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Wanderlust: Extraordinary People, Quirky Places, and Curious Cuisine
Karen Gershowitz is officially a travel addict—one with more than ninety countries under her belt. In these engaging stories, she brings readers along as her companions as she explores, laughs, and marvels at the richness of other cultures. Whether she’s picking through the worst meal ever in the wilds of Tanzania, eating a transcendent strudel in Vienna, meeting the locals in an isolated opal mining hamlet in Australia’s outback, or learning to make noodles in a Chinese village, she invites you to share in her experiences.
Whatever kind of traveler you are, novice or experienced, or even if you prefer sitting in your armchair, these stories will transport you deep into other ways of living in the world—and, hopefully, inspire you to set out on your own journeys!
Whatever kind of traveler you are, novice or experienced, or even if you prefer sitting in your armchair, these stories will transport you deep into other ways of living in the world—and, hopefully, inspire you to set out on your own journeys!
- GenresTravel
328 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2023
About the author
Karen Gershowitz
3 books9 followersSince leaving home for Europe alone at age seventeen, Karen Gershowitz has traveled to more than ninety countries.
In pursuit of her passion for travel, she lost and gained friends and lovers and made a radical career change. She learned courage and risk-taking and succeeded at things she didn’t think she could do: She climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. She visited remote areas of Indonesia on her own and became a translator, though only fluent in English. She conquered her fear of falling while on an elephant trek in Thailand. And she made friends across the globe, including a Japanese family who taught her to make sushi and a West Berliner who gave her an insider’s look at the city shortly after the wall came down.
An example that will inspire armchair travelers to become explorers and embolden everyone to be more courageous, Travel Mania is a vivid story of how one woman found her strength, power, and passion.
Travel is Karen’s addiction―and she doesn’t want treatment.
In pursuit of her passion for travel, she lost and gained friends and lovers and made a radical career change. She learned courage and risk-taking and succeeded at things she didn’t think she could do: She climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. She visited remote areas of Indonesia on her own and became a translator, though only fluent in English. She conquered her fear of falling while on an elephant trek in Thailand. And she made friends across the globe, including a Japanese family who taught her to make sushi and a West Berliner who gave her an insider’s look at the city shortly after the wall came down.
An example that will inspire armchair travelers to become explorers and embolden everyone to be more courageous, Travel Mania is a vivid story of how one woman found her strength, power, and passion.
Travel is Karen’s addiction―and she doesn’t want treatment.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 21, 2023
I loved the author's second travel memoir as much as her first (TRAVEL MANIA). Karen is a life-long traveler (90+ countries) and I found myself immersed in each story as she reveals the world through her amazing adventures. Food plays a big role in WANDERLUST, and I often drooled (Viennese strudel!) or wondered how she could eat guinea pig in Peru (she took just one bite) or meals a mystery even after served to her.
Karen's infectious travel spirit was ignited by her mother, and once she was off to France at 17, Karen never looked back. A Big Apple native, she describes being grounded by COVID, how her "clipped wings" led her to thoroughly explore NYC and nearby sites.
She triumphantly returns to France in May 2022: "It had been the longest period I'd spent in the U.S. since I was 17. In Paris I spent time in the Tuileries, Musée d'Orsay, and L'Atelier des Lumières. And, of course, I ate fabulous food -- croissants, coq au vin, steak frites, tarts, clafoutis. When I returned, friends and acquaintances remarked on how good I looked. I wasn't surprised. I had reunited with the love of my life."
Highly recommended for travelers of all sorts -- armchair, newbie or frequent flyers -- with thanks to author Karen Gershowitz and She Writes Press for the hard copy ARC. Opinions are mine.
Karen's infectious travel spirit was ignited by her mother, and once she was off to France at 17, Karen never looked back. A Big Apple native, she describes being grounded by COVID, how her "clipped wings" led her to thoroughly explore NYC and nearby sites.
