Search Salon

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Recently in Salon Travel

Cinema verities
They cast me as the white guy with the Indian lover. But my Indian lover found me untouchable.
By Jonah Blank
[07/16/99]

Travel Advisor
Too much duty
Our expert offers advice on duty-free goods, allegedly smoke-free rooms, golfing packages and San Francisco lodging, revisited.
By Donald D. Groff
[07/15/99]

Book Bag
The art of survival and other stories
Two new books offer tips and tales from the wild wide world.
By Don George
[07/14/99]

Out of the Blue
Sex and the thin-walled room
When you spend half your life in hotels, you learn a lot about your neighbors.
By Elliott Neal Hester
[07/13/99]

Vagabonding
Rapids, ruins and the end of the river
In which our correspondent wanders the tranquil streets of Thakaek and weathers a dangerous descent.
By Rolf Potts
[07/10/99]

Complete archives for Travel

- - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - -

"Excuse me, friend."

"... Yes?"

"Excuse me, but I couldn't help but notice, you've been sitting there in that same chair, at that little table, without moving -- for several years."

"What? Years? What are you talking about?"

"Here. Look at the date on this newspaper I found discarded at the door. Consider our beards."

"My god ... it's true! But how could --"

"Time passes, friend. Time passes. You don't pay attention, you lose yourself in thought writing postcards there, and pffft! it's gone by."

"But I don't understand: you've been here all this time, watching me?

"True. More or less."

"But why didn't you say something? Speak up, sound the alarm?

"I confess I became so engrossed, and then lulled, I lost all track of time and place myself. Until a fly flew right up my nose, and I sneezed, and stirred. Look, here in my handkerchief, here are the remains of the little dirty fellow to whom we owe our awakening."

"No, no -- this defies comprehension. Where is the waiter? Where is the proprietor? Why is it so dim in here?"

"All gone, my friend. The place is shuttered, out of business. Regard the dust untouched all about us."

"But how could they just leave us sitting here like this?"

"Doubtless out of hospitableness, at first; and then, under the mistaken assumption we were part of the decor."

"But this is a catastrophe! My hotel room, my luggage. My passport -- it must have expired by now!"

"All gone, friend, doubtless, I'm afraid. Reclaimed, confiscated, sold off."

"And my companions -- my dear companions! They'll think the worst. This is an unfathomable disaster!"

"Come, my friend, come. Don't give in to these bleak hyperboles. Look at me: on my way to the bank in a bona fide emergency; with a girl waiting, for the assignation of a lifetime. You don't hear me complain, do you? So let's 'accentuate the positive,' as they say. Here, you see? Your pen still works, the ink hasn't dried up after all! Just think what astonishing titbits you can jot on your postcards now."

Next page | "Altitude"