History, travel and comedy collide in Wonder Trail
Steve Hely's plan is vague: Travel south and make lots of stops along the way until he reaches the end of the world. And so begins The Wonder Trail, Hely's account of everything from the history of the Panama Railway to the best sandwiches in South America.
After leaving Los Angeles, Hely first stops in Mexico and here gives readers a blueprint for the remainder of the book: rapid-fire, bite-sized parcels of history, including tales of explorers, natives, battles, victories and, on occasion, someone being burned alive as a human sacrifice; plus book recommendations, tips on what to see and what to skip, and a handful of notes on the people he encounters along the way.
A dozen or so half-page chapters detailing topics such as "Thought That Just Occurred to Me" and "A Nicaraguan Canal" add to the book's charm, delivering an endearing quality to the read.
