'The Best American Travel Writing 2002 is edited by Frances Mayes, the author of Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany and the master of "running away to live in the place of one's dreams" (Los Angeles Times). Giving new life to armchair travel for 2002 are David Sedaris on God and airports, Kate Wheeler on a most dangerous Bolivian festival, André Aciman on the eternal pleasures of Rome, and many more.'

'\"It\'s a captivating literary anthology that can be enjoyed on location or in the oft-mentioned armchair.\"'

'Jason Wilson has written for the Washington Post, Conde Nast Traveller, Travel + Leisure, and Salon.Frances Mayes is the author of the best-selling Under the Tucsan Sun and Bella Tuscany. She and her husband divide their time between their homes in San Rafael, California, and Cortona, Italy.'

'Contents

Foreword xi

Introduction by Frances Mayes xvii

André Aciman. Roman Hours 1

from Condé Nast Traveler

Scott Anderson. Below Canal Street 11

from Esquire

Stephen Bodio. Sovereigns of the Sky 20

from The Atlantic Monthly

William Booth. Throw Junior from the Car 27

from The Washington Post Magazine

Kevin Canty. Postcards from the Fair 36

from The Oxford American

Rod Davis. A Rio Runs Through It 45

from The San Antonio Express-News

Michael Finkel. Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Void 81

from National Geographic Adventure

Devin Friedman. Forty Years in Acapulco 97

from Men's Journal

Laurence Gonzales. Beyond the End of the Road 107

from National Geographic Adventure

Adam Gopnik. The City and the Pillars 124

from The New Yorker

Jim Harrison. Soul Food 131

from Men's Journal

Kate Hennessy. Slow Flying Stones 145

from DoubleTake

Edward Hoagland. Visiting Norah 163

from Worth

Kathleen Lee. The Scent of Two Cities 188

from Condé Nast Traveler

Lawrence Millman. In the Land of the White Rajahs 200

from Islands

Toni Mirosevich. Lambs of God and the New Math 211

from The San Francisco Chronicle

Tom Mueller. Ancient Roads, Walled Cities 220

from Hemispheres

Elizabeth Nickson. Where the Bee Sucks 229

from Harper's Magazine

Molly O'neill. Home for Dinner 245

from The New Yorker

P. J . O'rourke. Zion's Vital Signs 263

from The Atlantic Monthly

Tony Perrottet. Spain in a Minor Key 282

from Islands

Kira Salak. Making Rain 294

from Quarterly West

David Sedaris. The Man Upstairs 310

from Esquire

Thomas Swick. Stolen Blessings 316

from The South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Isabella Tree. Spétses, Greece 321

from Islands

Kate Wheeler. The Fist of God 327

from Outside

Contributors' Notes 343

Notable Travel Writing of 2001 348\n

'