Inspired by travel: In the footsteps of my second novel Bon Voyage!
‘My destination is no longer a place, but a new way of seeing.’ Marcel Proust.
There are so many places in the world to see and explore. So far I have visited over twenty-one countries. The enriching experience of travel has allowed me to discover new cultures, different foods, numerous landscapes, foreign languages, traditional arts, and various beliefs and values.
In 2014, I returned to Europe and traced the footsteps of my characters in my second novel Bon Voyage! The story follows the journey of Amanda, a first time traveller and the Go Hikey group.
When in Barcelona, Amanda and the tour group watched flamenco dancing, drank Sangria and ate tapas. I sat in the audience of a flamenco show watching the dancers showing their passion through movement as they stomped around the stage and clapped their hands.
After this passionate dance performance another welcoming experience was the rich sweet taste of the Sangria combined with a delicious tapas of tuna on crusty bread.
There is so much to love about Spain.
The Go Hikey group also travelled to France and so did I. Visiting Monet’s garden in Giverny allowed me to follow in the footsteps of Amanda and Carly, her new travel companion. The two girls felt as though they were enveloped in a waterlily painting. The lake filled with colourful lillies of pink, purple, yellow and orange were complemented by the images of trees that were reflected in the crystal clear water. I too felt like I was in Monet’s painting as I strolled around the pathways and now and then stopped to take in the magnificent views.
The sights of Paris are always a must do, visiting the Louvre, strolling the galleries displaying various paintings and seeing the Mona Lisa was something that Amanda had thoroughly enjoyed doing with Carly. The main attraction of Paris, can you guess? The Eiffel Tower.
As I traced the footsteps of my characters and relived their experiences, I felt happy. I had photos with my novel Bon Voyage at these locations. Please enjoy the photos below. If you have not read Bon Voyage! you must get a copy soon.
Happy reading.