Speaks for itself
Here are excerpts from a 31-page travel agency brochure that I found on the floor this morning. They actually seem like a pretty good outfit, if you can afford ‘em…but it struck me that a single thread ran through their writeups of exotic lands:
p. 3 “…linger at your cafe and stroll over to see it when the crowds are gone…”
p.5 “…wandering up and down trails at your own pace to see what–or who–you might discover…”
p.6 “…walking with your family through a magnificent mosaic…”
p.7 “…walking along the Aare River: stone-lined banks lead past shops, homes, and castles…” “…strolling home to your apartment at dusk to the accompaniment of…”
p.8 “…enjoying a tree-lined walk along a rushing river…” “…a long walk through your own neighborhood…”
p.9 “…walking alone at dawn through misty, empty calles…”
p.10 “…people filing into the streets for the Saturday market or sporting their finery for the evening stroll before dinner…”
p.11 “…you actually can’t remember what a traffic jam is like.”
p.12 “…wandering through narrow cobblestone streets lined with flowers…”
p.14 “…your pants are actually a little looser. (Must be all those walks along the…”
p.15 “…a home on the village square, complete with…”
p.16 “…walk pristine trails feeling younger than you have in years.”
p.17 “…the difference between amusement park attractions and the rich experience of ‘the real thing.’”
p.18 “…your home village–comprised of strings of colorful houses nestled together, interspersed with shops and spires–looks like the Christmas miniature on your grandmother’s mantle.” “…beginning to grasp a sense of place so deep it defies your imagination.”
p.19 “…meandering along tiny narrow streets…”
p.21 “…the narrow, traffic-free streets…”
p.22 “…walking around an ordinary city corner into Old Town Square…” “…strolling grand boulevards where coffee shops beckon…”
p.23 “…you take in the action of the skateboarders and shoppers…” “…a stroll through the fine shops, restaurants, and cafes of…”
p.24 “…you rent bikes and set off on a ride along canals…”