I've been listening to audiobooks from Librivox and stories of the circumnavigation of the globe have been interesting:
- _Sailing Alone Around The World_ Joshua Slocum
- _Around the World on a Bicycle_ Thomas Stevens
Apparently the first person do circumnavigate the globe using commercial transport was an Englishman (anyone know the name?) who did it with just a letter of credit from his bank and his visiting cards --- I believe during or just before the time of Queen Victoria. I'd be glad to know the further specifics if anyone knows them.
Another book on circumnavigation, more recent, which I've been wanting to read is _Half-Safe_ by Ben Carlin (he took a GPA around the world).