Honeymoon With My Brother (Franz Wisner)

My father and step-mom happened upon a book signing at a local bookstore by the author of this book, Honeymoon with My Brother, Franz Wisner. And I am very glad that they picked me up a copy of this light, airy and well-written memoir. One of those Million Little "memoirs" that have been in the news of late? No. This is, in fact, Franz's true story of being left at the altar by his girlfriend/financee of ten years, quickly followed by a demotion at his 12-hour-a-day, life-obsessing job. Questioning everything he thought he stood for, who he is and why his life has rolled to a halt at this particular stumbling block, Franz decided to still go on the pre-paid Honeymoon to Costa Rica. With his brother as his "bride."

After two weeks of jungle-trekking, Imperial drinking, volcano watching, and brotherly love (Man, I loved Costa Rica!), the boys come home with the idea of a year-long vacation around the world. Now or never, they think, and why not? They're young and unattached. And, of course, they are of independent means. Not overly rich but, well, let's just say that Franz even paid the mortgage on his 1/2 a million dollar house while they were out of town. A house that for the additonal second year of the trip, he did sell. In those two years on the road, they visited 53 countries on five continents (Australia and the Artic are still on the To Do list). Though they do have some cash to throw around, that doesn't mean that their travels were ultra-plush. In fact, they share many money-saving ideas along their life-changing, perspective-altering and self-finding trek. Wisner's observations and travel saavy are very fun, even if they make you want to simultaneously hug him for his adventure and hit him in jealousy that you are not there yet yourself. Observations like:

• How to get Saab to pay for you to fly to Europe
• Where to get a sand-floored hut on the beach for $4 a night (double occupancy)
• Visible signs that a country's government is corrupt
• Why to ditch that Lonely Planet guidebook
  
• What hand signals are considered raunchy in Brazil
• Football (soccer) facts and fans from around the world

Honeymoon is a highly entertaining read that makes you want to quit your job, give away your cat and sail away into the world. Don't forget the sunscreen! I am a world traveller myself, setting off for Eastern Europe in less than a week now (Yay!) and also a writer (who would kill for the opportunity to write a book that would pay for all of those travels!). So I am very happy, then, that my dad and step-mom had it personally inscribed to me and The Boyfriend at the authorial meet-and-greet that they attended.