Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve
Travel appeals to millions as tourism invades even far reaches of the planet. Backpackers follow the cheaper path to adventure; the older battalions tend to choose the organised tour or the more relaxed cruise.
The thought of an enterprising couple hiring a car in Paris and regularly setting off to explore parts of Europe with limited language other than English and armed with a Satnav, was intriguing …
Roger and Judy, his wife, bravely did this on multiple occasions even though it meant seeing crowded Venice over seven times. I wondered why they did this as that unique destination has lost so much of its charm as it is choked by visitors and the rising waters. It also is hideously expensive.
They discovered some unexpected attractions, however. One, along the coast of Spain, not far from Barcelona, is Peñiscola with its 13th century castle and a history involving 500 years of Muslim rule and the Knights Templar.
On the shore of the Adriatic, Slovakia’s Piran offers delights they had been ignorant of and are determined to revisit.
In his matter-of-fact style, he tells of the stunning architectural beauty of Gorlitz, near Dresden which miraculously seems to have been unscathed by the horrors of War.
Possible delights were sorely hidden in the Polish town of Darlowka. Their accommodation was dire in its location and amenities and the place was freezing cold with a relentless boisterous wind. Language difficulties led to overcharging their credit card for three times the agreed amount.
At intervals, the couple found pleasant cafes and restaurants where they indulged in one of their favourite pastimes, people watching.
Since they chose to mostly travel in Summer, prices were high, places overrun, roads chaotic and the hot weather not encouraging to climb places of interest, or even stagger along the cobblestoned narrow streets.
I had expected to have a vicarious pleasure in the related travels of Roger and Judy, but must confess the sense of relief in my not enduring many of the episodes recounted. The theft in Milan followed by hours doing battle with the police there, and the various attempts to steal their wallets or backpacks in other parts of Europe are daunting to say the least.
On the Wrong Side of the Road is an apt title. It suggests uneasiness with the unfamiliar and the book conveys this well. It does not pretend to be a comprehensive guide such as The Lonely Planet series, but is an interesting perspective on the travel experience.
However I was disappointed by the illustrations which are black and white and unclear – not at all doing justice to the subjects portrayed. Strangely, the back cover alone is coloured.
After reading of the many pitfalls encountered by the pair, I do not regret following this path in exploring Europe and its myriad attractions.
The other Continents hold so many fascinating places of which one longs to learn more. Perhaps younger travellers could take up the reins there and dare to venture off the well beaten tracks?
On the Wrong Side of the Road
[2025]
by Roger Zubrinich
Wakefield Press
ISBN: 978 192338 817 8
$39.99; 282pp