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Best Greece Travel Guides

The Corfu Trilogy: My Family and Other Animals; Birds, Beasts and Relatives; and The Garden of the Gods
The tales of a naturalist and his family, who left England for the Greek island of Corfu—where they interacted with fascinating locals of both human and animal varieties—these memoirs have become beloved bestsellers and inspired the delightful series that aired on PBS television. Included in this three-book collection are: My Family and Other Animals : Ten-year-old Gerald Durrell arrives on sun-drenched Corfu with this family and pursues his interest in natural history, making friends with the island’s fauna—from toads and tortoises to scorpions and geckos—while reveling in the joyous chaos of growing up in an unconventional household. Praise for the Corfu Trilogy “A most enjoyable idyll.” — The New Yorker on My Family and Other Animals “A lot of frolic, fun, and charming ribaldry, as well as the warm feeling of having been transported to a lovely spot where worry is unknown and anything is believable.” — The New York Times on My Family and Other Animals “A delightful book full of simple, well-known things: cicadas in the olive groves, lamp fishing at night, the complexities of fish and animals—but above all, childhood molded by these things and intimately recalled in middle age.” — The New York Times Book Review on Birds, Beasts and Relatives.
Reviews
"I heard about 'My family and other animals' a few times before, but finaly took it to read upon an acquaintance' recommendation. There's also a faint child-like feel to the first book, to the stories about first encounters with earthly creatures and the family's reactions to young Gerald's growing "managerie". The stories are hillarious, made me want to learn more about some of the animals (I knew only a few of them, like dogs and a donkey, but I had to search the web for geckos, spiders and various beetles)."
"You will fall in love with the adventure-driven, sun-seeking, shenanigans-planning Durrell Family as they leave their cold, dreary English home and follow their hearts to the Greek isle of Corfu."
"The Corfu Trilogy is wonderful ..If you loved the The Darrell's of Corfu PBS Series You will love the three book trilogy even more .Gerald Djurrell is a wonderful loving and humorous writer .This is one of my favorite reads in Years ."
"A wonderful story of a single British mother raising 4 kids on the island of Corfu."
"I watched the PBS series and loved it, so it prompted me to purchase and read this trilogy."
"This is a great Bildungsroman, which views the trials and vicissitudes of a family coming to grips with life in an exotic locale."
"The family dynamics are so realistically drawn even in the likely hyperbole; the animal observations are also fascinating."
"Great tv series on PBS so I thought I’d buy the books."
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Corfu Trilogy
Three classic tales of childhood on an island paradise - My Family and Other Animals, Birds, Beasts and Relatives and The Garden of the Gods by Gerald Durrell - are available in a single edition for the first time in The Corfu Trilogy. It soon became a bestseller and he went on to write thirty-six other titles, including My Family and Other Animals, The Bafut Beagles, Encounters with Animals, The Drunken Forest, A Zoo in My Luggage, The Whispering Land, Menagerie Manor, The Amateur Naturalist and The Aye-Aye and I. Gerald Durrell died in 1995.
Reviews
"I heard about 'My family and other animals' a few times before, but finaly took it to read upon an acquaintance' recommendation. There's also a faint child-like feel to the first book, to the stories about first encounters with earthly creatures and the family's reactions to young Gerald's growing "managerie". The stories are hillarious, made me want to learn more about some of the animals (I knew only a few of them, like dogs and a donkey, but I had to search the web for geckos, spiders and various beetles)."
"You will fall in love with the adventure-driven, sun-seeking, shenanigans-planning Durrell Family as they leave their cold, dreary English home and follow their hearts to the Greek isle of Corfu."
"The Corfu Trilogy is wonderful ..If you loved the The Darrell's of Corfu PBS Series You will love the three book trilogy even more .Gerald Djurrell is a wonderful loving and humorous writer .This is one of my favorite reads in Years ."
"A wonderful story of a single British mother raising 4 kids on the island of Corfu."
"I watched the PBS series and loved it, so it prompted me to purchase and read this trilogy."
"This is a great Bildungsroman, which views the trials and vicissitudes of a family coming to grips with life in an exotic locale."
"The family dynamics are so realistically drawn even in the likely hyperbole; the animal observations are also fascinating."
"Great tv series on PBS so I thought I’d buy the books."
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My Family and Other Animals
The first book Gerald Durrell's Corfu Trilogy : a. bewitching account of a rare and magical childhood on the island of Corfu, now the inspiration for The Durrells in Corfu on Masterpiece PBS When the unconventional Durrell family can no longer endure the damp, gray English climate, they do what any sensible family would do: sell their house and relocate to the sunny Greek isle of Corfu. A student of zoology, he founded the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust on the Channel Island of Jersey.
Reviews
"Terrific story of an eccentric family living in Corfu Greece."
"Lots of humor; delectable bits of a child's view of the people and animals around him."
"Love the book."
"I read this years ago when it first came out."
"I love Gerald Durrell!"
"For anyone who remembers Gerald Durrell and his programs on the BBC, it is wonderful to know about his childhood and how his fascination (obsession) with the natural world developed."
"Just boring!"
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Best Athens Travel Guides

Rick Steves Greece: Athens & the Peloponnese
With the help of his hardworking staff of 80 at Europe Through the Back Door—in Edmonds, Washington, just north of Seattle—Rick's mission is to make European travel fun, affordable, and culturally broadening for Americans. Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe.
Reviews
"The introduction section covers basics of visiting a foreign country (e.g. money, currency, mobile phone, safety, language norms, Rick's tips on his back door travel philosophy and travelling as a local). I particularly found the maps, Rick's suggested walking tours and the best of all his tips on what to do based on how much time you have, the most helpful. Thanks to the tips and research founded on this travel guide.-- highly recommended."
"Practical advice on sites, accommodations, food, personal and guided tours, and transportation options."
"Information in the book was very helpful and made exploring fun and a little less stressful."
"The recommended places to visit, eat, see, etc., are all top notch, and the guided walks are truly the best way to see sights and the city and learn something about it that one will take away forever."
"Be sure to look into using the FREE downloadable podcasts of tours."
"Rick Steves is the best ever."
"Great overall look for area noted on cover."
"Great book."
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Best Corfu Travel Guides

