Route 66 AD: On the Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists - Softcover

Perrottet, Tony

3.82

508 ratings by Goodreads

9780091888060: Route 66 AD: On the Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0091888069 ISBN 13: 9780091888060

Publisher: Ebury Press, 2003

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Brilliant Australian travel writer Tony Perrottet traces the Mediterranean itinerary of the world's first tourists - the ancient Romans - with the help of an archaic guidebook from the era. Tony's entertaining narrative is combined with a witty, intelligent discussion of ancient history and culture compared with our own lives today. There are more similarities that you might imagine. Tony, facing imminent fatherhood, is keen for one last wild holiday, but as this pursuit frequently leads him into trouble, the level-headedness of his pregnant girlfriend keeps on saving the day. They make their journey from Rome, through Greece, Turkey and finally to Aswan, Egypt. Along the way they scuba dive among the ancient ruins of Naples, meet isolated and frustrated monks (not just sexually) and Tony faces the protocol of whether to dance with the groom at a Nubian wedding. Route 66AD is informative, irreverent fun and the perfect holiday read.

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Review:

"Wunderbar! A deliciously juicy, and at the same time wonderfully academic book" -- Der Spiegel (Germany)

"an appealing mix of the zany and the arcane, juggling an energetic account of ancient Roman travel with a witty record of his own journey" -- New York Times Books Review

"rings wonderfully true" -- Times Literary Supplement

‘His account neatly weaves anecdotes from classical texts and his own encounters... well-informed and funny’ -- Daily Mail

‘Perrotet is an energetic joker and a wry tale-teller, but there’s a lot of learning here as well... a sparkling adventure’ -- Sunday Times

About the Author:

The need for perpetual motion has always been Tony Perrottet's most obvious personality disorder. Studying History at Sydney he regularly disappeared hitch-hiking through the Outback, or traveling through rural India (enjoying a brief, inglorious career as a film extra in Rajasthan). On graduation, he moved to South America as a roving correspondent where he covered the Shining Path war in Peru, drug running in the Colombian Amazon and several rebellions in Argentina. Now living in Manhattan he continues to commute to Iceland, Tierra del Fuego and Zanzibar, while contributing to Esquire, Outside, the New York Times and the Sunday Times. Route 66 AD will appear in translation in Germany, Japan, Holland and Brazil.

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