.


Banff National Park


2. Sit back with your coffee and visit the Trevi Fountain in Rome in real time.


Trevi Fountain


3. Let a guide take you on a video tour of Gros Morne National Park in Western Newfoundland.


Gros Morne


4. Check out the world’s best galleries and museums with Google Arts & Culture, a platform that allows you to take digital tours of legendary places like the Guggenheim in New York City and the Louvre in Paris.


Louvre



5. Join the Times architect critic Michael Kimmelman on virtual walking tours through 17 New York City neighbourhoods.




6. Relax and meditate during an aerial tour of beautiful beaches in Portugal.


Algarve


7. Take a break from the view out your window and take a look out someone else’s with Window Swap. You’ll be transported to a stranger’s windowsill for up to 10 minutes. Bored with someone’s view of Sydney Harbour, just click a button and you’ll be transported somewhere else.




8. Take a journey through every country in the world with Lonely Planet's Travel Book.



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