My cousin Ron has been posting photos on Facebook as he travels to places many of us only dream of visiting. I’m envious. Those photos remind me of my own travels to other countries, of days soaking in the sights, sound, smells and even the feel on the skin that comes with the otherness of far-away lands. One really feels the shift of consciousness when returning home and finding that once-familiar things seem new.

For all the technological advances, today’s travel is chock full of frustrating inconveniences for most of us. Fortunately, we can still crack open a good book or fire up an e-reader and roam the world from the comfort of an easy chair. Where would you like to go next? If cities are your thing, I suggest these wonderful contemporary novels to transport you to some memorable places:

Paris, He Said – Christine Sneed (Paris)
NW – Zadie Smith (London)
Angels and Demons – Dan Brown (Rome)
Who is Mr. Satoshi – Jonathan Lee (Tokyo)
The Foreigner – Francie Lin (Taipei)
The Dog – Joseph O’Neill (Dubai)

Happy trails!