Regular contributor Mac ruminates on the world of travel & some of his adventures along the way J This time round itÂ’s a particular travel book that tickles his fancyÂ…

Niece Ann Blue and husband Brian Blue sent me travel book “Away from my desk : A Round the World Detour From the Rat Race, the Tech Wreck and the Traffic jam of Life in America” by Rik K. Haffar, who has an interesting background. He speaks four languages (including Arabic), has lived in Beirut, Damascus, London, Singapore New York, Washington D.C. Portland, Oregon and Seattle. He has twice circumnavigated and crossed three continents entirely by motorcycle. Here are some favorite excerpts:-

· Lisbon, Portugal. While were at a cafe in the Baixa, two men approach us at different times and offer to sell us drugs. We disregard the first and he moves on without a fuss. The second is very engaging and has a good sense of humor, so I ask him if he has any Tylenol. He chuckles, shakes his head and goes off to proposition other tourists.

· Sign in Vienna, Austria. Wanted. Men or Women willing to dress in eighteenth century outfits and parade in front of tourists from all around the world. Must know how to say “Eine Kleine Nacht Musik: in English, Italian, French and Japanese. No experience of any kind necessary. A pleasant disposition desirable but not required. Facial hair, particularly large black moustache out of the question. People darker than wieswurst need not apply. We categorically do not accept Czechs.

· The original 1809 Staatsoper in Vienna was so roundly criticized that one of the two responsible architects caving in under the pressure of public vilification killed himself in 1945 long after anyone cared the Allies bombed the place nearly all the way to Constantinople. The new building is a big hit by comparison.