She triumphantly returns to France in May 2022: "It had been the longest period I'd spent in the U.S. since I was 17. In Paris I spent time in the Tuileries, Musée d'Orsay, and L'Atelier des Lumières. And, of course, I ate fabulous food -- croissants, coq au vin, steak frites, tarts, clafoutis. When I returned, friends and acquaintances remarked on how good I looked. I wasn't surprised. I had reunited with the love of my life."
Highly recommended for travelers of all sorts -- armchair, newbie or frequent flyers -- with thanks to author Karen Gershowitz and She Writes Press for the hard copy ARC. Opinions are mine.
October 27, 2023
This memoir is guaranteed to trigger the urge to travel (and remind you, simultaneously, of all the delicious comforts of home).
I found myself reading at warp speed, eager to compare notes on destinations that I had also been to like Borneo, Iceland, Newfoundland, Tanzania and Patagonia. Gershowitz's conversational tone is breezy, curious and fun--stories of tipsy nights (and bunk bed mishaps) in a Switzerland hostel, seriously lost in translation moments in China, Hong Kong menus, firewater taste testing (seemingly everywhere!) and driving down STAIRS in Sicily reassure that travel comes with its shares of hiccups, dupes (Turkish rugs sellers!) and outrageously priced martinis (a $75 minimum bar bill at Dubai's 7-star Burj Al Arab hotel--in 2017!)--regardless of how seasoned you are. And sometimes, adventure includes a one-pot dinner of sardines, fruit cocktail, crushed saltines AND sardines and Vienna sausage.
Her travels over the decades are impressive and addictive--from the 70s to current day, I loved the ride. I'm certainly going to dig deeper into wacky Wisconsin and the state's outdoor art scene and South Korea (which was never on my radar). I'm still not convinced on Vega! However, if I could manage to spend six summers over a 10-year period in the small Greek village of Moxlos on Crete as the author did with a group of friends, how great would that be? I think I'd pick the island of Hydra though!
This memoir is a powerful reminder that travel can unfold anywhere--as she learned during the pandemic with a commitment to explore her own NY surrounds. I love that Gershowitz has revisited so many places--I've been resistant, afraid that too much will have changed from those places that I hold precious. So, I'm grateful for that encouragement and to experience so many of our shared destinations 'together.'
I found myself reading at warp speed, eager to compare notes on destinations that I had also been to like Borneo, Iceland, Newfoundland, Tanzania and Patagonia. Gershowitz's conversational tone is breezy, curious and fun--stories of tipsy nights (and bunk bed mishaps) in a Switzerland hostel, seriously lost in translation moments in China, Hong Kong menus, firewater taste testing (seemingly everywhere!) and driving down STAIRS in Sicily reassure that travel comes with its shares of hiccups, dupes (Turkish rugs sellers!) and outrageously priced martinis (a $75 minimum bar bill at Dubai's 7-star Burj Al Arab hotel--in 2017!)--regardless of how seasoned you are. And sometimes, adventure includes a one-pot dinner of sardines, fruit cocktail, crushed saltines AND sardines and Vienna sausage.
Her travels over the decades are impressive and addictive--from the 70s to current day, I loved the ride. I'm certainly going to dig deeper into wacky Wisconsin and the state's outdoor art scene and South Korea (which was never on my radar). I'm still not convinced on Vega! However, if I could manage to spend six summers over a 10-year period in the small Greek village of Moxlos on Crete as the author did with a group of friends, how great would that be? I think I'd pick the island of Hydra though!
This memoir is a powerful reminder that travel can unfold anywhere--as she learned during the pandemic with a commitment to explore her own NY surrounds. I love that Gershowitz has revisited so many places--I've been resistant, afraid that too much will have changed from those places that I hold precious. So, I'm grateful for that encouragement and to experience so many of our shared destinations 'together.'
February 6, 2024
Karen Gershowitz whets our appetite for travel in her second book, Wanderlust: Extraordinary People, Quirky Places, and Curious Cuisine. To emphasize that travel is different things for different people and does not necessarily require a passport, Karen's first chapter recounts her first travels as a child visiting the museums of her native New York City with her mother. Some chapters root us to our ancestral past with visits off the grid in Montana, but others fling us far away to Malaysian Borneo or introduce us to very deep-fried frog with OK sauce. Gershowitz’ delightful travel sketches will revive memories and may even inspire armchair travelers to hop on a plane and see the world they’ve only read about.