Corfu Trilogy
Three classic tales of childhood on an island paradise - My Family and Other Animals, Birds, Beasts and Relatives and The Garden of the Gods by Gerald Durrell - are available in a single edition for the first time in The Corfu Trilogy. It soon became a bestseller and he went on to write thirty-six other titles, including My Family and Other Animals, The Bafut Beagles, Encounters with Animals, The Drunken Forest, A Zoo in My Luggage, The Whispering Land, Menagerie Manor, The Amateur Naturalist and The Aye-Aye and I. Gerald Durrell died in 1995.
Reviews
"I heard about 'My family and other animals' a few times before, but finaly took it to read upon an acquaintance' recommendation. There's also a faint child-like feel to the first book, to the stories about first encounters with earthly creatures and the family's reactions to young Gerald's growing "managerie". The stories are hillarious, made me want to learn more about some of the animals (I knew only a few of them, like dogs and a donkey, but I had to search the web for geckos, spiders and various beetles)."
"You will fall in love with the adventure-driven, sun-seeking, shenanigans-planning Durrell Family as they leave their cold, dreary English home and follow their hearts to the Greek isle of Corfu."
"The Corfu Trilogy is wonderful ..If you loved the The Darrell's of Corfu PBS Series You will love the three book trilogy even more .Gerald Djurrell is a wonderful loving and humorous writer .This is one of my favorite reads in Years ."
"A wonderful story of a single British mother raising 4 kids on the island of Corfu."
"I watched the PBS series and loved it, so it prompted me to purchase and read this trilogy."
"This is a great Bildungsroman, which views the trials and vicissitudes of a family coming to grips with life in an exotic locale."
"The family dynamics are so realistically drawn even in the likely hyperbole; the animal observations are also fascinating."
"Maybe a little too much detail about some of the insects and animals but beautifully written."
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Best Crete Travel Guides

Natural Born Heroes: How a Daring Band of Misfits Mastered the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance
More than a mystery of remarkable people and cunning schemes, Natural Born Heroes is a fascinating investigation into the lost art of the hero, taking us from the streets of London at midnight to the beaches of Brazil at dawn, from the mountains of Colorado to McDougall’s own backyard in Pennsylvania, all places where modern-day athletes are honing ancient skills so they’re ready for anything. McDougall redefines the heroic ideal, establishing heroism as a skill set rather than a virtue. The essential narrative here, the twisty tale of a kidnapping that incredibly goes right, is exciting. It is balanced out with the journalistic account of McDougall’s entry into the world of the hero. His personal quest to ‘rewild the psyche’ might seem an awkward fit with war storytelling. But under McDougall’s sure hand the combination improbably works. Kind of like kidnapping a German general on an island swarming with Nazi troops.” — NPR Books “A heady confection that encompasses, among other subjects, military history, archaeology, Greek mythology, neat ways to kill a man and ideas on health and fitness that might just change your life. [McDougall] constructs a fascinating edifice of ideas . But the pleasures of the book are as much to do with the fascinating panoply of characters, war heroes all, British, Commonwealth and Cretan, whose exploits contributed so much to Hitler's downfall.” — The Independent (London). “In the thoroughly absorbing Natural Born Heroes , which tracks heroism from the times of Zeus and Odysseus to the World War II bravery of a motley crew of fighters, Christopher McDougall makes it clear that . His extensive knowledge of fitness training, nutrition and physiology winds artfully around a tale of superhuman resistance during the Nazi occupation of the Greek island of Crete. [McDougall] solves this mystery with a witty eye for every detail, inspiring his own captive audience along the way.” — BookPage (The Top Pick of the Month: Nonfiction). “Compelling . True heroism, as the ancients understood, isn’t about strength or boldness or even courage. trekked across tortuous mountain terrain while avoiding a massive German dragnet..” — Booklist.
Reviews
"This book tells the extraordinary tale of the Cretan resistance—and covers tough muddier, cross-fit and the paleo diet in between."
"Where Born to Run left off, Natural Born Heroes Extended, Deepened and Delivered a compelling story illuminated by Important Knowledge Needed."
"really well written account of wartime stories embedded with references to endurance running/hiking."
"How did bookworm Oxford Brits secret agents manage to fare in the inhospitable mountainous environment?"
"Natural Born Heroes reads in a similar fashion, and was as engaging and informative as Born to Run."
"The characters are real but they also come to life through McDougalls brilliant writing."
"This book has taught me how to toughen up and the toughness of Greek heroes!"
"An interesting but only mostly successful attempt to marry a real-life historical narrative - the daring kidnapping of a Nazi officer by an eccentric team of Allied soldiers on the Greek island of Crete - with commentary on a wide range of fitness trends and theories."
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Best Cyclades Travel Guides

