Title: Questing Marilyn: In Search of My Holy Grail, Personal Growth Through Travel
By Marilyn Barnicke Belleghem, M.Ed
Publisher: Quest Publishing
IBSN: 0-9734129-0-9
Format: Print, includes black and white photographs
364 pages
Cost: $19.95
Contact: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0...
Questing Marilyn is a multidimensional book about the author's travel experience to Britain and Ireland. The book begins as the stressed out author realizes that despite her overachiever attempts to have the perfect life (a loving family, a successful counseling career, and a sturdy religious foundation) that something is missing causing her to feel disconnected and ill content. In an attempt to reconnect and find herself, the author joins a group of colleagues and acquaintances on a tour of Britain and Ireland's sacred sites.
On this tour, the author is scheduled to visit sites such as Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge, Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury Abbey, Avebury, Tintigel, Bath, Kilkenny Castle, and New Grange. Furthermore, as part of this organized expedition, group tours, hikes, and self-development rituals are to be undertaken at many of these locations.
This book relays detailed information on the mythological, historical, and spiritual significance of each stop of the tour while providing unique insight into the accommodations, dining, shopping, and sightseeing opportunities are available near these sites. As much of the author's tour is specially organized, this information contains a good deal of insight not commonly found in most tour guides of Britain and Ireland.
Another important aspect of this book is that the author candidly discusses the pros and cons of group tours by detailing her experiences during this vacation. The reader can then use this information to decide if he or she would be more suited to directed group travel or more flexible individualized travel.
The most important message of this book, however, is the introduction of travel as a tool towards self-exploration and self-acceptance. Often, due to the busyness and chaos of daily life, individuals don't have the luxury or time to truly understand who they are and what they want from life. However, during a vacation, normal routines and responsibilities can be temporarily forgotten. Thus, vacation time is the perfect time to reflect on these very personalized aspects of one's life, how he or she feels about that life, and what they need to do to make his or herself happy. Moreover, this analysis need not take place in Britain or Ireland. In fact, where the reader's quest starts and ends is completely unique to that individual.
Go To Page: 1 2
