Best Spain & Portugal Travel
When offered the chance to escape from the dreary market stalls of Bolton, England and buy a bar on the sub-tropical resort island of Tenerife, they recklessly jump at the opportunity, despite a spectacular lack of experience. In Tenerife, dreams of a better life overseas are soon crushed by mini-mafias, east European prostitutes and biblical-grade cockroach infestations. Their foreign fantasy turns into a nightmare as they find themselves trapped with a failing bar in a foreign land, pandering to a bar full of expat society misfits 24/7, while trying to stop their relationship crashing into the rocks. Joe Cawley is an award-winning British author and travel writer.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I always love a good memoir, and it was quite enlightening and entertaining to read this story of two young couples who made a complete change in their lives by leaving cold and rainy England to own and operate a pub in sunny and sweltering Tenerife."
"Never, ever having had any desire to run a bar and restaurant, I found the whole idea of two brothers and their girlfriends moving to a foreign country to do so almost unbelievable."
"This is a great read, a book about real life in a new environment that is laugh out loud funny."
"These kinds of books don't necessarily hum along at a rapid or consistent pace, but that's okay--they are meant for getting to know a place, its diverse and often amusing characters, the juxtaposition of cultures, exploring and savoring as you go, experiencing a society from afar."
"A fun book to read. At the end I discover the story continues, but you can end it here since the book reads as a "slice of life" experience and we rarely know a beginning and an end in that circumstance."
"To take this jump into the unknown -- from chilly Britain to Tenerife to run a bar/restaurant bought with borrowed money intrigued me. I was pleased that I had the sense (based on the Amazon reviews) to buy the 2nd book as well, so I could segue seamlessly into the continuation of the tale."
"Mildly entertaining with a few harsh reality checks on what the restaurant business is all about regarding hours worked, personality conflicts and kitchen shortcuts taken (in the Canary Islands, no less)... not for the faint of heart who like to dine out alot in sketchy restaurants."
"Easy, breezy, interesting and, at times, laugh-aloud funny, but WTH are the copy editors?!"
**Wall Street Journal Top 10 bestseller**. **New York Times bestselling author**. If Joe and Vicky had known what relocating to a tiny mountain village in Andalucía would REALLY be like, they might have hesitated... This is Victoria's tale of hers and Joe's move from Southern England to Southern Spain, full of fun and frolics and with a wonderful array of characters that amuse the reader from start to finish." -- Justin Aldridge, Eye On Spain "Weeks later, after finishing the book, you will be standing at your kitchen window doing the dishes and then recall some fleeting scene with chickens or mules or two old fools and laugh out loud all over again."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Very well written, humorous and insightful; the recipes at the end of each chapter are an added value and very thoughtful on the part of the author to have included them."
"At the moment, I would recommend reading the stories only on your Kindle as the iPad seems to have an issue with formatting the stories. I am really curious if any other readers are having this problem as I have not had this issue with any other books I read on my iPad and I read a lot."
"Stories about normal people starting their lives over in a foreign country (and not being very rich) are usually wonderful... that is, if they stick to interesting personal stories and stay out of political arena, plus they don't add too much historical diversion (read: filler material ) The Twead's are top notch in their storytelling and have some wonderful adventures along the way."
"This book was wonderfully written."
"I loved this book."
"I enjoyed reading about Vicky and Joe's move to Spain!"
"The "Two Old Fools" undoubtedly endorse what a good portion of those entering or considering retirement would like to do--go to another country and start over!"
"Cute stories but on occassion the author adds too many details (like that her friend had to go to the bathroon complete with details or her neighbour taking a wee) things that frankly, I did not need to know about."
You will add 1,500+ Spanish words and expressions to your repertoire through the encounter of descriptive sentences and casual conversations woven throughout the stories. However, a basic understanding of Spanish is highly recommended to achieve maximum enjoyment and effectiveness of the lessons. Any Spanish to English translations needed to understand the stories are included in a mini dictionary, perfect for Kindle. A vocabulary recap at the end of each chapter allows you to review what you have read and listened to so you don’t forget the essential words and expressions taught throughout the lesson. I desired the ability to brush up on my skills, and refresh my memory of the language, so I sought out an audiobook in order to be able to hear the words being spoken.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I studied Spanish in school and the stories in this book are an entertaining way to refresh rather than just reviewing vocabulary lists or verb conjugation charts."
"The book contains a total of ten short stories that revolve around daily themes that are in Spanish as well as English."