All is Well: The Art {and Science} of Personal Well-Being
When journalist Marilynn Preston started her fitness column in Chicago in 1976, most people thought yoga and yogurt were interchangeable terms and the mind-body connection was another name for the neck. "I can inform, inspire, educate, amuse, cajole, and otherwise cheer you on, but when push comes to shove-two excellent ways to burn 100 calories-you're in charge of your own personal well-being. From eating clean to going green, from losing weight to adding muscle, from living longer to dying more easily, Marilynn links body and mind to culture and politics. In her long-running weekly syndicated column "Energy Express," and now in her third book, All is Well, Marilynn offers readers a welcoming evidence-based path to more joy, greater health, and sustained happiness-three essentials of a healthy lifestyle. Marilynn is an ACE-certified fitness trainer and certified Wellcoach, and she has written two other books, “Dear Dr. Jock: The People's Guide to Sports and Fitness” and “Work Well, Be Well.” She created, exec produced and co-wrote the nationally syndicated “Energy Express” TV series about sports, fitness, and adventure for kids and families. More than 20 years later, she still works as a relentless board member, helping girls get the healthy lifestyle training they need to become strong, confident, powerful women.
Reviews
"This is a wonderful book! This makes it a companion book for anyone. A perfect combination of ageless wisdom served up for our fast-paced high tech world."
"Her delicious sense of humor makes delicate subjects like your doctor's total ignorance of diet and exercise, and how to begin an end-of-life conversation clear and compelling."
"A delightful, playful way to get across great ideas for a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life."
"(Even an indoor plant finds herself. buying a serious pair of walking shoes."
"I had hoped to find deep insight and words of wisdom that come from living an artful life of mindfulness and honesty, but unfortunately, what she has given us is a series of simple homilies - the icing and not the cake."
"This was an easy read with a lot of wonderful reminders and suggestions."
"With wisdom and compassion Preston speaks from her many years of knowledge and experience in the health and well-being world."
"I love this book because I know the author actually practices what she writes about."
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Best General Greece Travel Guides

The Corfu Trilogy: My Family and Other Animals; Birds, Beasts and Relatives; and The Garden of the Gods
The tales of a naturalist and his family, who left England for the Greek island of Corfu—where they interacted with fascinating locals of both human and animal varieties—these memoirs have become beloved bestsellers and inspired the delightful series that aired on PBS television. Included in this three-book collection are: My Family and Other Animals : Ten-year-old Gerald Durrell arrives on sun-drenched Corfu with this family and pursues his interest in natural history, making friends with the island’s fauna—from toads and tortoises to scorpions and geckos—while reveling in the joyous chaos of growing up in an unconventional household. Praise for the Corfu Trilogy “A most enjoyable idyll.” — The New Yorker on My Family and Other Animals “A lot of frolic, fun, and charming ribaldry, as well as the warm feeling of having been transported to a lovely spot where worry is unknown and anything is believable.” — The New York Times on My Family and Other Animals “A delightful book full of simple, well-known things: cicadas in the olive groves, lamp fishing at night, the complexities of fish and animals—but above all, childhood molded by these things and intimately recalled in middle age.” — The New York Times Book Review on Birds, Beasts and Relatives.
Reviews
"I heard about 'My family and other animals' a few times before, but finaly took it to read upon an acquaintance' recommendation. There's also a faint child-like feel to the first book, to the stories about first encounters with earthly creatures and the family's reactions to young Gerald's growing "managerie". The stories are hillarious, made me want to learn more about some of the animals (I knew only a few of them, like dogs and a donkey, but I had to search the web for geckos, spiders and various beetles)."
"I enjoyed the book very much, so much that my son decided to also download to his Kindle."
"The books also make his mother seem like a bit of a dimwit (which wasn't how she was portrayed in the TV version), and while it touches on their departure back to Britain due to WWII, it doesn't really get into that."
"I watched this series on public TV and really liked it, but wasn’t sure how it would work in written form."
"As an English professor, seeing Lawrence Durrel in his young days (through Gerald's eyes, of course) was a treat."
"Having watched the "Durrells of Corfu" on Masterpiece theater, I was aware of the plot, but this gives so much more detail."
"This is a great Bildungsroman, which views the trials and vicissitudes of a family coming to grips with life in an exotic locale."
"What an enjoyable read."
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Best Rhodes Travel Guides

Greece: Greece Travel Guide: 101 Coolest Things to Do in Greece (Athens Travel Guide, Rhodes Travel, Crete Travel, Santorini Travel, Corfu Travel, Greek History, Greek Islands)
Tags: Greece, Greece Travel Guide, Travel to Greece, Greece Holidays, Sailing in Greece, Greek Islands, Athens, Crete, Santorini, Crete, Kefalonia, Lefkada, Kos, Rhodes, Mykonos, Greek History, Ancient Greece, Greek Food, Greek Tours, Backpacking Greece.
Reviews
"If you are looking to visit Greece and you want the perfect trip, this is your guide!"
"it's not 101 coolest Things to do in Greece but less than that as some information were just repetitive."
"It is a great book for the tourists really wants to enjoy every place of Greece by knowing all the important things like history, food, significance of the place at the same time."
"I made a Greek basket for a fundraiser and bought everything on Amazon."
"A very handy overview to check that you're not overlooking a key stopping point."
"Nice book."
"I wish I would not have wasted the money, and this was someone's Christmas gift so it makes me upset that I know have to find something else for them."
"Useless book."
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Best Greenland Travel Guides

