In 1978, travel pro Rick Steves (Europe Through the Back Door) went on the adventure of a lifetime--overland from Istanbul to Kathmandu. He kept a journal, which he now shares with readers. Through Steves's clear and everyday language, On the Hippie Trail transports readers along with Steves and his travel companion, Gene Openshaw (who assisted in providing photos and editing the journals for publication), across vast scenic landscapes, down bumpy roads, past numerous border checkpoints, and beyond. In the current world of smartphones and constant connectivity, it is a refreshing novelty to witness someone in a land so unlike their own manage with nothing but a backpack, a good attitude, and some glucose biscuits (a favorite, it turns out, of Nepalese monkeys).
Splashed throughout are photographs from the journey and facsimiles of Steves's handwritten journal, allowing readers a peek into the unedited thoughts of the author. Not all fun and games, the adventures include their fair share of bug-infested hotels, sleeping outdoors or in unused train cars, and digestive issues. Still, he paints a rosy and nostalgic picture of his time as a 23 year old, fresh in the world, exploring and learning who he's going to be.
While readers familiar with the author will know him best for his work in Europe, he is equally at ease traversing 3,000 miles through Istanbul, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. This is not, however, a travel guide, but rather a reminiscence of a time gone by. An excellent airplane book, On the Hippie Trail is perfect for fans of adventuring, seeing the world, and any of Steves's other work. --Alyssa Parssinen, freelance reviewer and former bookseller