As a history buff, I’ve always been intrigued by the discussions of intercontinental travel prior to air travel. Some of my favorite books are Gilded Age stories where travel by ocean liners is mentioned flippantly as the upper-class characters travel back and forth from Europe. Due to this fascination, I have always wanted to sail on a transatlantic or transpacific cruise. And, I will readily admit that I love a cruise. I can always find a comfy little nook to open my book and escape from the world. For me, it is a great time to relax; the waves lull me peacefully, the sun smiles on me, and the stories explode from the pages. I love getting up early to find the very best reading spots on the ship and spend the day doing what I love.
This cruise on the Carnival Valor originated in Barcelona and terminated in New Orleans, with port calls in Málaga, Cádiz, and the Azores. It was 15 days of reading and relaxing. And, boy did I read! In fact, I turned 53 in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, relaxing in a shell lounger reading Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. My entire goal was to decompress from the school year and read until my heart was content. During the 15 day cruise, I finished 18 books that had been haunting me on my TBR list. It was a glorious vacation, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
bound and noted 
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