Greenland & The Arctic (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
Kayak past towering icebergs, dog-sled frozen tundra to picture-postcard villages, marvel at the midnight sun or dancing northern lights – Greenland and the Arctic are the perfect backdrop to an unforgettable experience. Lonely Planet guidebooks are, quite simply, like no others.'.
Reviews
"At the time of purchase of this book (07), it wasn't as outdated and was extremely beneficial to me while I was traveling through Iceland and Greenland."
"I got the book two weeks ago, and now I have booked eight days in Greenland in June 2014, very useful to have the book."
"Very complete showing the diversity of the flora and fauna as well as the culture of Greenlanders."
"For example, charter flights between Canada (Iqaluit) and Greenland were terminated after the book went to press, so now it's impossible to fly from North America to Greenland without going through Europe. Also covered are Arctic Russia, northern Norway (town of Mo and north), and northern Finland (Rovaniemi and north)."
"I've enjoyed this book and it's a good travel guide on Greenland."
"It seems as if they just threw in a few sections just to say that they've covered it... But this LP guide has missed out so much...to mention a few: 1) Yukon - there's more to this territory than just Dawson and Dempster Hwy...such as Old Crow, Vuntut & Ivvavik Parks, and simply the rest of Yukon itself. Better do your planning online... though slightly southerly regarding its latitude and location, this place has nothing but Arctic landscapes and climate. 5) Northern Labrador - another beautiful Inuit region of Labrador completely forgotten on this so-called "Arctic" guide... 6) Scandinavia - Northern Norway is very beautiful, but this guide only gives you a vague idea of this fascinating region."
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Best German Travel Guides

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Germany
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Germany takes you by the hand, leading you straight to the best attractions this country has to offer, from its beautiful castles and cathedrals to its popular beer halls, festivals, and Christmas markets to walks and hikes through the countryside. • Detailed city maps of Berlin and Munich include street finder indexes for easy navigation. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Germany truly shows you this country as no one else can. "Known… for its four-color maps, photos and illustrations, the [DK] Eyewitness Guides are extremely user-friendly for travelers who want their information delivered in a concise, visual way."
Reviews
"In good condition."
"It's a great book, but heavy to carry."
"By then, I was choke full of history and my shoulder couldn't handle the extra weight."
"This arrived quickly and I have been reading the history and similar sections; it follows the format of all DK Eyewitness Guides."
"This book came highly recommended by my seasoned traveler friends."
"This is a great guide with all the information anyone could ever need when traveling to Germany."
"We always look at the 4 or 5 standard guides for each country we visit and as usual this time we decided DK Eyewitness the best one."
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Best French Travel Guides

Rick Steves Paris 2018
Explore every centimeter of Paris, from the top of the Eiffel tower to the ancient catacombs below the city: with Rick Steves on your side, Paris can be yours! Rick Steves, author of 21 guidebooks and host of the television series Travels in Europe with Rick Steves, has spent 100 days a year traveling Europe, every year, since 1973.
Reviews
"super helpfull to make a itinerary and make the most of Paris."
"Anyway, buy the book before you go but also buy Dixon Long's "Markets of Paris" - there is so much about Paris, it's impossible to overdo the preparation!"
"I can't say enough good things about this book."
"The book comes with a few pre-planned itineraries for a short 3 day trip and a longer trip, which with a little thought, can be customized to fit your schedule and desires. The guidebook covered common tourist scams, two of which were attempted on me which I easily avoided (friendship bracelet and found ring)."
"I read it over before going and it has lots of good information like when to go where, what days time etc. The only thing that I would double check before leaving for Paris or when in Paris is if the days certain places are open. at least 3 hours of waiting!"
"I did my best to read the book before leaving and plan the trip out ahead of time, but it was also extremely useful at the hotel to help finalize the next day's plans, and even once in awhile to have it out with me during the day in case my memory failed me or we changed our plans on-the-fly."
"Rick Steves is a real-live "regular" traveler, who understands that most of us don't stay at the Ritz Carlton, don't eat at 3-star Michelin restaurants, and that we crave authentic travel experiences."
"But it is terrible--bare minumum of info, often misleading or missing info (for instance not mentioning the existence, let alone whereabouts, of a famous restaurant in Paris, but only its satellite location out at Versailles)."
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Best Sweden Travel Guides

Rick Steves Scandinavia
With this guide, you'll set sail to Europe's most prosperous corner—a smorgasbord of Viking ships, deep green fjords, stave churches, brooding castles, and colorful farmhouses. Delve deep into Norway's scenic Sognefjord and bike through the idyllic Danish countryside on the castaway island of Aero. Rick Steves has spent 100 days every year since 1973 exploring Europe.
Reviews
"Since it focusses on a couple of places extensively, with handy, informative city walks and lots of info about eating, sleeping and transportation, but skips entire parts of the Scandinavic countries, this guide is very good, and perhaps even more useful than the Lonely Planet, if you only visit those places described in the book and not the rest."
"It even has tips and locations for all types of budgets to get the quality and price you want for meals."
"It can't, of course, cover everything, and a few bits were already slightly out of date, but that's only natural with a tour book."
"Great summary of different areas with good detail on activities to do."
"So many good pointers for travel in this book."
"Very fast service."
"The book itself is very good, it is the e book version that is terrible and almost impossible to use as a reference."
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Best Cyprus Travel Guides

Bitter Lemons
In Bitter Lemons, Durrell tells the perceptive, often humorous, story of his experiences on Cyprus between 1953 and 1956-first as a visitor, then as a householder and teacher, and finally as Press Advisor to a government coping with armed rebellion.
Reviews
"Interesting experiences and fascinating information on the events and attitudes that led up to the divided Cyprus we have today."
"An excellent story setting the scene for the troubles of the 1950s that is even more poignant right now since the new memorial stones in the British Cemetery in Kyrenia list all the military personnel killed in those troubles. Most of the soldiers, air personnel, sailors and police were under 25 when they died."
"I originally got this book because I had spent some time on Crete and wanted to recapture the feeling of being on such an island -- I got that beautifully in the first half of the book."
"I first read this some years ago, but rereading it gave me new insights into a country I have visited frequently."
"a perfect buying experience in every way."
"love the author's writing."
"The author paints a wonderful picture of what life on Cyprus was like just before and then during the beginning of the fight to free the island from control by the British."
"I had forgotten how convoluted were the travel books I used to read when young."
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Best Ireland Travel Guides

