Tag Archives: writing

ON THE HIPPIE TRAIL: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer by Rick Steves

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This was an easy-to-read and fun look at Rick Steves’ first foray into reporting on foreign countries outside of Europe. When he was 23, he took a break from teaching piano (who knew?) and, along with a buddy, decided to travel the “Hippie Trail,” a popular itinerary in the Middle East and South Asia among young people in the late 1970s. As he traveled, he kept a detailed journal, which he found years later and decided to lightly edit the entries and publish, along with providing numerous photos and journal samples.

Despite the “white male privilege” aspects, where his self-awareness went by the wayside a few times, Rick’s journey was fascinating. And while some have criticized his writing skills and observations, one must consider his age and limited life experiences. However, I found the narrative very appealing and think it could be enjoyable to listen to as he narrates the audiobook.

If you are a fan of Rick Steves, pick this up to enjoy the beginnings of his writing and traveling career. This would also make a lovely gift, as the print book features high-quality paper and numerous photos.

After writing the above review, I came across another book with the same itinerary set at the same time period, featuring a very similar cover. Strange Bewildering Time: Istanbul to Kathmandu in the Last Year of the Hippie Trail by Mark Abley was written two years ago. I haven’t read it yet (and am not sure I will), but he appears to have had many of the same experiences as Rick Steves’s, although his perspective includes more of a reflection on the trip and experiences. The reviews are mixed, with some saying it’s well-written (the author is a poet) and some saying it’s not, so who knows.

BOOKS ABOUT BOOKS – 1973-2025

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Check out my updated header, where I’ve changed the photo to showcase my current collection of BoBs (Books of Books).

Please excuse a bit of self-indulgence as I share my journey of journaling books.

In May 1973, when we moved to Salem, Oregon, I started keeping track of the books I read, using an old steno pad. I quickly graduated to composition notebooks, finally settling on green stone paper notebooks in January 2020, which, while not particularly attractive, house wonderfully smooth writing paper. (I have a thing for smooth writing paper and pens, but that’s a post for another day — bet you can’t wait, eh?). It’s a task I have never regretted, and as soon as I close the cover of a book (or turn off my Kindle), I immediately add the title to the notebook, along with a Goodreads entry. I estimate that I have over 5,000 books noted in this collection of BoBs. It’s great fun to look back over what I’ve read and how my reading tastes have evolved, although upon reflection, they haven’t changed too much (looking at you, gothic novels), except by adding some new genres and topics.

It’s also amusing to see how much my handwriting has changed. Below is a photo of my first page in August 1973, and on the right is my current page. I am always surprised by how much I can remember just by seeing the book title, along with an occasional note about where I was while reading it (I still remember reading Flowers in the Attic on a beach in Lake Tahoe).

If you don’t keep track of your reading, start doing so; you will never regret it, and it’s a valuable tool for refreshing your memory on what you enjoyed over the years.

And taking a page from readers’ advisor extraordinaire, Joyce Saricks, I put them in the fireproof safe when we travel. One can’t be too careful with critical historical records.