"I decided to buy this book to brush up on my Spanish since I haven't studied it in a long time and I still consider myself to be a beginner to the language."
"I needed to refresh my memory since i haven't practice Spanish in while , spent a couple months in México, this books helped me to remember several words i forgot the meaning."
"So the person reading it gets a greater understanding of what being said."
"I was looking for a new approach to learning spanish, for my travels, that could keep me interested."
"The format of this book was simple and effective and allowed me to rekindle my love for Spanish with actual stories, vocabulary, and fun reading comprehension questions along the way!"
"Great for the level I am at."
Best Scandinavia Travel
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, landscapes, wildlife, environmental issues, Sami people, arts, architecture, cuisine Over 54 maps Covers Oslo, Geirangerfjord, Lofoten Islands, Bergen, Svalbard, Tromso, Kristiansand, Kongsberg, Rjukan, Finse, Hardangervidda Plateau, Roros, Jotunheimen National Park, Voss, Trondheim, Nordland, Senja, Longyearbyen and more. 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. Butler is the foremost expert on Virginia in the War of 1812, having recently written the first book on the state's role in the war, "Defending the Old Dominion in the War of 1812."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We ended up skipping on Norwegian SIM cards for our phones since we had GPS in the car and this guide book... but we quickly realized it was best to just do some research when we found wifi and screenshot business info for later."
"I took a cruise by the fjords and it saved me a lot to have this instead of buying the super expensive tours that they sold in the cruise."
"It's not as informative as other Lonely Planet guidebooks that we've purchased."
"Good coverage of Norway......plenty of ideas.....use along with DK Eyewitness Travel Guide:Norway and Rick Steves' Snapshot Norway."
"I will definitely get Rick Steves book next time."
"Covers all areas--great maps, descriptions of excursions, public transportation, etc."
"Excellent top to bottom of Norway guide."
"Buy the paper book unless you are pushed for luggage weight and cannot take the paper version with you."
Best Swiss Travel
The 'official' Tour du Mont Blanc follows an established route around the main block of mountains containing not only Mont Blanc but its principal allied summits such as Aiguille Verte, Aiguille du Chardonnet, Aiguille du Goûter, Dent du Géant, Grandes Jorasses, Aiguille d'Argentière, Mont Dolent and numerous others. There are also routes around Courmayeur and Arnuva and to Lac Blanc, as well as essential practical information on travel to and around the Mont Blanc Massif, mountain safety, languages, currency and more. A member of the Outdoor Writers' Guild, the Alpine Club and Austrian Alpine Club, his passion for mountains and the countryside remains undiminished, and he regularly travels throughout Britain to share that enthusiasm through his lectures.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My experience is that quoted walking times would be approximately accurate for someone with good prior conditioning carrying a light pack in good weather."
"(I ended up cutting out the CCW section since we were doing CW). Overall a great resource and everyone on the TMB had this, but like most things, there can be improvements."
"A single exception: the description of the start at the top of the cable car out of Les Houches is no longer accurate, and hasn't been for at least 5 years."
"This is hands-down the definitive guide to the TMB."
"The maps in the book are fairly simple, but helpful in letting us know what kind of elevation gains we would be making and approximate walking times."
"This guide has everything you need... except the muscle... to do this amazing hike on your own."
"Very informative."
"This book is invaluable for anyone considering walking the TMB."
