National Geographic Traveler
From the beautiful Spanish Steps to the heights of Palatine Hill, Rome experts Sari Gilbert and Michael Brouse guide you through this historic and vibrant city. Illustrated with more than 120 vivid photographs and more than 20 detailed, full-color maps, the 4th edition of National Geographic Traveler: Rome gives you every tool you need to plan a trip to this fascinating city. Starting with an introduction to Rome's storied history and culture, the book then explores each of the city's regions, covering every corner of town in detail. Sites covered include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Arch of Constantine, the Roman and Imperial Forums, the Trevi Fountain, and the sublime ceiling of the Vatican Museums' Sistine Chapel. These, the many amazing museums that dot the city, and more are covered in lively detail. Special features and sidebars give comprehensive information on topics ranging from the Roman emperors to the importance of coffee and caf矇s to the city's residents. Experiential sidebars abound, including culinary classes on exquisite Roman cuisine, Italian language classes, and archaeological digs that delve deep into the city's past. In addition, the book features six detailed guided walks into the nooks and crannies of some of the city's most fascinating districts. A thorough, updated Travelwise section provides recommendations for shopping, hotels, and restaurants in all price ranges and in all areas. Whether you're planning to visit St. Peter's Square in the Holy See or the richly ornate Galleria Borghese museum, the newly updated National Geographic Traveler: Rome has all the information you need to plan an exceptional stay in Italy's capital city. The National Geographic Traveler series is aimed at active travelers who want authentic, enriching, cultural experiences and look to a guidebook for expert advice and insider tips from a trustworthy source. We offer ways for people to experience a place rather than just visit, and give the feel of each destination not easily found online.
National Geographic Traveler Amsterdam
Active travelers trust National Geographic to deliver what they want in a guidebook: expert advice, insider tips, and the cultural feel of each destination not easily found online. These guides are pitch-perfect for today's experiential travel enthusiasts who Amsterdam's profusion of cultural and natural treasures--Vincent van Gogh and the Rembrandthuis museums, Artis Royal Zoo, Albert Cuyp flea market, floating flower market, antiquarian bookstores, brown cafes, tasting houses, and more--are all covered in this indispensable guide. Special tours, such as a walk in the heart of the city and a drive in the neighboring tulip-dotted countryside, are included as well as three-dimensional floor plans of famous museums and detailed architectural drawings (one of the Koninklijk Paleis). In-depth sidebars reveal the heart and soul of Amsterdam, exploring such diverse topics as houseboat living, native-son Rembrandt, and sex and drugs. The guide begins in the central part of town, with the Nieuwe Zijde; and moves outward to the Oude Zijde; Jodenburt, Plantage, and the eastern docks; the northern canals; the southern canals; and finally the Museum District and the New South. A chapter on excursions takes you to such picturesque places as Marken, Edam, Haarlem, and Delft. Other chapters detail the city's rich history and culture (with much emphasis on the arts), along with invaluable practical information and travel tips, including an extensive listing of hotels and restaurants.
Notre Dame's Happy Returns
The University of Notre Dame's connection with Ireland has been entrenched in Notre Dame's heritage and identity since the founding of the university in 1842. The university is also closely associated with Ireland through its renowned football team, the Fighting Irish. When some thirty-five thousand Americans descended on Dublin, Ireland, for the Emerald Isle Classic football game between Notre Dame and Navy (played on September 1, 2012) at Aviva Stadium, the relationship between Notre Dame and the land and its people was celebrated throughout Dublin and the rest of Ireland. Now the allure of both Ireland and the Emerald Isle Classic football game are brought together in Notre Dame's Happy Returns: Dublin, the Experience, the Game. Senior University Photographer Matt Cashore took thousands of photographs for this book, and has selected nearly two hundred of his favorite shots for this large-format collection, capturing the sights, historic places, and cultural riches that make Ireland special for fans of the Fighting Irish. Woven together with brief cultural and historical captions by Brian ? Conchubhair and Susan Mullen Guibert, Notre Dame's Happy Returns contains dozens of full-page photographs of Ireland's capital city. Ranging from art and architecture to spectacular views of Dublin Castle, Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity College, Casino Marino, Saint Stephen's Green, shops, pubs, and other notable landmarks, the photographs capture the mythical attraction of one of Europe's most vibrant cities and offer readers a glimpse of its rich history. The photographs and text also highlight the university's commitment to scholarship through the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, Notre Dame's Catholic tradition of service in Ireland, and the extraordinary beauty of the countryside beyond Dublin. In addition, the book explores the introduction of American football in Ireland and Notre Dame's role in elevating the sport there, and contains a special section on the 2012 Notre Dame-Navy game in Dublin. As travel guide, sports book, and lush photographic essay all in one, Notre Dame's Happy Returns is a must have for those who attended the Notre Dame-Navy game in Aviva Stadium as well as for all Notre Dame football fans. It will also be of interest to graduates, subway alumni, members of the Notre Dame family, and university supporters for whom Ireland is a spiritual and ancestral home.
