Ursina's Shelf - Bookstores worth traveling for
Issue 60
Dear Readers,
I hope you had a great reading January! I enjoyed quite some books, including at least two that will be featured here in the future.
Now I am about to head off on a multi-city trip and it reminded me how much I enjoyed writing my city guides for book lovers last year (New York, London, Berlin, and Zurich). Today I’d like to share some more bookstores from around the world. Pencil in your trips and pack your bags.
Favorite bookstores
PARIS: Librairie Galignani (link)
Description: This bookstore located conveniently close to the Louvre is a quiet respite from the busy Paris streets with its beautiful wooden shelves lined with French and English books. This family bookstore dates back to the early 19th century, though the family supposedly published books for many more generations. I visited here in 2017 during a day trip to Paris for a client meeting, and I look forward to many returns.
BUENOS AIRES: El Ateneo Grand Splendid (link)
Description: This stunning bookstore is built in a converted theater originally built in 1919 to rival the Paris opera. Now bookshelves instead of theater seats fill the floor and balcony tiers, making for a visually splendid look.
Fun fact: NPR named this the most beautiful bookstore in the world (see the article here).
VIENNA: Shakespeare & Co (link)
Description: This cozy bookstore perfectly reflects the vibe in Vienna. It’s not huge and it’s not ostentatious, but it’s so inviting, it’s hard to imagine wanting to leave. The store has been selling English-speaking books for over 40 years. My sister-in-law recently visited Vienna and also gushed about this bookstore.
LISBON: Ler Devagar at LX Factory (link)
Description: I happened on this bookstore by accident with work friends during an offsite, and I loved its multi-story shelving which was overflowing with books yet still orderly, and the whimsical decoration in the form of a flying bicycle, encapsulating my feelings as a reader trespassing and flying over the stories I devour.
Currently reading: The Way of The Runner: A journey into the fabled world of Japanese running by Adharanand Finn (whose other book The Rise of the Ultra Runners I previously recommended in my running issue).
Let me know which bookstores I should add to my travel list!
I hope you enjoyed this issue. Please feel free to share it with anyone who might enjoy it and have a great weekend.