Best Italian Travel
“This is history on a grand scale, with a sweep and ambition that is rare… A proper historical epic of dazzling range and achievement.” —William Dalrymple, The Guardian The epic history of the crossroads of the world—the meeting place of East and West and the birthplace of civilization It was on the Silk Roads that East and West first encountered each other through trade and conquest, leading to the spread of ideas, cultures and religions. For Frankopan, the brutish West owes its more enlightened traditions to the lands east of Italy and west of China, which were, for centuries, 'the centre of the world'… Frankopan marshals diverse examples to demonstrate the interconnectedness of cultures, showing in vivid detail the economic and social impact of the silk and the slave trades, the Black Death, and the Buddhist influence on Christianity.”. — The New Yorker “In his new book, The Silk Roads , Frankopan has created something that forces us to sit up and reconsider the world and the way we've always thought about it… The book takes us by surprise right from the start.”. —Nishant Dahiya, NPR “This is deeply researched popular history at its most invigorating, primed to dislodge routine preconceptions and to pour in other light. “One of Mr. Frankopan’s gifts as a storyteller is his ability to draw unusual connections across his vast canvas… [he] packs his tale with fascinating trivia… Frankopan has written a rare book that makes you question your assumptions about the world.”. —Sadanand Dhume, The Wall Street Journal “Frankopan casts his net widely in this work of dizzying breadth and ambition… Those opening to any page will find fascinating insights that illuminate elusive connections across time and place… Frankopan approaches his craft with an acerbic wit, and his epochal perspective throws the foibles of the modern age into sharp relief”. — Publishers Weekly (starred review). “A glorious read. “In his new book, The Silk Roads , Frankopan has created something that forces us to sit up and reconsider the world and the way we've always thought about it… The book takes us by surprise right from the start.”. —Nishant Dahiya, NPR. “Superb… Peter Frankopan is an exceptional storyteller… The lands of the Silk Roads are of renewed importance, and Frankopan’s book will be indispensable to anyone who wants to make sense of this union of past and present.”. —Philip Seib, The Dallas Morning News. “This is, to put it mildly, an ambitious book… By spinning all these stories into a single thread, Peter Frankopan attempts something bold: A history of the world that shunts the centre of gravity eastward… Mr. Frankopan writes with clarity and memorable detail… Where other histories put the Mediterranean at the centre of the story, under Mr. Frankopan it is important as the western end of a transcontinental trade with Asia in silks, spices, slaves—and ideas.”. — The Economist. “It’s time we recognized the importance of the East to our history, insists this magnificent study… The breadth and ambition of this swashbuckling history by Peter Frankopan should come as no surprise… A book that roves as widely as the geography it describes, encompassing worlds as far removed as those of Herodotus and Saddam Hussein, Hammurabi and Hitler… It is a tribute to Frankopan’s scholarship and mastery of sources in multiple languages that he is as sure-footed on the ancient world as he is on the medieval and modern… Deftly constructed… The Silk Roads is a powerful corrective to parochialism.”. —Justin Marozzi, The Sunday Times (U.K.). Frankopan upends the usual world-history narrative oriented around ancient Rome and Greece and the irrepressible rise of Europe… In a series of brisk chapters—The Road of Faiths, The Road of Furs and so on—studded with state-of-the-art research that is sourced from at least a dozen languages, the author brings wondrous history to vivid life… In The Silk Roads, Peter Frankopan has provided a bracing wake up call.”. —Matthew Price, The National (AE).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Schools teach its students of the Roman Empire, the subsequent Dark Ages, the Norman conquest in 1066, Henry VIII and the Tudors, the American War of Independence, the Industrial Revolution and the First and Second World Wars. As the author states: “For centuries before the early modern era, the intellectual centres of excellence of the world, the Oxfords ad Cambridges, the Harvards and Yales, were not located in Europe or the west, but in Baghdad, and Balkh, Bukhara and Samarkand”. We are seeing the signs of the world’s centre of gravity shifting – back to where it lay for millennia”."
"The author's depth of knowledge and resource access, coupled with his polyglot skills, weave a centuries long tale of intrigue across a region of the world little known or travelled today. The story of the European debacle of the same time is repeatedly narrated, engrossing the reader in its internecine religious wars. Piles of skulls and cities entirely wiped off the face of the earth are ignored in favor of the administrative advantages of Mongol rule. Information is 'quickly transmitted' across the sands, mountains and rivers - this when 30 miles a day was the fastest a horse or man could travel. Other books in the vein of Central Asia would include The Poison King, Balthazar's Odyssey, The Ornament of the World, The Emergence of Modern Islam, Chasing the Sea, The Shied of Achilles and best, Millennium by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto. The ridicule of Western advances coupled to dictatorial domination and horrific tortures could just as easily describe Islamic, Indian, Chinese or Russian worlds. As for his Palestinian views, well, they are biased, leave it at that... Can't wait to enjoy My Fair Lady, his Mediterranean yacht for charter..."
"I had assumed we would be learning about the history of the silk roads and the many dynasties that rose and fell along the route - the Songdians, the cities of the Tamir Basin for example. I thought this would be an Asian centric book showing the silk roads impact on Han Dynasty China and the steps that had to be taken to keep the route secure. Or perhaps how the silk road brought Buddhism to the west and mixed the artistic sense of the descendants of Alexander's army with the Central Asian Buddhist cave dwellers."
