Magic Casements: Perspectives on Travel

Q. What is a travel book? A chance to celebrate some places one has visited and loved? A laundry list of places for one's friends to visit (complete with practical advice on how to avoid mistakes)? Art essays? Opera reviews? A stealth memoir? An occasion to sound off on any number of topics? All of the above? None of the above?
A. (by the author) I'm not sure.