Ten Days To Get To London

Backpacking diary rekindles a friendship: By Samantha Gonzaga, Staff Writer, San Gabriel Valley News, December 2004: "There are two words that figure prominently in Randall Martinez's travelogue, "Ten Days to Get to London": girls and beer. Then again, what else would compliment the buildings and history of the Old World for two 20-somethings? More than 15 years ago, Martinez and his boyhood best friend Joe Hernandez, backpacked through Europe to celebrate their college graduations. "Ten Days" is a spruced-up version of the diary Martinez faithfully kept during his first eye-opening trip abroad. Though it's a quick read, the book is far more interesting than a traveling brochure. The trip itself isn't unusual. The story's charm is the 24-year-old voice that narrates the 21-day trip. There is no weary wordliness, just a backpacker's first-time awe and criticisms." Writer's Digest: 13th Annual (2005) International Self-Published Book Awards, Judge's Commentary: "I like how this book was based on a very real adventure between two friends. It was interesting to read about this journey as it was chronicled in a day-by-day format. I also liked that each chapter had a fitting title and this added to the interest of the story. I'm sure this book would inspire many friends to take an adventure that they might have been putting off." "I found this book a pleasant read. The author's conversational style really worked to guide me through the backpacking adventure. The anecdotes are engaging, and the portrayal of the two protagonists' friendship is effective. Though the work is ostensibly a travel narrative, I found the interplay of its primary characters even more appealing than the journey itself. The humor throughout is also effective." Raul S. Vargas, Executive Director (retired), University of Southern California Mexican American Programs, November 2004: "...If you ever do this journey again, please invite me!"