Title: Questing Marilyn: In Search of My Holy Grail, Personal
Growth Through Travel
Author: Marilyn Barnicke Belleghem, M.Ed
IBSN: 0-9734129-0-9
Genre: Biography, Travel

The following review was contributed by: Tami Brady-CLICK TO VIEW>>Tami Brady's Reviews

Questing Marilyn is a multidimensional book about the author's
travel experience to Britain and Ireland. The book begins as the
stressed out author realizes that despite her overachiever
attempts to have the perfect life (a loving family, a successful
counseling career, and a sturdy religious foundation) that
something is missing causing her to feel disconnected and ill
content. In an attempt to reconnect and find herself, the author
joins a group of colleagues and acquaintances on a tour of
Britain and Ireland's sacred sites.

On this tour, the author is scheduled to visit sites such as
Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge, Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury
Abbey, Avebury, Tintigel, Bath, Kilkenny Castle, and New Grange.
Furthermore, as part of this organized expedition, group tours,
hikes, and self-development rituals are to be undertaken at many
of these locations. 

This book relays detailed information on the mythological,
historical, and spiritual significance of each stop of the tour
while providing unique insight into the accommodations, dining,
shopping, and sightseeing opportunities are available near these
sites. As much of the author's tour is specially organized, this
information contains a good deal of insight not commonly found in
most tour guides of Britain and Ireland.

Another important aspect of this book is that the author candidly
discusses the pros and cons of group tours by detailing her
experiences during this vacation. The reader can then use this
information to decide if he or she would be more suited to
directed group travel or more flexible individualized travel.

The most important message of this book, however, is the
introduction of travel as a tool towards self-exploration and
self-acceptance. Often, due to the busyness and chaos of daily
life, individuals don't have the luxury or time to truly
understand who they are and what they want from life. However,
during a vacation, normal routines and responsibilities can be
temporarily forgotten. Thus, vacation time is the perfect time to
reflect on these very personalized aspects of one's life, how he
or she feels about that life, and what they need to do to make
his or herself happy. Moreover, this analysis need not take place
in Britain or Ireland. In fact, where the reader's quest starts
and ends is completely unique to that individual.

Questing Marilyn: In Search of My Holy Grail, Personal Growth
Through Travel is a great book for both those individuals
interested in visiting the sacred sites of the United Kingdom and
those individuals searching for self-exploration and
self-acceptance. This book will make an excellent gift to
yourself, to your best friend, to your sister, to your daughter,
or to your mother.