A breathtaking overseas journey that will warm your heart and make you smile.
Pam and Dave embark on their dream sabbatical, their Bel Sogno, a year of European travel in the honest and endearing memoir Braving the World: Adventures in Travel and Retirement. If you are a planner or any amount of a control-freak, Pam’s struggles and challenges will truly hit home. How do you get a cell phone plan to work or access an ATM without exorbitant fees in another country? What about the language? An apartment? Transportation? Health care? All of these things are covered in practical detail as Pam recreates her delightful year abroad.
After 2020, many of us are suffering from a major case of wanderlust. It feels like a vibrant breath of fresh air to experience other lands and cultures through the eyes of one intrepid couple. Were there problems and disappointments? Sure. But it is how Pam and her husband not only handle the inconveniences, but manage to find wonder in the mundane that really strikes a chord. The feeling of excitement and newness from things as minor as unrefrigerated eggs to bulk wine shops, is conveyed with an endearing sense of enthusiasm and care.
From Croatia to Rome, and Venice to Paris, Pam and Dave are able to let go of some of their worries and simply enjoy living. The couple also experiences a sort of reset on their marriage, allowing them the freedom to fully appreciate the beauty of other lands and peoples. And just as Pam keenly feels it, one can imagine the conflicted feelings about returning home to the ordinary after such a long, enlightening trip. If you tend to find new adventure in the simplest of things or have a passion for travel, you’ll love joining Pam and Dave. Braving the World is a breathtaking overseas journey that will warm your heart and make you smile.
