***2026 Summer of Sightseeing from my Sofa***
I chose a theme of travel for my summer this year, but regular travel books weren't what I had in mind. This memoir relates to the travels of Agatha Christie, time traveling back to the Syria of the 1930s. Ms. Christie was both an adventurous woman and an introvert. She willingly accompanied her husband Max on his archeological expeditions in Syria, despite the discomforts of heat, dust, fleas, mice, limited diet, and rough accommodations. I think she found some of the humans along the way more challenging than the physical annoyances.
I've always been impressed by Christie's economical descriptions of her fictional characters. She achieves this same effect in this memoir, letting us know a lot about her companions without belaboring the details. She seems to have had the introvert's joy in people watching—observing their behaviour and trying to figure out what makes them tick. The intricacies of various cultures only adds to her fun.
It was enjoyable to see this area of the world during (relatively) peaceful times, before it became the site of so many armed conflicts. Despite that, there were fights between workers of various cultures on the dig site and one driver who routinely tried to run down Muslim pedestrians. One of Max's problems was keeping the peace among these labourers, banishing those who were most belligerent.
I admire Agatha's ability to go with the flow, to enjoy the personal dramas around her, and to get her work done in less than ideal circumstances. But I have to agree with her that one of the best joys of travel is returning to your own home—your own bed, bathroom, and kitchen.
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