An Art Lover's Guide to Florence
No city but Florence contains such an intense concentration of art produced in such a short span of time. The sheer number and proximity of works of painting, sculpture, and architecture in Florence can be so overwhelming that Florentine hospitals treat hundreds of visitors each year for symptoms brought on by trying to see them all, an illness famously identified with the French author Stendhal.While most guidebooks offer only brief descriptions of a large number of works, with little discussion of the historical background, Judith Testa gives a fresh perspective on the rich and brilliant art of the Florentine Renaissance in An Art Lover's Guide to Florence. Concentrating on a number of the greatest works, by such masters as Botticelli and Michelangelo, Testa explains each piece in terms of what it meant to the people who produced it and for whom they made it, deftly treating the complex interplay of politics, sex, and religion that were involved in the creation of those works.With Testa as a guide, armchair travelers and tourists alike will delight in the fascinating world of Florentine art and history.
The Colors of Catalonia
French and Spanish Catalonia boast an extraordinary cultural heritage. Picturesque Catalonian villages have inspired artists such as Henri Matisse, Aristide Maillol, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Raoul Dufy, Salvador Dali, and many others. Forever linked to three major art movements (Fauvism, Cubism and Surrealism) Catalonia has played a critical role in the development of modern art. This narrative guidebook explores how Catalonia's landscape, culture and people influenced the early artistic development of now-legendary painters, sculptors, and writers. Readers will also discover for the first time the full details of Gauguin's mysterious visit to Catalonia in the summer of 1883.The Colors of Catalonia reveals personal anecdotes that capture the daily lives of the artists, exploring their motivations, their friendships, and their influences. The book's extensive research (conducted in French and English) includes exhibition catalogues, diaries, memoirs, and personal letters between the artists, their art dealers, and family members. The Colors of Catalonia also highlights the supportive role played by Catalan artists such as Etienne Terrus, Gustave Violet, Ramon Pichot, Santiago Rusinol, and the collector Gustave Fayet (in nearby Aude), whose talent, vision, and generosity deserve to be recognized.Certain excerpts from George-Daniel de Monfreid's diary, yet to be published, are available in English for the first time. Paul Gauguin's closest confidant hosted Matisse at his home in Corneilla-de-Conflent, along with Gauguin's widow and his son Jean Rene. In the diary, de Monfreid gave insight into his relationship with his son, the well-known French writer and adventurer Henry de Monfreid.
Michelin Map 720 Poland
Renowned for over 100 years for their clear, accurate and easy-to-read mapping, Michelin country maps give travelers an overall picture of their route, with practical road and travel information; and city maps containing extensive street indexes orient them quickly so they can find their way to their destination.
Open Road’s Best of Italy
Open Road's Best of Italy gives readers a small number of great choiced and itineraries for one-day, weekend, one-week and two-week trips to Italy. Open Road's Best of Italy is designed to help travelers plan itineraries for the amount of time they really have for their trips--whether they're visiting for one day, a weekend, a week, or two weeks. Douglas Morris hones in on the best Italy has to offer in every major city and region, narrowing the information down to the most important, enjoyable activities travelers should focus on during short trips. With unique advice on shopping, day trips, sports, and recreation, Morris also suggests a wide array of hotels and restaurants to visit at all price ranges. And don't worry if you need help ordering in Italian--Open Road's Best of Italy includes a useful Italian-English glossary of handy phrases and words.
