I totally and completely bailed on reading Japanland for the Armchair Traveler’s Challenge. The library didn’t have it, Book Mooch didn’t have it, and even Border’s didn’t have it (in stock). Sure, I could have ordered it over Amazon, or even through Borders, but we all know how I feel about buying books I haven’t read yet.

So when I saw this book, by Ann Vanerhoof, reviewed over at Lotus Reads, and discovered that the library had it, I picked it up instead. And I’m glad I did.

Ann and her husband Steve work in the publishing business in Toronto. They go to work, they come home, they have their busy daily routine, but something is missing. And then one day, Steve suggests that they buy a cruising ship and sail to the Caribbean. It took them five years (or so) to save the money, but they did it. They bought a boat, which they named the Receta (Spanish for recipe; I loved that they called the dinghy Snack), and after setting their affairs in order, they headed south for two years. This book is the tale of that trip.

Most of the book is their trip south, the islands they stop and, and the yummy-looking recipes Ann gathers through their travels. I enjoyed Ann’s transformation, not only from a stressed career-oriented businesswoman to a relaxed human being who can enjoy life; but also from someone who was scared of every little thing on the ship to a confident, competent cruiser. I enjoyed their travels; I think on many levels they are the sort of traveler’s I’d like to be. At one point, they’re on Grenada for Carnival, and they decide to join in the fun.

To our surprise, though, we’ve discovered that not all cruisers are as determined as we are to get involved in island culture. Some aren’t only ignoring local events and music, they’re still eating much as they did back home. “They’ve got bigger freezers and more money than we have,” Steve says, “but I’ll bet they’re not having as much fun.”

There are many choice moments in this book. Ann and Steve’s friendship with Dingis on Grenada, the calypso music, conch as an aphrodisiac, Ann dealing with seasickness and the Mona Passage, all the exotic food, the fishing (Reading about them catching dorados/mahimahi was fabulous. Made me want some.), the sunshine, the warmth. This book made me want to travel (though I realized that cruising is definitely not for me). Made me do what I’ve always thought would be the ideal “vacation”: renting a house for a few months and exploring the area that way. It’s one of the reasons why I didn’t like the only cruise I’ve been on: I never got a chance to explore each of the places. We got of the big boat, were treated differently because we did, and were only exposed to that small part of the island that we had time — maybe only a few hours — for. Some islands we didn’t even get to see hardly at all. Our best experience, aside from Puerto Rico (which I would love to visit again), was on Barbados, where Hubby and I hired a taxi to drive us around the island. What I really wanted was what Ann and Steve created for themselves: experiences and friendships that enriched their lives.

Anyway. I thought about all this while reading. I thought about how I’d love to see the world. I thought about how I love my life, but sometimes it’s nice to just get away from everything for a little while. I wondered what Ann and Steve are up to now.

The quote on the back of the book from Kirkus Reviews really does sum it up (this time): “Finely crafted… portraits that prompt us to to see and to yearn: what travel writing is all about.” Yes, it is.