Rick Steves Ireland 2018
Wander rustic towns, emerald valleys, lively cities, and moss-draped ruins: with Rick Steves on your side, Ireland can be yours! Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe.
Reviews
"Great guide with wonderful suggestions to any of the major cities we visited."
"Found this guide helpful in planning my trip."
"A good source of information about some more popular sites in Ireland."
"Very useful as all Rick's publications."
"We like Rick's books; only disappointing thing is when you want or have to go somewhere in the country that he doesn't cover."
"Helpful for novice (and maybe not so novice) international travelers because he goes to enough pains to explain currency, driving rules, tipping, reservations, telephones, internet use, car rentals, and a myriad of other everyday issues that are different in a foreign country."
"I appreciate what he's trying to do - expose the reader to the culture of Irish folks versus seeing the checklist of Ireland tourist traps."
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Best Monaco Travel Guides

Irina Baronova and the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo
This sumptuous, illustrated history tells the story of the rise of modern ballet and its popularity through the life story of one of ballet’s most glamorous stars, Irina Baronova (1919–2008), prima ballerina for the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo and later for Ballet Theatre in New York. “My friend Irina Baronova was a legendary Baby Ballerina of the Ballets Russes and an ambassador of classical ballet in America, but this book shows us the kind, funny, and hardworking woman behind the legend. These pages made me realize how lucky we are now, we American dancers, because of the pioneering energy and sheer strength of Baronova and the other great dancers of the Ballets Russes who performed tirelessly night after night, stirring and thrilling hearts in every tiny pocket of America. (Anjelica Huston). “Photograph by photograph, Tennant touches on some of the most celebrated moments of Baronova’s career as a professional ballerina, while providing an unprecedented look into the Golden Age of ballet. Although most know Baronova for her grace on the ballet floor, Tennant chronicles her mother’s life from humble and difficult beginnings to her days as a world-renowned dancer.”. ( DuJour ). “Written by Baronova’s daughter, this lavishly illustrated book depicts the life of one of ballet’s most glamorous stars, Irina Baronova, whose outstanding talent and beauty led her to become prima ballerina of the Ballets Russes and later New York’s Ballet Theatre.
Reviews
"Baronova's life was extraordinary, as the treasure trove of photographs attests."
"This is a wonderful portrait of a woman and a view of both an era and the world of ballet when America knew almost nothing about this art form."
"For enthusiast of beauty and excellence, an exciting read for both its rare transformative ability to bring you to an historical place and an immediate present."
"Beautiful photos."
"A superb book and a must for all who are interested in the history of ballet."
"A collection of wonderful images and moments."
"Victoria Tennant should be highly commended for the significant effort she has put into further contextualising why the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo made history at such an important and amazing time in history."
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Best Malta Travel Guides

Lonely Planet Malta & Gozo (Travel Guide)
Inside Lonely Planet Malta & Gozo Travel Guide: Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - including customs, history, art, music, architecture, politics, cuisine, and wine Over 36 local maps Covers Valletta, Marsaxlokk Victoria, Mdina, Dwerja, the Blue Lagoon, San Blas Bay, Gozo, Comino, Sliema, St. Julian's, Paceville, the Dingli Cliffs, and more.
Reviews
"It might be nice to have a little more in depth information, particularly about the ancient history of the island nation."
"Very helpful book, describing locations to see, good restaurants and general information about Malta and Gozo."
"This guide is almost as great as our visit to Malta."
"Great guide."
"Excellent guide to this fabulous / small country."
"My wife and I are spending a week in Malta over Christmas, it will be our second visit and this time we decided to buy the Lonely Planet guide (we already own LPGs for many other countries) to ensure we maximise the value of our holiday."
"There is not a ton of info on Malta and this book does a good job in giving you an overview."
"Handy tool for planning a trip to Malta and Gozo and seeing what there is to see."
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Best Norway Travel Guides

Rick Steves Scandinavia
With this guide, you'll set sail to Europe's most prosperous corner—a smorgasbord of Viking ships, deep green fjords, stave churches, brooding castles, and colorful farmhouses. Delve deep into Norway's scenic Sognefjord and bike through the idyllic Danish countryside on the castaway island of Aero. Rick Steves has spent 100 days every year since 1973 exploring Europe.
Reviews
"Since it focusses on a couple of places extensively, with handy, informative city walks and lots of info about eating, sleeping and transportation, but skips entire parts of the Scandinavic countries, this guide is very good, and perhaps even more useful than the Lonely Planet, if you only visit those places described in the book and not the rest."
"It even has tips and locations for all types of budgets to get the quality and price you want for meals."
"It can't, of course, cover everything, and a few bits were already slightly out of date, but that's only natural with a tour book."
"Great summary of different areas with good detail on activities to do."
"So many good pointers for travel in this book."
"Very fast service."
"The book itself is very good, it is the e book version that is terrible and almost impossible to use as a reference."
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Best Iceland Travel Guides

Lonely Planet Iceland (Travel Guide)
Splash around in the Blue Lagoon's geothermal water, catch a glimpse of the celestial Northern Lights, or take a boat trip among the icebergs; all with your trusted travel companion. Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, politics, landscapes, wildlife, literature, music, cinema, art, architecture, customs, cuisine. Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations' websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing. Looking for more extensive coverage?
Reviews
"Full color photos, multiple maps of villages, cities and notable landmarks throughout Iceland, make this book engaging to anyone."
"Their advice on travel to and from the airport by Flybus saved anxiety, time and money. As usual, their advice helped guide us to the sights and trips that we were most interested in."
"Pros: - Highlights all the must-sees and should-dos. - Like all other Lonely Planet guides I've used, this is very thorough, has up-to-date and accurate information on a wide variety of destinations. - Prices and opening hours are largely accurate, but travelers should still try to confirm info online when possible (i.e., the Blue Lagoon opening hours, that sort of thing). Cons: - Hypes up less exciting destinations... can be hard to pick out exactly where to go, though the essentials are mentioned. - Spends too much time on places no tourist should bother visiting (such as tiny towns with <1k population). - Not exactly geared for photographers; i.e., does not attempt to highlight some of the cool waterfalls, viewpoints, or hikes that are so worth going to."
"This book has the topical "getting started" and "suggested loops" sections, then delves pretty deeply into each region."
"You might find a paper map more useful outside of the capital city, in more remote places where you might not have a GPS signal."
"I loved this book because it had so much valuable and informative facts and history about the various towns and areas we visited."
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Best Spain Travel Guides