National Geographic Traveler Vienna
From Vienna's old town to the outer districts, from the city's charming, eclectic neighborhoods to Danube Island, National Geographic Traveler: Vienna guides you to the better- and lesser-known sights of one of Europe's most popular cities. In between, you'll discover the cultural and natural treasures Vienna has to offer--including its palaces and architectural gems, local markets and events, and the beautiful parks and gardens throughout the city. Among the special features of National Geographic Traveler: Vienna are sidebars detailing experiences throughout the city, to make sure that you get to know the culture, and the people, inside and out. You can learn to make traditional Viennese fare (think schnitzel and apple strudel), for example, sip wine across the Danube in Stammersdorf, and celebrate the holidays with a trip to Vienna's world-famous Christmas markets. Insider tips, in addition, provided by an array of National Geographic experts--photographers, writers, and grantees who have spent significant time in Vienna--direct you to favorite restaurants, festivals, and other information that only locals know. Guided walks and drives are always a popular feature in our guides, and in National Geographic Traveler: Vienna, these include hiking the Kahlenberg for an unforgettable view of the city, strolling along Vienna's back streets, and walking through the forests and meadows of the Prater. To top it off, an extensive Travelwise section at the back of the guide provides hand-picked hotels and restaurants, tour recommendations, and a glossary that covers must-know words.
Michelin Map 712 Ireland
Renowned for over 100 years for their clear, accurate and easy-to-read mapping, Michelin country maps give travelers an overall picture of their route, with practical road and travel information; and city maps containing extensive street indexes orient them quickly so they can find their way to their destination.
Michelin Map 705 Europe
Renowned for over 100 years for their clear, accurate and easy-to-read mapping, Michelin country maps give travelers an overall picture of their route, with practical road and travel information; and city maps containing extensive street indexes orient them quickly so they can find their way to their destination.
Michelin Spain Portugal
Renowned for over 100 years for their clear, accurate and easy-to-read mapping, Michelin country maps give travelers an overall picture of their route, with practical road and travel information; and city maps containing extensive street indexes orient them quickly so they can find their way to their destination.
Molotov's Magic Lantern
When the British journalist Rachel Polonsky moves to Moscow, she discovers an apartment on Romanov Street that was once home to the Soviet elite. One of the most infamous neighbors was the ruthless apparatchik Vyacheslav Molotov, a henchman for Stalin who was a participant in the collectivizations and the Great Purge--and also an ardent bibliophile. In what was formerly Molotov's apartment, Polonsky uncovers an extensive library and an old magic lantern--two things that lead her on an extraordinary journey throughout Russia and ultimately renew her vision of the country and its people. In Molotov's Magic Lantern, Polonsky visits the haunted cities and vivid landscapes of the books from Molotov's library: works by Chekhov, Dostoevsky, Pushkin, Akhmatova, and others, some of whom were sent to the Gulag by the very man who collected their books. With exceptional insight and beautiful prose, Polonsky writes about the longings and aspirations of these Russian writers and others in the course of her travels from the Arctic to Siberia and from the forests around Moscow to the vast steppes. A singular homage to Russian history and culture, Molotov's Magic Lantern evokes the spirit of the great artists and the haunted past of a country ravaged by war, famine, and totalitarianism.
Seeking Sicily
"Keahey's exploration of this misunderstood island offers a much-needed look at a much-maligned land."--Paul Paolicelli, author of Under the Southern Sun Sicily is the Mediterranean's largest and most mysterious island. Its people, for three thousand years under the thumb of one invader after another, hold tightly onto a culture so unique that they remain emotionally and culturally distinct, viewing themselves first as Sicilians, not Italians. Many of these islanders, carrying considerable DNA from Arab and Muslim ancestors who ruled for 250 years and integrated vast numbers of settlers from the continent just ninety miles to the south, say proudly that Sicily is located north of Africa, not south of Italy. Seeking Sicily explores what lies behind the soul of the island's inhabitants. It touches on history, archaeology, food, the Mafia, and politics and looks to nineteenth- and twentieth-century Sicilian authors to plumb the islanders' so-called Sicilitudine. This "culture apart" is best exemplified by the writings of one of Sicily's greatest writers, Leonardo Sciascia. Seeking Sicily also looks to contemporary Sicilians who have never shaken off the influences of their forbearers, who believed in the ancient gods and goddesses. Author John Keahey is not content to let images from the island's overly touristed villages carry the story. Starting in Palermo, he journeyed to such places as Arab-founded Scopello on the west coast, the Greek ruins of Selinunte on the southwest, and Sciascia's ancestral village of Racalmuto in the south, where he experienced unique, local festivals. He spent Easter Week in Enna at the island's center, witnessing surreal processions that date back to Spanish rule. And he learned about Sicilian cuisine in Spanish Baroque Noto and Greek Siracusa in the southeast, and met elderly, retired fishermen in the tiny east-coast fishing village of Aci Trezza, home of the mythical Cyclops and immortalized by Luchino Visconti's mid-1940s film masterpiece, La terra trema. He walked near the summit of Etna, Europe's largest and most active volcano, studied the mountain's role in creating this island, and looked out over the expanse of the Ionian Sea, marveling at the three millennia of myths and history that forged Sicily into what it is today.
