I love setting my Bodies of Art books in European places I’ve visited. I love going back and looking at the pictures I took, restudying the maps to remind myself of the route we chose. Reading notes I made when I ran across something interesting or heard a lovely accent or terrific turn of phrase. All that “reviewing time” not only helps me write the books, but helps me relive the whole experience.

Still, no matter how well written my notes, or how sharply focused the photos, there are things I’m always going to forget until something comes along to jog my memory. One way I do this is to watch YouTube videos of the area I’m writing about. Often the videos show things I saw from a different perspective, too, which broadens my own understanding of the area and culture.

But other times I watch YouTube videos that come up when I put in my search terms, and the videos really have nothing to add to what I’m trying to write about. That doesn’t mean it’s a waste of time, however. I’ve found I can do some pretty great daydreaming while watching travel videos purely for pleasure, especially ones that use classical music as a backdrop. One of my favorites is this video on traveling down the Rhine. Besides the afore mentioned classical music, the video is shot from a helicopter moving from where the Rhine starts in the Alps, and down through the cities and countries that sit along its banks.

I found this video while I was researching for Abstract Aliases. Don’t worry, no spoilers–there’s nothing in this video that appears in Laurel’s & Jack’s newest adventures. But it is one of the most soothing videos out there, one that makes me dream up new ideas, and note places I want to see. So, I thought I’d take a moment to share it today. If you have some time to spare, you might enjoy the video, too.