A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago: St. Jean - Roncesvalles - Santiago (Camino Guides)
Now updated to include newer maps and photos - and lighter in weight to support carefree traveling - this comprehensive guidebook to the Camino de Santiago and its offshoots contains all the information needed by modern-day pilgrims wishing to walk the sacred Way of St. James. John Brierley is a former chartered surveyor and the author of A Pilgrim’s Guide to Camino de Santiago , A Pilgrim’s Guide to Camino Finisterre , and A Pilgrim’s Guide to Camino Portugués .
Reviews
"I have only one reservation to make with respect to Mr. Brierley's recommendations: His placing the " Route de Napoleon" as the recommended route for crossing the Pyrenees on the first day from St. Jean Pied de Port. The authentic pilgrims route had always been the Valcarlos/Arneguy route with its connections with the Charlemagne saga and its numerous villages are well equipped to cater to the needs of pilgrims."
"Have just returned from 3 weeks on the Camino and this book was fantastic."
"I read through about 1/2 of this in detail in preparation for making the Camino with 2 of my young-adult kids."
"I really like Brierley's stage maps & his step by step description of the trail especially when signage is sparse."
"Quick shipping, great product, painless transaction - highly recommended."
"Good info."
"We have a friend about to embark on the trek."
"Love the book, lost it, buying again."
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Best Poland Travel Guides

Rose Petal Jam: Recipes and Stories from a Summer in Poland
Part memoir and part travelogue, this unique cookbook that the story of Beata Zatorska's childhood in rural Poland, mixing stories of her youth and her grandmother’s handwritten recipes with stunning photos of Poland in summer. “From fold-out endpapers featuring colorful, folksy textiles, to the lace overprint on the front cover, the textures are so rich they almost render the experience three dimensional. "In addition to being a serious cookbook with more than 50 Polish recipes (from pierogi to poppy-seed cake) taken from Beata's grandmother's handwritten notes, as miraculously preserved as preserves, Rose Petal Jam is also part memoir and part travelogue, the story of Beata's idyllic childhood in the rural Karkonosze Mountains and her later day adventurous travels with Simon in Poland today.
Reviews
"I left Poland at the age of seven but my roots will always be there and the spirit of my homeland flows in my veins. I give it four stars because sometimes the timing and instructions to the cooking process needs to be modified slightly but all round a gem!!!"
"And, it is very much a “coffee table book”: It is artistically laid out; there are very many photographs, both new and old; the writing is thoughtful and thought-provoking, with the stories, history and information very interesting to read; the content of the book—the combination of the pictures and the words—is often very poignant. About the recipes: As an example of the flexible instructions: The recipe for rose petal jam is to gather 3-4 large handfuls of the wild rose “Rosa canina” and place them in a stone mortar, slowly pour in about a pound of sugar and crush with the pestle to create a paste. In a way, that “loose”, open attitude is exactly what’s wonderful about Babcia’s (Grandma’s) recipes, but in another way, it won’t be helpful to a new cook."
"Beautiful pictures and her writing paints a picture of the unforgettable landscape, people and food of a beloved country that still remains a hidden gem to western cultures."
"I'm looking forward to Beata's next book and also the publication of this book in the Polish language."
"This book is not only beautiful but it tells such a heart-felt story about childhood memories and the loss of leaving your homeland."
"The format and photography is as lovely as you could find in an art book."
"If anyone wants to read why your heart never leaves Poland no matter what part of the world life takes you to, this book is for you."
"The book was much larger and weightier than I expected, but it was the size that encouraged me to slow down, and sit and enjoy the stories and pictures."
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Best Latvia Travel Guides

Lonely Planet Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania (Travel Guide)
Inside the Lonely Planet Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania Travel Guide: About Lonely Planet: Since 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel media company with guidebooks to every destination, an award-winning website, mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community.
Reviews
"It was a great way to plan ahead part of our tip."
"Had a great time in Estonia, and I even took the recommended weekend retreat to Helsinki from there that it suggested."
"Lots of great information about each country, including sightseeing information and general traveler information."
"Always use Lonely planet when travelling."
"It covers the interest in these 3 countries, very helpful to firm up the travel schedule."
"We learn the histories of countries before we go, we get ideas for hostels, we have the basic dictionary of phrases, we know the currencies, we learn the signs for men's rooms and ladies' rooms....we never travel without a Lonely Planet guide."
"The book was informative and was helpful in planning my trip to the Baltic States."
"A comprehensive and fairly useful guide book to help you plan your trip to the Baltic states."
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Best Austria Travel Guides