City Secrets London
City Secrets London: The Essential Insider's Guide brings together the recommendations of artists, writers, historians, architects, chefs, and other experts whose passionate opinions and highly informed perspectives illuminate well-known sites as well as overlooked treasures. These expert travel companions share with you their favorite little-known places including restaurants, caf矇s, art, architecture, shops, outdoor markets, strolls, daytrips, as well all manner of cultural and historic landmarks. Clothbound, elegant, and pocket-sized, City Secrets London features a subtle non-guidebook design and detailed maps. With over 175 contributors and 400 entries, City Secrets London is a valuable supplement to any guide more devoted to travel basics. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to John Soane's Museum, the Whitechapel Gallery, and the Museum of London.
Travels in Siberia
New York Times Book Review Notable Book of the YearA Boston Globe Best Book of 2010A Christian Science Monitor Best Book of 2010A San Francisco Chronicle Top 10 Books of 2010A Washington Post Best Book of the YearA Kansas City Star 100 Best Books of 2010A St. Louis Post-Dispatch Best of 2010 In this astonishing new work from one of our greatest and most entertaining storytellers, Ian Frazier trains his perceptive, generous eye on Siberia. With great passion and enthusiasm, he reveals Siberia's role in history--its science, economics, and politics--and tells the stories of its most famous exiles, such as Dostoyevsky, Lenin, and Stalin. At the same time, Frazier draws a unique portrait of Russia since the end of the Soviet Union, and gives a personal account of adventure among Russian friends and acquaintances. A unique, captivating, totally Frazierian take on what he calls the "amazingness" of Russia--Travels in Siberia is "a masterpiece of nonfiction writing--tragic, bizarre, and funny" (San Francisco Chronicle).
Valse Des Fleurs
Valse des Fleurs recreates one glittering winter's day in St Petersburg in its heyday. The Tsar is giving a ball, and in the run up we are given a glimpse of a lost generation of courtiers, servants, guards, officials and dignitaries later condemned to oblivion by the Russian Revolution. Though slim enough to read on the train from Moscow, Valse des Fleurs is the perfect introduction to the Imperial capital of the Tsars. It peoples the magnificent palaces - now turned into museums - with a haunting and evocative power.
A Book of Migrations
In this acclaimed exploration of the culture of others, Rebecca Solnit travels through Ireland, the land of her long-forgotten maternal ancestors. A Book of Migrations portrays in microcosm a history made of great human tides of invasion, colonization, emigration, nomadism and tourism. Enriched by cross-cultural comparisons with the history of the American West, A Book of Migrations carves a new route through Ireland's history, literature and landscape.
Blue Guide The Venice Lido
Historic scene of the symbolic marriage of the Doge to the sea, present-day setting for Venice's glamorous Film Festival, the Lido island was once Europe's most fashionable beach resort and is now fast recovering its allure. Robin Saikia's affectionate monograph-part social and cultural history, part travel guide-is an essential companion, not just for delightful beach reading on the Lido itself, but for all visitors to Venice interested in this integral part of her history and present.
Summer With the Leprechauns
This charming book includes additional material and captures Lloyd the Leprechaun's original voice. An Irish Jewel, far more than a fairy tale. A good humored, true account of Tanis' summer in a cottage in Ireland where the resident leprechaun taught her about the evolution of elementals (fairies, elves, leprechauns). In the author's re-edited and revised classic you can hear the leprechaun's voice in all his mischievous wisdom. Summer with the Leprechauns is an astonishing true story about one woman's journey to Ireland where she lived in a cottage with leprechauns. These seldom-seen beings taught her about the evolution of elementals - the race to which leprechauns, faeries, elves, trolls belong. They explained the importance of humans and elementals working together for the betterment of both of their races and the Earth.
