Travel Itineraries for Fictional Books and Movies

I'm not sure when it all started, but I first made reference to the marvelous idea when I saw The Da Vinci Code rage gather steam. People signed on to various Paris and/or United Kingdom tours and allowed a guide to one ton location to film shoots or famous landmarks depicted in the Da Vinci Code. I loved it. The idea continued with the Harry Potter series of movies and now Sherlock Holmes.

I was sent an e-mail from VisitBritian.com and VisitLondon.com yesterday. Both were touting available itineraries that explored movie set and historical locations for the Sherlock Holmes movie that comes out on Christmas Day. According to the website, even Madame Tussaud's Waxworks in London is getting into the action. They are making several Robert Downey Jr, Sherlock Holmes, wax figures to be strategically placed throughout London for gimmick advertising. All this in time for the worldwide release on Christmas Day (Boxing Day in the UK). Historical movie sites include Freemason's Hall, the Docklands and St. Paul's Cathedral in London as well as sites in Kent and Liverpool. This adventure could be loads of fun. Especially, if it was an independent itinerary self-catered to your wishes.

Now, I personally love Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's characters. Holmes' tall, lanky, even gangly, physique combined with his unusual and quirky methodical behavior enticed me to challenge wits with him every time I sat down to read one of his capers. This movie , on the other hand, employs Robert Downey, Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. Watson. I don't get it. Holmes, as I have described above, is not the Toulouse-Latrec look-alike that Downey, Jr. is. And Watson is a dumpy, middle aged, shell-shocked army surgeon, not Jude Law. I don't get it. But this is not the point of the post.

For the traveling/movie lover in you why not plan an itinerary around one of your favorite books or movies. I can help. Give us a call/text at 702.767.6912 or e-mail at theTravelValet@gmail.com. Instead of just owning the Blu-ray disc, why not live the adventure?

Al, the Travel Valet

Visiting Stonehenge on Boxing Day

We all have some sort of "Life's To Do List" or "Bucket List". I do as well. And on my list near the top of the first page is visiting Stonehenge. Why I have never visited the ancient ruin is easy? It is smack dab in the middle of nowhere, kinda like Spokane. You really have to make an effort to get there. Now remember, I grew up in Texas and getting anywhere within that state kills at least one day. But when traveling overseas, killing a day is rarely an option. So, as the years passed and many of other Bucket List entries were checked off, Stonehenge just sat there staring back at me. I could never formulate the appropriate agenda and not waste a day. Well, I may have figured it all out (44 years later). Visit Stonehenge on Boxing Day!

Now, if you ever wanted to meet the most ridiculous holiday...ever, then visit England on Boxing Day. It is flat out a total waste of a day. I don't care if the banks are closed; they always are. Hell, they shut down as often as the public school systems in Nevada (And we wonder why our kids can't read, multiply or formulate a complete sentence. My daughter informed me last week that she watches Dirty Jobs in her 3rd period college prep class. What?!? If I wanted my daughter to watch reruns all day, I would pull her out of school, buy her a giant bag of Cheetos and call my first college roommate for some marijuana. Seriously, is this where public education has gone??).

Back to Boxing Day. To be honest, I had heard of Boxing Day and had seen it written on calendars along with Flag Day and Arbor Day. Honestly, I never thought anyone actually celebrated it. I remember once in fourth grade, our teacher took us out in the front of our elementary school and we planted a tree to commemorate Arbor Day, but we were nine year olds. Anyway, England takes this day seriously. All public service in London is shut down including the buses and Underground from late Christmas Eve on the 24th to mid morning on the 26th (Boxing Day). Could you imagine New York City's MTA shutting down for the better part of three days? There would be...I don't know...I can't fathom it. But, London does it. And curiously, the population of each city is within 1,000,000 souls of the other. Wow.

According to FactMonster.com, Boxing Day is of an unknown origin that probably starting sometime in the Middle Ages. It is celebrated the Day after Christmas in England. Australia, Canada and South Africa also partake, but not necessarily on the same day. Not sure why. Some historians claim that Boxing Day derives its name from the "boxed" gifts servants would receive from their employers for having to work on Christmas Day. Best I can tell, everyone is getting two days off.

So, while the Brits are taking off an extra day for Christmas, I'm taking the opportunity to fill the wasted day with a trip to Spokane, I mean, Stonehenge.

Happy Boxing Day!!!

Al, the Travel Valet

PS. When you visualize Stonehenge? Do you see Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's European Vacation as Clark Griswald knocking it down like dominoes by backing into it in a rented Cooper? Or, is it just me?