Based on the origin of the word 'journey' - a day's work, a day's travel - Patrick Pfister begins Over Sand & Sea by introducing us to his first day of travel, when, as a boy, he crossed Schaeffer Avenue in Detroit with his dog and younger brother to explore the field beyond. The subsequent telling of his tales, over a long span of time and several continents, are not far removed from that first childhood venture.
The author conceptualizes the meaning of journey based on his location, goal and age. At the start of an extended trip, he says, one feels unsure, clumsy. With time, experience, patience and a relaxed demeanor, the traveler becomes more comfortable and confident.
Our imagination of a journey and its reality are usually dissimilar, he writes. This was true when he was in the southern states on his Michigan to Florida road trip as a young man. The accents befuddled him. The food was unknown, and, therefore, strange. He was also a teenager whom, I gather, may not have been greatly exposed to travel. In any case, his account of this trip with a character both unfamiliar to him and totally uncomplimentary, but having the same goal, was rather humorous, fresh and enjoyable. He returned to Florida a second time with a friend, in his own beaten vehicle that caused considerable pain, expenditure and future memories to be written down.
Traveling in India is hard work. The filth, disease, poverty and crowds demand a constant alertness, caution and flexibility. Yet, his time there is written with compassion, with an appreciation for the culture and with a deep understanding.
There are great connections throughout. Hearing the thumka thumka thumka of a jackhammer on his way to Konya in Turkey, he writes about his construction days - what he learned, what kind of a boss he had, and the general atmosphere of that time. While in Avila to see the town where St. Teresa lived, traveled from and died in, Patrick Pfister thinks about his Catholic background, its pros and cons, ending with the following statement: "These days, though, I feel quite grateful to the Church for imposing all the structure. Without it, there would have been nothing to break away from." And there are many more of these flashbacks which only give us a clearer picture of this insightful, sensitive, observant, hard working and literary wanderer.
Maps would have been a definite plus, particularly for such remote areas as the Karakoram Highway, the Nullarbor Plain of Australia and islands in the Philippines. A minor complaint only.
Over Sand & Sea by Patrick Pfister
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