2,300 Days of Travel: From Roughing it to Luxury Cruising
“In his book, Hugh relates his experiences in an extremely entertaining and easily readable style. He manages to interject his stories with an excellent sense of humour which produces many LOL moments throughout the book.
Hugh has immersed himself in the societies and cultures where he has found himself. He has a writing style that allows the reader to gain not only an excellent understanding of the places he has visited but takes us under the skin of these places to allow us to experience the everyday lives of the people he meets.
His lively and imaginative retelling takes readers across all the continents. We are also given an insight into the changes that have taken place in several of the countries he has revisited.
Amongst the many humorous situations that Hugh encounters are several poignant and reflective moments that show us the trials and tribulations that many individuals, societies and countries have witnessed over the decades of Hugh’s travel experiences.”
- David and Pauline Davies, friends, former colleague, travel companions
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“Read this book and you will “experience” a lifetime of travel. You will feel what it’s like to tour in conveyances from size 11 shoe leather to diesel/electric luxury cruise ships. You will discover aspects of destinations where you’ve never been and be warmly reminded of those you have. If you are a traveller, it will show you an essential requirement – journal everything.
Hugh Greer delivers his account in a straightforward, inclusive, amusing, easy-to-read manner. The pages are loaded with suggested travellers’ tips and tricks. The witty double entendres will make you smile. There are apt descriptions of cars, caravans, camels and cruise ships. You will read about places and want to visit them. You will find moments of reflection and instances of pointed condemnation. Hugh cannot be accused of not having opinions.
All in all we can recommend this book as a great read. We enjoyed it so well that we’ll probably go back and read it again.”
- Marilyn and Don Stewart, Cruise & Vacation Specialists Ladner, British Columbia
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“Hugh Greer’s account of a lifetime of travel takes the reader not just across the world but into the intimate circle of his friends and family and even back through time. We are currently flooded by highly curated and glossy Instagram versions of travel, but Greer dispenses with artificiality and instead reminds us of travel’s realities – and all the accompanying humor, awkwardness, warmth, discomfort, and love. As he sets foot in one country or another, he gives us glimpses into past events that occurred on that same soil, or acknowledges the future to come for that region. His own mistakes, misunderstandings, and travel hiccups are treated with poignancy and humor, evidence of a healthy perspective built through a life lived well. The book gives you world history from the point of view of an enthusiastic traveller and keeps you entertained the entire time. Pack this book for your next flight, train journey, safari, camel ride, or camping trip; it will help you maintain your sense of humor even in trying times, and will remind you of all the travelers who came before you. ”
- Noelle Phillips, PhD, English professor and author of Craft Beer Culture and Modern Medievalism and Brewmasters and Brewery Creek
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“Hugh writes with wonderful humour; this makes for an enjoyable read as he chronicles his travels through his life. It’s interesting to see how his style of travel evolves- from his younger, more carefree days to his travels as a not so young grandfather.
This book is entertaining, offers a wealth of inspiration of the best places to visit, the importance of a good travel companion and how essential a sense of humour is to deal with the unexpected.
As a former travel agent of Hugh’s, I especially enjoyed reading about some of the trips I helped arrange, a trip down memory lane.
Wishing you many more memorable trips Hugh!”
- Sara Blackwell, Travel Agent
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“With over three decades in the travel industry, I’ve read countless stories of adventure—but 2,300 Days of Travel by Hugh Greer stands out as something truly special. It’s not just a travel memoir; it’s a heartfelt reflection on a lifetime of discovery, humour, and perspective. Hugh’s storytelling captures both the exhilaration and vulnerability of travel—from roughing it with a backpack to savouring the comforts of luxury cruising. His wit, honesty, and appreciation for the human side of every journey remind us why we travel in the first place: to grow, to connect, and to be changed by the world around us.”
- Claire Newell, President, Travel Best Bets
11,000 Days at School: from class clown to high school vice-principal
“11,000 Days at School is an insightful, honest and fascinating must-read … especially for anyone who has gone to school, dreamed of school, dreaded school, worked at school, had kids, relatives or friends in school … basically all of us! The author has captured the good times and not so good of everyday life in the public school system, while wearing a multitude of “hats” over the years. Throughout the book, we are so very much reminded how life at school is simply a microcosm of what awaits outside the doors … and how it takes special people to prepare our future generations.”
– Larry Hayes, Trustee, Burnaby Board of Education SD41, Graduate of the Burnaby Public School System
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“From 11,000 days spent in schools as a student, teacher and administrator, Hugh Greer gathers an assortment of anecdotes and vignettes guaranteed to entertain. With self-effacing humor developed early as a young class clown growing up in Burnaby, BC, Greer captures each moment with straightforward ease reminiscent of the late Stuart McLean. You don’t have to be a teacher or even a vice-principal to appreciate what Greer brings to life. You just have to have spent time in school.”
- Gary Little, Associate Superintendent (Retired), Vancouver School Board,
Author of To Hell and Back
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“This story of [Greer’s] journey from elementary school clown to respected secondary vice principal is told with humour, compassion and the wisdom gleaned from those 11,000 days in the classroom. He shares a rare and compelling insight into the world of education, and his anecdotes often had me chuckling or laughing out loud, bringing back memories of my own journey through the Burnaby school system. This book reinforces my long-held view that teachers are the unsung heroes of our communities. Bravo Mr. Greer!”
- Svend Robinson, former Member of Parliament (1979 – 2004), J.S. Woodsworth Resident Scholar (2020-2021), Simon Fraser University
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“As a former student of Mr. Greer, I was excited to read his book, 11,000 Days at School. It did not disappoint. From his early days as a child in the classroom to his later years as a vice-principal, Mr. Greer chronicles his time at various schools with many memorable and amusing anecdotes. His self-deprecating humor and engaging storytelling style—not to mention his desire to upset his parents with his career choice—hooked me from the beginning. While many of the stories had me laughing out loud, others had a more sobering effect. I came away with the happy knowledge that Mr. Greer had a successful, meaningful teaching career.
Through his experiences, Mr. Greer provides a telling look at what it was like to be a student growing up in the second half of the 20th century. Looking back on his formative years and writing this book with the experience of an administrator, Mr. Greer’s stories highlight differences between the handling of certain delicate situations then and now. Sometimes the way things used to be done were efficient and helped move things along (see his kindergarten story about the sliver, for example). But sometimes the “good old days were not so good,” especially when there wasn’t any counselling support or trauma teams available after … tragic event[s].
Having been a student for almost 20 years, I believe teachers are inspirational and, in some cases, even heroes, giving us the direction and support we need to stay on track—or even just find the track! Mr. Greer’s journey from student to teacher to counsellor to vice principal shows how teachers can make a real, significant, and lasting difference in the lives of their students. Thank you, Mr. Greer, for your dedication, guidance, and great sense of humor and compassion as an educator and administrator—and for this insightful, entertaining book, which I highly recommend!”
- Ms. Manjeet K. Chana, BA, LLB