Iceland
- Waterproof - Tear-Resistant - Travel MapLet National Geographic's Iceland Adventure Map guide you as you discover the pristine nature and unique scenery on this Nordic island. The expertly researched map, with its accurate and detailed information, is designed to meet the needs of adventure travelers. In addition to a clearly marked road network, with distances and destinations of both major and main roads, the map also delivers an abundance of specialized content not found in traditional road maps. An index of cities and towns will help you arrive at your destination quickly. Recreational, ecological, cultural, and historic points of interest as well as secondary roads, remote tracks, secluded paths and ferry routes will aid in your exploration both on and off the beaten path. Among the pinpointed points of interest are hot springs, geysers, waterfalls, caves, museums, lighthouses, swimming pools, golf courses, campsites and scenic viewpoints. Also labeled are the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Thingvellir National Park and the volcanic island of Surtsey. The shaded relief map details the entire island, contour lines are drawn, peaks and summits are labeled with elevations, forested areas are shaded, water features are shown and boundaries of National Parks and nature reserves are color-coded, making it the perfect companion to any guidebook. Every Adventure Map is printed on durable synthetic paper, making them waterproof, tear-resistant and tough -- capable of withstanding the rigors of international travel.Map Scale = 1:465,000Sheet Size = 25.5" x 37.75"Folded Size = 4.25" x 9.25"
The Lighthouses of Greece
With thousands of islands adrift in cerulean waters and a long, labyrinthine coastline, Greeks have always traveled liquid highways. They built the world's first documented lighthouse at the Mediterranean port of Alexandria more than two-thousand years ago, and since that time countless sentinels have risen and fallen on Greek shores. Weather, warfare, erosion, and earthquakes have reduced some to rubble, but more than 100 traditional stone lighthouses still stand in Greece today-old sentries keeping watch over every vessel, large or small, from freighters and tankers and cruise ships to fishermen and ferries. Their romance, beauty, and history are captured in this handy guidebook. Beguiling images, fascinating histories, and helpful travel information will guide you to these beloved seamarks in the land of Hellene.
Roam Italy
"D'Amato has the soul of a poet." -Phyllis Johnson, Tidewater Teacher Magazine If you have visited Italy or are going soon, you probably know the basics: ordering a coffee will get you an espresso, don't plan to shop between 2:00 and 4:00 PM, and Italians tip about 5 percent compared to our 15 percent. However, if someone tells you to locate the zebra stripes, asks if you want to borrow a phone, or recommends some local cannoli, there's a good chance you'll be caught off guard. During a seventeen-day escapade in a remote town two hours south of Naples, D'Amato and his students discovered the nuances of Italian society and much more. From being pick-pocketed to realizing there was no drinking age, the teenagers confronted many unanticipated situations. Whether you are contemplating a vacation in Italy or wondering what happens when a teacher takes students four thousand miles from home, D'Amato's travel journal will serve as an intimate guide to the pain and pleasure of cross-cultural immersion. His captivating accounts are filled with impassioned observations and practical advice that will help readers avoid the potential pitfalls of traveling abroad. Roam Italy will make even jaded world travelers slow down to savor the oft-missed beauty and meaning embedded in seemingly ordinary "everyday" experiences.
Amare
"Sheila Wright takes us beyond the tourist trails and describes in detail the natural beauty and chaos of Italy. Wright passionately illustrates that Amare- to love- means accepting the good as well as the not so perfect." -Licia Canton, Author of Almond Wine and Fertility and editor-in-chief of Accenti Magazine When Sheila Wright travels to Sorrento, Italy, on a whim, she knows from the moment she arrives that she has found an extraordinary place. With a certainty even she doesn't understand at first, Sheila throws herself wholeheartedly into an enchanting yet chaotic country. Amare is a magical memoir of an odyssey that began as a trip around the world and transformed into an unforgettable journey into the heart and soul of southern Italy. In lyrical, often humorous prose, Wright describes the adventure of living the life of a foreigner in Sorrento. From hunting wild mushrooms to learning a new language, she shares moments full of promise and discovery. When Italian authorities throw her out of the country, she returns, undaunted and determined to make Italy her own. A glorious romance ensues, not only with a tall, dark, and handsome Italian, but with the land itself. Join Wright on a fabulous adventure as she snorkels along the Amalfi coast, camps on the island of Sardinia, devours pizza in Naples, and to her surprise, falls madly and passionately, in love.