December 6, 2023
After thoroughly enjoying Karen's first book Travel Mania, I was greatly looking to her second book Wanderlust. I was not disappointed. Again Karen takes us around the world encountering as she says "extraordinary people, quirky places and curious places". The last chapter deals with being "grounded" during the worst days of COVID; something I think we can all relate to. I'm hoping Karen has more tales of adventure to share with us.
January 5, 2024
I love this book! I am reading it aloud with my whole family and my daughters love how adventurous Karen is. It makes them want to travel more! All of the food descriptions are mouthwatering and make us crave good meals with great people. The author truly makes it seem like traveling across the world is attainable for regular people, so I’m going to end this review now and go book a flight somewhere fun and off the beaten path!
February 15, 2024
A delightful read on author Karen Gershowitz's world adventures!
Covering over 90 countries, Karen is an adventure traveler who steps out of the box and dare's to explore where others would not.
If you love travel and reading of others exciting adventures, you will surely enjoy Karen's travel memoirs. Her book encourages and inspires others to travel to new exciting destinations around the world!
Covering over 90 countries, Karen is an adventure traveler who steps out of the box and dare's to explore where others would not.
If you love travel and reading of others exciting adventures, you will surely enjoy Karen's travel memoirs. Her book encourages and inspires others to travel to new exciting destinations around the world!
October 22, 2023
If you like to travel, or maybe even if you don't, I'm pretty sure you will enjoy this book. I found it engrossing and inspiring. Karen Gershowitz has traveled all over the world, and writes about her journeys in a very relatable way. Her trips include the heart of the rain forests in Borneo, a safari in Tanzania, and a souk in Morocco, among many others. I cannot recommend this book enough.
January 22, 2025
I want to be best friends with this author! I appreciate the way she talks about her discoveries and the unusual places she stumbles upon! She’s had some wonderful adventures and I felt like I was along with her!
October 24, 2023
Join Karen for an entertaining, informative and fun ride to exotic places around the globe. Her narrative is easy and her grasp of cultural norms is sometimes exhilarating.
July 14, 2025
Without giving away some of the unexpected surprises and collection of destinations I highly recommend this Read for any Woman who has dreamed of exploring!
Karen has traveled to the most distant corners of the globe where some of us may never get to venture (South Korea, Dubai) but she has also explored the backroads and small towns of the United States too.
Thru her adventures she shares her curiosity, hard challenges, and things she wasn't sure she could swallow dining with others! You will feel like you are right beside her choosing fish, drinking wine, or looking for that next outdoor mural.
I found her descriptions of the food to be drool-worthy- multilayered sponge cake served in a castle on an Island....yes please!
She isn't an athlete, long haul biker or staying in 5 star properties she is just like you and I, eager to explore, save some money, and go it alone, public transport or often by renting a car!
Get the book and carry it with you because it is uplifting and you just might find another reason to explore right here in the USA too!
Karen has traveled to the most distant corners of the globe where some of us may never get to venture (South Korea, Dubai) but she has also explored the backroads and small towns of the United States too.
Thru her adventures she shares her curiosity, hard challenges, and things she wasn't sure she could swallow dining with others! You will feel like you are right beside her choosing fish, drinking wine, or looking for that next outdoor mural.
I found her descriptions of the food to be drool-worthy- multilayered sponge cake served in a castle on an Island....yes please!
She isn't an athlete, long haul biker or staying in 5 star properties she is just like you and I, eager to explore, save some money, and go it alone, public transport or often by renting a car!
Get the book and carry it with you because it is uplifting and you just might find another reason to explore right here in the USA too!
May 8, 2024
A super travel book. Read a chapter, shut your eyes, and you are there! Let the colours, the smells invade you and your home, and then you are ready to pack your bags. Well done Karen.
June 22, 2024
Fun travel adventure and stories, written by someone who LOVES to travel!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews