Let me speak of the theatricality of the world. Of shining lakes, and brilliant mountains, and reflective lakes, and sparkling seas, of craggy cliffs and otherworldy waterfalls. I find myself encountering landscapes like I would a rehearsal and travel the way I do season planning. I am delighted by the way the contours of the earth inform language, intrigued by the way civilization and its discontents create and destruct. The basics of travel – Oh brave new world, that has such people in it/'Tis new to thee – play out continually in my travel diaries and dialogues. The stories and perspectives I encounter stretch me, sometimes harshly, sometimes gently, but always expanding my capacity for wonder and imagination.