Rick Steves Vienna, Salzburg & Tirol
Beyond Vienna, stroll the Baroque street of Salzburg, home to Mozart and The Sound of Music for a taste of the Alpine living, head to the snowy peaks and green valleys of Tirol. Connect with Rick: facebook: Rick Steves. twitter: @RickSteves. instagram: ricksteveseurope.
Reviews
"We just finished using this book for a trip to Vienna (but not anywhere else covered in this book), and it was well worth having!"
"This very useful guide includes information on Linz, Melk, and Durenstein Austria as well as Vienna and Salzburg, In addition there was a nice section on Bratislava, Slovakia which made it a very helpful companion on our Viking Danube River cruise which stopped at all these cities."
"I've learned my lesson and won't buy another travel guide electronically."
"I used this book to plan our trip to Vienna, Salzburg, and Tirol (Tyrol)."
"Rick gives his opinion on which sites to say to help you decide on what it's worth spending time on and what can be skipped."
"As always an excellent travel guide."
"It was so nice to just carry a light weight kindle--that I could also use for reading novels on the train or at cafes."
"We were totally satisfied with the information in the book and what it did in the way of helping us plan the trip to Austria."
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Best Great Britain Travel Guides

Rick Steves Ireland 2018
Wander rustic towns, emerald valleys, lively cities, and moss-draped ruins: with Rick Steves on your side, Ireland can be yours! Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe.
Reviews
"Great guide with wonderful suggestions to any of the major cities we visited."
"Found this guide helpful in planning my trip."
"A good source of information about some more popular sites in Ireland."
"Very useful as all Rick's publications."
"We like Rick's books; only disappointing thing is when you want or have to go somewhere in the country that he doesn't cover."
"Helpful for novice (and maybe not so novice) international travelers because he goes to enough pains to explain currency, driving rules, tipping, reservations, telephones, internet use, car rentals, and a myriad of other everyday issues that are different in a foreign country."
"I appreciate what he's trying to do - expose the reader to the culture of Irish folks versus seeing the checklist of Ireland tourist traps."
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Best Vatican Travel Guides

The Vatican Art Deck: 100 Masterpieces
The front side of each card shows a full-size photograph of the art while the back side provides a 200-word discussion by art historian Anja Grebe on the key attributes of the work; what to look for when viewing it; the artist's inspirations, techniques, and biographical information; the artist's impact on art history; and more. She is taking part in numerous international research projects and exhibitions and has published extensively on medieval and modern art history.
Reviews
"Just visited the Vatican this past summer, so was excited to see this set."
"Great way to introduce Rome and the incredible artists."
"I love the size of this set."
"GOT THIS FOR MY BEST FRIENDS BIRTHDAY, SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED WITH IT."
"I want more;moma, Guggenheim, bmfa?"
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Best Denmark Travel Guides

The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
When she was suddenly given the opportunity of a new life in rural Jutland, journalist and archetypal Londoner Helen Russell discovered a startling statistic: the happiest place on earth isn’t Disneyland, but Denmark, a land often thought of by foreigners as consisting entirely of long dark winters, cured herring, Lego and pastries. -- Sandi Toksvig 'Russell is possessed of a razor-sharp wit and a winning self-deprecation - two of the things that make this book such a delight.'. * The Independent * 'A hugely enjoyable romp through the pleasures and pitfalls of setting up home in a foreign land' -- PD Smith * Guardian * 'A wryly amusing account of a new life in a strange land.'. Helen Russell was a high-flying glossy magazine editor before moving to rural Jutland in Denmark which, despite its long dark winters, is also statistically the happiest nation on earth.
Reviews
"When her husband was offered the chance to move to Denmark and work for Lego, Russell went from initially skeptical to seriously intrigued once she learned that Denmark has routinely been named as the happiest country in the world. In this memoir, Russell captures the adventure of moving to a new country and setting up a new life, while providing lots of interesting insight into what might make Denmark such an ideal place to live in. The cast of characters that make up Russell and her husband’s social life in Denmark – like the neighbors Mr. Russell divides the book into 12 chapters (one per month for her first 12 months in Denmark), with each chapter having a loose focus on one of the aspects of society/culture/economics that may contribute to the country’s status as happiest on Earth. Russell could have written this book as a straight up guide to what life is like in Denmark, but I think her personal story and perspective really contributed to the narrative. Some of the studies cited by Russell about different aspects of life in Denmark sounded more rigorous or believable than others, and I wished I had the time to investigate them further – which was impossible because to her credit Russell mentions many different studies throughout the book."
"And this is A Good Thing.”. I wanted a light and fun, but deeply interesting read to bring on a summer trip, and this book turned out to be the perfect choice. It offered a pretty entertaining look at Danish culture and society, all through the lens of why they continually rank among the highest countries in terms of happiness. After a while you get the formula of each chapter: an anecdote, a few statistics, an interview with a randomly found “expert,” and the constant questioning of various Danes about how happy they are on a scale of 1 to 10."
"And mostly, the Danish way of life this book reveals is just refreshing."
"You can feel the author’s joy about her experience flow from the pages as you vicariously experience her year in Denmark."
"It's currently the holidays and my place is trashed, but I know my next cleanup will be with Danish style in mind."
"As a freelance journalist and her husband decide to move to Denmark for a year, she decides to find out why the Danish people are listed as having the highest ratings for happiness in their lives."
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Best Andorra Travel Guides

Secrets of the Seven Smallest States of Europe: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City
This unique book examines the history, culture, and inner workings of the seven smallest independent countries in Europe.
Reviews
"It is a delightful tour of the micro-states of Europe: The Principality of Andorra (a unitary semi-elective parliamentary diarchy), the Principality of Liechtenstein (a monarchy), the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy), the Republic of Malta (a unitary parliamentary republic), the Principality of Monaco (unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy), the Most Serene Republic of San Marino (a unitary parliamentary directorial republic), and the State of the Vatican City (an absolute monarchy, ecclesiastical and elective theocracy)."
"The author has good basic knowledge of all of them, and although brief in history and sights, this book is a good introduction to all of them with a useful, if now somewhat dated bibliography for further reading."
"insightful, well written, and on point."
"Excelent!"
"Had great information on counties that do not have a lot of published information about them."
"Excellent and well researched book that deals with the history and geography of the seven smallest states of Europe."
"I liked the book, thematic interesting and easy to understand."
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Best Estonia Travel Guides