Amare
"Sheila Wright takes us beyond the tourist trails and describes in detail the natural beauty and chaos of Italy. Wright passionately illustrates that Amare- to love- means accepting the good as well as the not so perfect." -Licia Canton, Author of Almond Wine and Fertility and editor-in-chief of Accenti Magazine When Sheila Wright travels to Sorrento, Italy, on a whim, she knows from the moment she arrives that she has found an extraordinary place. With a certainty even she doesn't understand at first, Sheila throws herself wholeheartedly into an enchanting yet chaotic country. Amare is a magical memoir of an odyssey that began as a trip around the world and transformed into an unforgettable journey into the heart and soul of southern Italy. In lyrical, often humorous prose, Wright describes the adventure of living the life of a foreigner in Sorrento. From hunting wild mushrooms to learning a new language, she shares moments full of promise and discovery. When Italian authorities throw her out of the country, she returns, undaunted and determined to make Italy her own. A glorious romance ensues, not only with a tall, dark, and handsome Italian, but with the land itself. Join Wright on a fabulous adventure as she snorkels along the Amalfi coast, camps on the island of Sardinia, devours pizza in Naples, and to her surprise, falls madly and passionately, in love.
Four Seasons in Rome
From the author of the acclaimed Pulitzer Prize-winning #1 New York Times bestseller All the Light We Cannot See and Cloud Cuckoo Land, a "dazzling" (Azar Nafisi, author of Reading Lolita in Tehran) memoir about art and adventures in Rome. Anthony Doerr has received many awards--from the New York Public Library, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the American Library Association. Then came the Rome Prize, one of the most prestigious awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and with it a stipend and a writing studio in Rome for a year. Doerr learned of the award the day he and his wife returned from the hospital with newborn twins. Exquisitely observed, Four Seasons in Rome describes Doerr's varied adventures in one of the most enchanting cities in the world. He reads Pliny, Dante, and Keats--the chroniclers of Rome who came before him--and visits the piazzas, temples, and ancient cisterns they describe. He attends the vigil of a dying Pope John Paul II and takes his twins to the Pantheon in December to wait for snow to fall through the oculus. He and his family are embraced by the butchers, grocers, and bakers of the neighborhood, whose clamor of stories and idiosyncratic child-rearing advice is as compelling as the city itself. This intimate and revelatory book is a celebration of Rome, a wondrous look at new parenthood, and a fascinating story of a writer's craft--the process by which he transforms what he sees and experiences into sentences.
Crete
Crete, the 'Great Island' of Greece, has been home to such figures as the legendary King Minos, El Greco and Nikos Kazantzakis. In myth, it is associated with Daedalus and Icarus and the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. Today it is one of the most popular destinations in Greece, its visitors lured by the promise of spectacular beaches and the remains of some of the most influential and ancient civilisations in Europe. Part history, part guide, "Crete" includes comprehensive and detailed itineraries, covering the cities of Iraklion, Rethymnon and Chania; the great Minoan palaces at Knossos, Phaestos and Ayia Triadha plus Graeco-Roman ruins, Byzantine churches and Venetian churches. Scattered throughout are the myths, legends and folklore of the island, as well as notes on its hidden gems: scenic stopping-off points, untouched beaches, mountain villages and tavernas, where the ancient ritual songs and dances of Crete are still performed.'In the middle of the sable sea, there lies an isle called Crete, a ravisher of eyes...' - Homer, "The Odyssey".
Ikaria
Ikaria: A Love Odyssey on a Greek Island. Nonfiction by an author who has traveled to Greece during three different phases of her lifetime and has written about the small island Ikaria, it's inhabitants, it's distinctly remarkable beauty, and it's cultural life, and about how her love affair with the island has deeply affected her own life. Anita Sullivan's first book received the Western States Creative Nonfiction Award. Ikaria was written with the same excellence and should be well received.
The People on the Street
The further away anyone was from that block of Ben Yehuda street, the easier it seemed to find a solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, that stubborn mess in the centre of the Middle East and the more I studied these solutions, the more I thought that they depended for their implementation on a population of table football men, painted in the colours of the two teams: blue and white for the Israelis, green, red and black for the Palestinians. All the international community had to do was to twist the levers and the little players would kick and swing and send the ball into the net, to victory' One block of a Tel Aviv street is the starting point for Linda Grant's exploration of the inner dynamics of Israelis - not the government and its policies, but the people themselves, in all their variety. Iraqi shop-keepers, Teenage soldiers, Mob bosses, Tunisian-born settlers, Russian scientists, and the father of the child victim of a suicide bomber are some of the people she meets.
Midnight in Sicily
A New York Times Book Review Notable Book of the Year A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year From the author of M and A Death in Brazil comes Midnight in Sicily. South of mainland Italy lies the island of Sicily, home to an ancient culture that--with its stark landscapes, glorious coastlines, and extraordinary treasure troves of art and archeology--has seduced travelers for centuries. But at the heart of the island's rare beauty is a network of violence and corruption that reaches into every corner of Sicilian life: Cosa Nostra, the Mafia. Peter Robb lived in southern Italy for over fourteen years and recounts its sensuous pleasures, its literature, politics, art, and crimes.
