What Is This Place?
This is The Urban Baedekerer, a travelogue of places I’ve been to and things I’ve done over the course of working on a book idea. I’ll add more details as I go. This blog is mostly meant to be a depository for experiences, to provide me with a place to practice writing about these experiences, and to hopefully provide you people with some nifty little insights into the places I’ve been and the things I’ve seen.
Like I said, I’ll be adding stuff as I go. I hope you’ll come back and visit occasionally.
What Is A Baedekerer?
A Baedeker is a travel guide written by the German-based publisher of the same name. It’s like a Berlitz or a Frommers. You can check out their website at Baedeker.com. Supposedly the guides were so popular in the pre-World War I travel industry that, according to Wikipedia, they spawned the creation of the English term ‘baedekering.’ Is that true? Who knows? It’s Wikipedia. However, an old instructor of mine called my idea an Urban Baedeker, so it can’t be completely made up. Either way, I like the name and it’s stuck now as the blog title. So a Baedekerer is one who goes Baedekering.
What Is That Picture You’re Using?
What, the background? That’s Michigan Central Depot, a big ass rail depot that opened in Detroit in 1913. It’s gigantic, beautiful, and also derelict; namely, a convenient metaphor for the way Detroit is perceived. I have a soft spot for the place from when I was growing up – we used to drive by it on our way to Mexican town when we would visit Mexican Village restaurant – and I thought it would make a good background. It’s apropos to the topic of my book idea as well, so it stays. Why, do you have a problem with it?
How Do I Contact You if I Want to Do So?
Why?
I Don’t Know; Maybe You Post Something I Want to Talk About or I Would Like More Info About What You're Doing.
Leave me a comment. I love comments and will often reply to them. I’m also thinking about setting up a Baedekerer email too, so maybe I’ll add that sometime soon.