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania
From top restaurants, bars, and clubs to standout scenic sites and walks, our insider tips are sure to make your trip outstanding. Whether you're looking for unique and interesting shops and markets, or seeking the best venues for music and nightlife, we have entertainment and hotel recommendations for every budget covered in our Eyewitness Travel Guide. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania truly shows you the country as no one else can. About DK Eyewitness Travel Guides : For more than two decades, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides have helped travelers experience the world through the history, art, architecture, and culture of their destinations.
Reviews
"DK eyewitness guides are the best."
"You can't beat the KD books."
"This is the latest edition I was looking for (2015)."
"This book offers wonderful historical and cultural notes and helped us see many museums, enjoy the good life of summer, and also understand a little bit of the strength of the people through time!"
"Lots of pictures and information, good for preparing for trip ."
"Received promptly, product as described."
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Best Belgium Travel Guides

Rick Steves Belgium: Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp & Ghent
With this guide, you'll ride bikes over cobblestone streets and embark on cruises through charming canals. More than just reviews and directions, a Rick Steves guidebook is a tour guide in your pocket. Connect with Rick: facebook: Rick Steves. twitter: @RickSteves. instagram: ricksteveseurope.
Reviews
"My journeys were planned using the always-reliable guidance; my travels were enhanced by information that helped me be a bolder adventurer; and my experiences were richer for the treasures revealed by entering "Through the Back Door"."
"For the history lovers, there are beautifully written sections to educate you about what you're seeing, which makes your experience measurably more meaningful. The information is so detailed that Rick tells you things like, "When exiting the front of the train station, turn to your left and walk 20 yards to the bus stop. And of course, there are simplified city maps to help you navigate once you get there, usually marked with his suggested walking tour route. But one of my favorite parts of Rick's books is that he tells you how to really see a place by becoming what he calls a "temporary local.""
"We don't pay much attention to his lodging and restaurant recommendations anymore but his descriptions of sites to see, choices of places to visit on a schedule and other basic information are very good."
"As a medically fragile traveler, this helped us decide what to do, what to spend my energy on."
"My brother and I have used his travel books on our trips to Europe and never been disappointed in room food recommendations."
"Rick Steves travel guides have lots of practical information, very useful for planning trips to Europe."
"Steve's books are always well organized and well written and it makes planning a trip very easy."
"Rick Steves is the best travel book out there."
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Best England Travel Guides

Rick Steves Pocket London
Rick Steves Pocket London.
Reviews
"informative well laid out."
"I found this publication by researching on Amazon and it is exactly what I am after to help me navigate London and all there is to see there."
"As always with Rick Steves books on Kindle - I found it very easy to navigate."
"Very good information."
"This is a great guide."
"I visited Abbey Road, Paul McCartney's current home, Sherlock Holmes Pub, and several other places that tourists don't usually go to."
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Best Finland Travel Guides

Rick Steves Scandinavia
With this guide, you'll set sail to Europe's most prosperous corner—a smorgasbord of Viking ships, deep green fjords, stave churches, brooding castles, and colorful farmhouses. Delve deep into Norway's scenic Sognefjord and bike through the idyllic Danish countryside on the castaway island of Aero. Rick Steves has spent 100 days every year since 1973 exploring Europe.
Reviews
"Since it focusses on a couple of places extensively, with handy, informative city walks and lots of info about eating, sleeping and transportation, but skips entire parts of the Scandinavic countries, this guide is very good, and perhaps even more useful than the Lonely Planet, if you only visit those places described in the book and not the rest."
"We skipped the expensive, shorter excursion offered by the cruise ship and saved enough to pay for all of our tour books."
"It even has tips and locations for all types of budgets to get the quality and price you want for meals."
"It can't, of course, cover everything, and a few bits were already slightly out of date, but that's only natural with a tour book."
"I like the writing style and of the places we chose to visit from the book, most were good."
"If you're looking for a book with limited scope to just the largest cities and one or two other options, this book can be very helpful, including many practical suggestions and recommendations on how to travel economically."
"The book itself is very good, it is the e book version that is terrible and almost impossible to use as a reference."
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Best Italian Travel Guides

Fodor's Essential Italy 2018 (Full-color Travel Guide)
Check out Fodor's travel guides to Rome; Venice; Florence & Tuscany; and The Amalfi Coast, Capri & Naples. “Fodor’s is pitched a few notches higher….aimed at a fairly discerning traveler with an appetite for background and the occasional surprise.” – New York Times.
Reviews
"I prefer this over other popular guide as it gives more information."
"Going to Italy in September."
"(It's amusing to read, for instance, "Florence's popularity with tourists means that, unfortunately, there's a higher percentage of mediocre restaurants here," before Fodor goes on with an insider's tips on which restaurants a visitor should try). The book is well-organized, colorful, well-illustrated with maps and pictures, has a nice pull-out map of Rome in back, and has readable and interesting prose."
"We used an older Fodors Essential Italy travel guide for our last trip to Italy and found it to be an excellent resource. We then take our itinerary and clip the relevant pages from the guide book to the area we are exploring along with any other resources we have for that area."
"I have gotten through the Rome section thus far, and I feel like I have a great handle on what I can expect to budget for a trip there next spring or fall (the best times to visit, according to the guide) and what neighborhoods and attractions are the absolute musts for a visit."
"I also want to have a guideBOOK to consult, not an e-guide book. But if you DO want an actual guideBOOK, Fodor's guides are often a good option."
"It's too overwhelming of a book."
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