Bill Bryson is an amazing author, as I have recently discovered, and there is no better book to introduce me to his interesting, witty and compelling adventures and writing style, than Neither Here Nor There; Travels In Europe.
Neither Here Nor There is the tale of Bryson’s final trip around Europe before returning to America to give his kids the experience of living in another country, and to let his wife experience late night shopping (and, because he has decided his country needs him).
He begins his journey by going to the coldest place in Europe at the coldest time of year in the hope of seeing the amazing “Northern Lights”. Although he hates the cold, and the bus trip there is most unpleasant, and he initially finds the town mostly dead and unexciting and soon loses all hope of seeing the etheral Northern Lights, he is eventually blessed with the amazing sight that is the Aurora Borealis.
The “Aurora Borealis“ thanks to wikipedia.
From there he heads back to England before continuing on in the summer from Paris across Germany and Italy into Eastern Europe and finally arriving in Istanbull, Turkey. From the cafes of Paris to the busy war-scarred streets of Eastern Europe, Bryson uses his uniquely witty and charming writing style to craft an exciting and romantic idea of European travel.
A highly recommended read for anyone with even a slight interest in Europe, Backpacking, or Travel at all.