The Travel Journal

IN 1965, William S. Burroughs gave an interview to The Paris Review. In the interview, he described a type of notebook he used to document some of his journeys, such as when he would travel from Tangiers to Gibraltar.

This 100 page travel journal is inspired by Burroughs’ description of that travel notebook.

HOW TO USE THIS RATHER LITERARY TRAVEL JOURNAL.

• WHAT HAPPENED. In the first row, jot down a simple account of the journey, for example: dates and times; encounters; arrival at the airport; interesting banter of the tattooed gentlemen; the taxi driver’s travel tips; the name of the hotel; et cetera.
• THOUGHTS. In the second row, document: your thoughts about what is happening in the first row; what memories the events have evoked; what ideas occur to you in response to your encounters.
• READING. In the third row, your reading row, write down quotations or summaries from the books you are reading (or any other source material you can think of). Identify connections between your travels and your reading materials.