The Best Women's Travel Writing 2005

The common threads connecting the stories in this collection are a woman's perspective; fresh, lively storytelling; and compelling narrative that makes readers laugh, cry, wish they were there, or be grateful that they weren't. These stories are thematically eclectic and cover a wide range of topics, including spiritual growth, hilarity and misadventure, high adventure, romance, solo journeys, service to humanity, family travel, and exotic cuisine.
In this collection, armchair travelers discover the sex appeal of a big butt in Senegal; become a door-to-door art saleswoman in Madrid and uncover Spanish generosity; learn what it means to serve in Mother Teresa's mission in Calcutta; discover a universe of meaning in a simple Parisian restaurant; watch a person transform in a classroom in Laos; learn the secret of worry beads in Greece; go on a pilgrimage with self-flagellating masses in India; and much more.