Robert Perkowitz
Lisbon to Moscow is a photo journal experience of Bob Perkowitz’s bicycle tour across Europe in the Spring of 2003. The journey begins on the shores of Portugal and ends in the heart of the Moscow, offering a glimpse into nine European countries along the way. The book’s cast of characters includes various friends and family members that accompanied Bob for parts of his trip, including his wife Lisa Renstrom, colleague Bryan Lawson and his close friend Charlie Walker, the only other person who rode the entire 3,600 mile distance. Their book is filled with the scenery, history and riding anecdotes of a dynamic group. While on the road, team members are faced with demanding conditions, and the difficulties of collective decision-making and managing group logistics. Off the road, however, the major concern was where to best dine and drink wine, while soaking in Europe’s rich cultural atmosphere. Perhaps the most interesting characters of the book, however, are the many foreign, yet friendly faces that greeted the riders along their way. These include Polish farmers, French winemakers, and Belarusian prostitutes. In the genre of travel narratives, Lisbon to Moscow appeals both to readers with interest in bike touring as well as those with non-traditional tourist interests through the cities and countryside of Europe. It conveys thesense of adventure and the satisfaction of 'seeing the world' through ones own power (bicycle). Actual and wanna-be distance bicycle tourers will also find much useful technical and logistical information. Finally, the book has a certain cultural appeal. What would Europe be without the millions that came before? This is a journey through time - from the Roman and Neapolianic eras through the World Wars to the present day. Europe’s collective legacy is an immensely rich cultural heritage. Lisbon to Moscow touches upon these stories, and how they shaped the people met and places Bob Perkowitz and his fellow bike tourists visited that spring.