River of No Reprieve
In a custom-built boat, Jeffrey Tayler traveled some 2,400 miles down the Lena River, from near Lake Baikal to high above the Arctic Circle, re-creating a journey first made by Cossack forces more than three hundred years ago. He was searching for primeval beauty and a respite from the corruption, violence, and self-destructive urges that typify modern Russian culture. His only companion on this hellish journey detests all humanity, including Tayler. Vadim, Tayler's guide, is a burly Soviet army veteran whose superb skills Tayler needs to survive. As the two navigate roiling white water in howling storms, they eschew lifejackets because the frigid water would kill them before they could swim to shore. Though Tayler has trekked by camel through the Sahara and canoed down the Congo during the revolt against Mobutu, he has never felt as threatened as he does on this trip.
Death and the Sun
A brilliant observer in the tradition of Adam Gopnik and Paul Theroux, Edward Lewine reveals a Spain few outsiders have seen. There's nothing more Spanish than bullfighting, and nothing less like its stereotype. For matadors and aficionados, it is not a blood sport but an art, an ancient subculture steeped in ritual, machismo, and the feverish attentions of fans and the press. Lewine explains Spain and the art of the bulls by spending a bullfighting season traveling Spanish highways with the celebrated matador Francisco Rivera Ord籀nez, following Fran, as he's known, through every region and social stratum. Fran's great-grandfather was a famous bullfighter and the inspiration for Hemingway's matador in The Sun Also Rises. Fran's father was also a star matador, until a bull took his life shortly before Fran's eleventh birthday. Fran is blessed and haunted by his family history. Formerly a top performer himself, Fran's reputation has slipped, and as the season opens he feels intense pressure to live up to his legacy amid tabloid scrutiny in the wake of his separation from his wife, a duchess. But Fran perseveres through an eventful season of early triumph, serious injury, and an unlikely return to glory.
50 Hikes in & Around Tuscany
Hikes vary in difficulty and are accompanied by directions to the trailhead, a detailed map, hiking time and distance, beautiful photographs, and fascinating commentary on the natural, historical, and cultural wonders you'll encounter along the way.
Not Built in a Day
Not Built in a Day: Exploring the Architecture of Rome is a unique, unconventional guide and a deeply felt homage to Rome and its extraordinary 2,500-year history. Moving beyond the names, dates, and statistics of ordinary guidebooks, George Sullivan's eye-opening essays celebrate the special character of Rome's buildings, fountains, piazzas, streets, and ruins. From the largest landmark down to the smallest hidden gem, Not Built in a Day explores the city in comprehensive detail, offering detailed visual and historical analyses that enable readers to see and understand exactly what makes the architecture of Rome so important, influential, and fascinating. Not Built in a Day is supported by a companion website (NotBuiltInADay.com) that offers, among other features, detailed illustrative photographs for readers who want to experience the book's walking tours at home and large printable maps for readers using small electronic devices on-site in Rome.
The Irish Way
In this masterpiece of travel literature, Robert Emmett Ginna travels on foot the 350 miles from one end of Ireland to the other. His walk is filled with encounters with remarkable citizens, as colorful and various as the counties of Ireland. Weaving song, poetry, and story into his narrative, he brings to life the heroes, patriots, saints, and rogues who've shaped Ireland's culture and history. Here is Ireland as you've never seen it before.
A Thousand Days In Tuscany
They had met and married on perilously short acquaintance, she an American chef and food writer, he a Venetian banker. Now they were taking another audacious leap, unstitching their ties with exquisite Venice to live in a roughly renovated stable in Tuscany. Once again, it was love at first sight. Love for the timeless countryside and the ancient village of San Casciano dei Bagni, for the local vintage and the magnificent cooking, for the Tuscan sky and the friendly church bells. Love especially for old Barlozzo, the village mago, who escorts the newcomers to Tuscany's seasonal festivals; gives them roasted country bread drizzled with just-pressed olive oil; invites them to gather chestnuts, harvest grapes, hunt truffles; and teaches them to caress the simple pleasures of each precious day. It's Barlozzo who guides them across the minefields of village history and into the warm and fiercely beating heart of love itself. A Thousand Days in Tuscany is set in one of the most beautiful places on earth-and tucked into its fragrant corners are luscious recipes (including one for the only true bruschetta) directly from the author's private collection.
