This book is not a serious contribution to travel-literature. [The author has] made no attempt to interpret the way of life in the lands [he has] visited or even to describe the beauties of nature and the works of art to be found there. [His] intention is only to record [his] own experiences in a number of places to which curiosity or circumstances ... have taken [him] ... In order to give some form to these disconnected ancecdotes [the author has] arranged them alphabetically, place by place. -Prologue