Author takes to the skies with humourous look at travel
Air travel can make a lot of people excited and just as many people frustrated. Author Steve Burgess casts a humourous eye at both perspectives with his new book, "Reservations: The Pleasures and Perils of Travel."
“Being in an airport you go from pedestrian to Pegasus but in the process you experience a little taste of daily life in a medium security prison,” Burgess told CTV News Atlantic’s Todd Battis in an interview on Friday. “I find myself ashamed of my own behaviour at airports more than I do anywhere else because I end up losing it.”
Burgess takes a long-term view of travel in the book, examining how flights transformed from luxurious but expensive things for a select few to something more accessible.
“Travel has changed and people say it’s changed for the worse, but the other thing is there are so many more people on flights because it’s more affordable,” he said. “Era of mass travel.”
Burgess said travel can often change people’s views of the world, but in the modern age it also comes with new risks and even responsibilities.
“It’s a noble idea, you’re going to go and broaden your perspectives and I believe in it, it’s just that now it’s a lot more complicated because there are issues people didn’t have back then,” he said. “There are massive amounts of emissions and the potential to desecrate these sites that we are supposed to appreciate.”
Burgess said people yearning to explore while also keeping an eye on their carbon footprint should consider looking in their backyards.
“If you really want to be a mindful tourist, the best thing to do is keep your emissions low and stay local,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Conservatives, NDP should be 'celebrating' EV deals: industry minister
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne says federal opposition parties should be 'celebrating' the recently announced electric vehicle deals, despite their criticisms the Liberals refuse to make public the terms and conditions laid out in the contracts.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Banking mogul suing government after intelligence leaks leave him shut out of Canadian economy
Chinese Canadian banking mogul Shenglin Xian has launched a $300 million lawsuit against the federal government. It’s a means to find the source of intelligence leaks which Xian says has cost him his livelihood.
His SUV was stolen on Montreal's South Shore. Then he got a $156 parking ticket
A couple is frustrated after their SUV was stolen from Montreal's South Shore in March and they received a parking ticket for the same vehicle last week.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
Box tree moths have infested Ontario and experts say more are coming. Here's what to do to protect your garden
An invasive moth species is on the rise in Canada and, if you've planted a certain shrub, it could stand to ruin your garden.
Evacuation orders lifted in Fort McMurray Saturday as rain dampens wildfire activity
Residents of Fort of McMurray who were displaced over wildfire concerns were told to return home Saturday.
To plant or not to plant? Gardening tips for May long weekend
May long weekend is finally here, and with the extra time off you may be getting the itch to head out to your garden and plant. However, the old debate whether you should plant now, or wait, is still ever-present.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs abuse allegations: A timeline of key events
In the six months since singer Cassie filed a lawsuit against Sean Combs, a wave of similar cases and public allegations against one of the most influential music moguls of the past three decades have occurred.