Everywhere I look lately I see something about Indiana Jones and travel. Maybe because the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull movie opening is soon he’s getting some press. Indiana Jones “adventure” tours and packages are cropping up. I’m not sure how any organized travel package can be an adventure exactly, since by definition an adventure has unknown risks (go ahead, look it up). Nonetheless, people are motivated by Indy’s worthy example to brush off their fedoras and book highly organized trips to far flung locations that seem like an adventure to them. I’m for anything that encourages travelers to get out and see the world, and the Indiana Jones movies provide plenty of motivation.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

A classic, there’s never anything like the first in a series. It is not yet possible to travel back to the 1936 Cairo that myself and many others became enchanted by in this movie, but I dare to dream that someday it might be. Actually, the bulk of the Cairo and desert scenes of Egypt were actually filmed in Tunisia (note that you never see a pyramid in the movie). This is a minor detail that does not stop excited travelers from flocking to Cairo to discover for themselves the archaeological wonders of Egypt. I recently ran across a couple of Cairo traveler photos on Viator, and I have to say that any tour where you see an archaeological dig in Cairo would probably meet with Dr. Jones’ approval.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

My brother and I argue quite a bit over the merits of this movie, I say it has none, he argues that it does. The one thing we both agree on is that India looks beautiful in this movie - the palace, the village, the countryside, the Himalayas are all magical. Again, Hollywood is fooling us, India was actually played by a southern neighbor, Sri Lanka. And Hong Kong was portrayed in an admirable performance by Macau. The otherwise very annoying Kate Capshaw (could she be screaming more in this movie?) serves as a good reminder that even when you’re having a rough travel moment, everything will work out ok, you’ll be clean and dressed to the nines again in no time.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

The Treasury at Petra

The without a doubt number one destination in this installment is Petra in Jordan. I have never read a post-Last Crusade travel article about Petra that fails to mention The Treasury provided the now famous facade for the home of the Holy Grail. It must be mysterious and wonderful to emerge from the Siq (the narrow path that leads to Petra) to such an awesome sight. And, mercifully, Petra was actually filmed in Petra, making it the easiest of the Indiana Jones’ adventures to replicate.

A close runner up for best destination is Venice, and I would be remiss not to mention it. Venice is a city of romance, for travelers and Indiana Jones alike (we all know she’s a Nazi, but he can’t help it). Gondola rides, secret itinerary tours, and names like “the Bridge of Sighs” all evoke a sense of mystery and love lost or found. Like the answers to the clues Indiana Jones is solving there, Venice is hiding its secrets in plain sight.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Until I see the movie I’m not sure what travel inspiration it will provide, but I sincerely hope not too much of it will be computer generated destinations unattainable by travelers. I liked that the first three movies lived out the fantasy of adventuring to far off locales, its become a bit of a hallmark of the series that I think fans expect, and I hope the latest installment does the same.

– Kelly G

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 8:00 am and is filed under Asia, Destinations, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Travel Inspiration, Travel Wishlists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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