What does a bibliophile do on her vacation?

Go shopping for books of course!

We lack the money for the honeymoon of our dreams, but we zealously attacked a trip to the California coast. I brought a list of all possible bookshops with me, being the obsessed bibliophile I am, and we hit the boardwalk, bookshops, and aquarium.

The books on my wish list were nowhere to be found, or had been tucked away for safe keeping. Number one on my list was a copy of 84 Charing cross road, since I am disgustingly obsessed with that film, and I never found it. I settled for second best, I ordered a copy online WHILE on my honeymoon...that still counts right?

Because I am sure this book will have to be pried out of my hands upon my death, I inscribed the front with a message to it's future owners. I hope one day they will love it as much as I do.

I also ordered a copy of two other Hanff books, which I am enjoying immensly. They are very much like easing into an overstuffed chair, propping your feet up, and reading letters from an old dear friend on her travels.

But, I was not to be undaunted from actually having a physical book in my hands that WAS purchased in person on my vacation, so when my husband and I went to historic Colton Hall in Monterey, they had a lovely bound book that seemed to belong on my bookshelf.


With my book in hand, and a small art print of "The Lone Cypress", I considered my honeymoon complete.