A Time of Gifts
This beloved account about an intrepid young Englishman on the first leg of his walk from London to Constantinople is simply one of the best works of travel literature ever written. At the age of eighteen, Patrick Leigh Fermor set off from the heart of London on an epic journey--to walk to Constantinople. A Time of Gifts is the rich account of his adventures as far as Hungary, after which Between the Woods and the Water continues the story to the Iron Gates that divide the Carpathian and Balkan mountains. Acclaimed for its sweep and intelligence, Leigh Fermor's book explores a remarkable moment in time. Hitler has just come to power but war is still ahead, as he walks through a Europe soon to be forever changed--through the Lowlands to Mitteleuropa, to Teutonic and Slav heartlands, through the baroque remains of the Holy Roman Empire; up the Rhine, and down to the Danube. At once a memoir of coming-of-age, an account of a journey, and a dazzling exposition of the English language, A Time of Gifts is also a portrait of a continent already showing ominous signs of the holocaust to come.
Spanish Recognitions
At eighty-two years old, Mary Lee Settle set off alone to find the Spain she thought she knew. But, like Columbus on another voyage of discovery, she found something many things that she hadn't even known she was looking for. Winner of a National Book Award for fiction and author of an acclaimed book of travel and history on Turkey, Settle brings to her task the visual equivalent of perfect pitch. She follows the great, traumatic flows in Spanish history: the Moorish conquest from south to north, and the Christian reconquista several hundred years later in the opposite direction. Those epic struggles, shaped by geography, are the source of the fascinating tensions in the Spanish character, in its art, architecture, and literature, and the author's magical prose puts these gifts in our hands."
The Dark Heart Of Italy
In 1999 Tobias Jones immigrated to Italy, expecting to discover the pastoral bliss described by centuries of foreign visitors. Instead, he found a very different country: one besieged by unfathomable terrorism and deep-seated paranoia. The Dark Heart of Italy is Jones's account of his four-year voyage across the Italian peninsula. Jones writes not just about Italy's art, climate, and cuisine but also about the much livelier and stranger sides of the Bel Paese: the language, soccer, Catholicism, cinema, television, and terrorism. Why, he wonders, does the parliament need a "slaughter commission"? Why do bombs still explode every time politics start getting serious? Why does everyone urge him to go home as soon as possible, saying that Italy is a "brothel"? Most of all, why does one man, Silvio Berlusconi-in the words of a famous song-appear to own everything from Padre Nostro (Our Father) to Cosa Nostra (the Mafia)? The Italy that emerges from Jones's travels is a country scarred by civil wars and "illustrious corpses"; a country that is proudly visual rather than verbal, based on aesthetics rather than ethics; a country where crime is hardly ever followed by punishment; a place of incredible illusionism, where it is impossible to distinguish fantasy from reality and fact from fiction.
Eurydice Street
Sofka Zinovieff had fallen in love with Greece as a student, but little suspected that years later she would return for good with an expatriate Greek husband and two young daughters. This book is a wonderfully fresh, funny and inquiring account of her first year as an Athenian. The whole family have to get to grips with their new life and identities: the children start school and tackle a new language, and Sofka's husband, Vassilis, comes home after half a lifetime away. Meanwhile, Sofka resolves to get to know her new city and become a Greek citizen, which turns out to be a process of Byzantine complexity. As the months go by, Sofka's discovers how memories of Athens' past haunt its present in its music, poetry and history. She also learns about the difficult art of catching a taxi, the importance of smoking, the unimportance of time-keeping, and how to get your Christmas piglet cooked at the baker's.
Great Sleeps Italy
For 20 years, savvy travelers have trusted Sandra Gustafson for real finds and great value abroad. Completely revised and updated, this beloved guide offers in-the-know counsel on the best deals for your money and most unique places to stay in Florence, Rome, and Venice. Both first-time and veteran visitors will find plenty of invaluable tips in these pages, thanks to the author's painstaking research. For this edition, Sandra revisited each of the recommended hotels, and searched high and low for great new finds. With their lively, detailed, and personal reviews, the Italy guides are proven favorites in this popular seriesand the antidote to the most-common-denominator travel guides. Including practical advice on transportation, reservations, holidays, and even shopping tips, the Great Eats and Sleeps series is the perfect companion for anyone in search of the authentic Italy.
