Download - A Book on Travel

8/12/2019 A Book on Travel

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a book on travel


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a book on travel

by Christopher Erdos


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#1.

But we never simply journey through

an afternoon. We sit on a train. Lunch

digests awkwardly within us. The seat

cloth is grey. We look out the window at

a field. We look back inside. A drum ofanxieties revolves in our consciousness.

We notice a luggage label affixed to a

suitcase in a rack above the seats oppo-

site. We tap a finger on the window ledge.

A broken nail on an index finger catches

a thread. It starts to rain. A drop wends

a muddy path down the dust-coated window.

We wonder where our ticket might be. We

look back out at the field. It continues

to rain. At last the train starts to move.

It passes an iron bridge, after which it

inexplicably stops. A fly lands on the

window. And still we may have reached the

end only of the first minute of a com-

prehensive account of the events lurking

within the deceptive sentence He jour-

neyed through the afternoon.

from THE ART OF TRAVELAlain de Botton


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#2.

I went to Florence, Italy to study art for a month.

Expectations are a devil of a thing.So is anticipation.

They are traps and snares covered in fallen leaves.


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#3.

It will never feel right when someone asks how a trip was; pleasedont ask. If you are genuinely interested, find another way toask than How was it?

Memory is another devil, especially when its put on the spot. Itsimplifies, manipulates, and packages wonderful, dreadful, complexexperiences into words like good or fantastic or rough.


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#4.

It always seems to me that Ill be well whereI am not, and this question of moving is one

that Im forever entertaining with my soul.

-Charles Pierre Baudelaire


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#5.

a poem #14

Its hot and now I smellbad. I like to look atother people. I liketo see how they dress. Iwonder what goes on intheir heads in themornings beforethey see people. I wonderwhat they think of themselves.I wonder if we allwonder these things.I smell so bad I have to go home.


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#6.

There are angels too though. Good company is an angelthat can change how you perceive an experience.

Ernest Hemingway says, Never go on trips with anyoneyou do not love.

Switching from feeling like a tourist to feeling likea non-tourist is another angel. Finding quietness in acity is special.

#7.

a poem #1

whats the problem? this is whatI like to do.lie in my bed and watchThe Sopranos.I do not want to goto a bar with you.that sounds stressfuland expensive.I like it here, and Ilike to e-mail mygirlfriend, which I cannotdo from your sillybar.im not thirsty either.


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#8.

An east facing window brings me peace.There are things to find pleasure in.

Learning, photographs, and smiles are a few.

#9.

a poem #8

the tickingclock while Imtrying to sleepis reminding meof the ticking clockin my boyhoodbedroom whenI was tryingto sleep.


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#10.

Angels

A hug for your birthdayTaking a bathMaking friendsReadingBeing confused for a nativeWaking up to the sunFlowersWatching touristsOrdering food in the native tongueBuying food in open marketsTaking picturesThe perfect temperatureGreat tortellini

#11.

Demons

Losing an umbrellaForgetting deodorantA blister on your achilles heelTourists using flash under the sunMissing a trainOversleepingLong distance relationshipsUsing dish soap as dishwasher soapWhen your roommate smells badAllergies/snotComplainingLong distance relationships


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There is a string connecting everything thatexists and I am interwoven. Every action pulls

on the string and everything on the stringfeels the vibration; everything is connected.Art is influenced and influencing and so am I.

A book on travel was written and created by

Christopher Erdos in the Fall of 2013. Thephotographs were taken with 35mm C-41 and E-6color film and scanned. 25 copies printed by

the Wheaton College Copy Center.

http://er-dos.com


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