Best Danish Travel
'A hugely enjoyable romp through the pleasures and pitfalls of setting up home in a foreign land' PD Smith, Guardian 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. * Choice Magazine * 'if you can't up sticks and move to Denmark... don't despair: here are a few tips and tricks I've picked up for getting a slice of the Danish work-life balance wherever you are.'. 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. While there, Helen soon discovered there's more to Danish life than cured herring and Nordic knits, as she described in her book, "The Year of Living Danishly".'.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"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."
"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."
"Just what I needed, planning a home exchange in rural Denmark this summer and now I have a better feel for the everyday workings of the society/culture."
"The author really showcases many of the differences between Denmark and her native county, England."
Best Irish Travel
Wander rustic towns, emerald valleys, lively cities, and moss-draped ruins: with Rick Steves on your side, Ireland can be yours! To recharge, Rick plays piano, relaxes at his family cabin in the Cascade Mountains, and spends time with his partner Trish, son Andy, and daughter Jackie. Pat loves all things Hibernian (except the black pudding) and thrives on the adventures that occur as he annually slogs the bogs in search of new Irish travel discoveries.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"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."
Best Eastern Europe Travel
Stroll atop the walls that encircle romantic Dubrovnik, wander through the Roman ruins in the heart of bustling Split, and set sail to the islands of Korcula and Hvar on the glimmering Adriatic. Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe. Ever since, he has spent three months each year in Europe, contributing to guidebooks, tours, radio and television shows, and other media for Rick Steves' Europe, where he serves as content manager.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Rick Steves is the ultimately in a quality, trustworthy travel guide."
"Was hoping for a nice map."
"Rick is always knowledgeable and helpful."
"This is a very complete book for the area."
"Wonderful book for getting around Coatia and Slovenia."
"It arrived quickly & is a great resource for a future vacation!"
"Rick Steves is so helpful."
Best German Travel
Take in a gondolier's sweet song while gliding past Venetian palaces, sample olives and wines as you traverse Tuscany's storybook hills, or be humbled amid thousands of years of Roman history and art; all with your trusted travel companion. Full-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 history, art, literature, cinema, music, architecture, politics, cuisine, wine, customs Free, convenient pull-out Rome map (included in print version), plus over 137 colour maps Covers Rome, Turin, Piedmont, the Italian Riviera, Milan, the Lakes, Dolomites, Venice, Emilia-Romagna, Florence, Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Naples, Campania, Puglia, Sicily, Sardinia and more. Lonely Planet covers must-see spots but also enables curious travellers to get off beaten paths to understand more of the culture of the places in which they find themselves. Garwood has a history degree from York University.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Excellent preparation for my trip touring Italy."
"After reading the first 30 pages on my iPad, it is frustrating to see that some images are missing and format of the pages is "glitched"."
"The perfect book for a visit to Italy."
"I was traveling mostly off the beaten path and I should have known that this is much more tailored to the sheer volumes of touristy (and amazing) places to see."
"Lonely Planet books are the best!"
"This book was completely disorganized and so hard to follow."
"Ordered in error."
Best Iceland & Greenland Travel
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.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I think it would be a great guide for pre-planning because the same organization that I'm objecting to which didn't work on the fly."
"The newest publication on Iceland which is why I bought."
"Used this book extensively in Iceland."
"Practical."
"Lonely Planet Travel Guides are always great for us and this one on Iceland is too."
"Very informative."
"If you take only one book to Iceland with you--take this one!"
"I'm planning a trip this winter, and this is helping figure out what to do, where to go, and a ballpark for expenses, so I can plan on a limited budget."
Best Western Europe Travel
Take in a gondolier's sweet song while gliding past Venetian palaces, sample olives and wines as you traverse Tuscany's storybook hills, or be humbled amid thousands of years of Roman history and art; all with your trusted travel companion. Full-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 history, art, literature, cinema, music, architecture, politics, cuisine, wine, customs Free, convenient pull-out Rome map (included in print version), plus over 137 colour maps Covers Rome, Turin, Piedmont, the Italian Riviera, Milan, the Lakes, Dolomites, Venice, Emilia-Romagna, Florence, Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Naples, Campania, Puglia, Sicily, Sardinia and more. Lonely Planet covers must-see spots but also enables curious travellers to get off beaten paths to understand more of the culture of the places in which they find themselves. Garwood has a history degree from York University.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Now that I'm older bigger print would help."
"Excellent preparation for my trip touring Italy."
"After reading the first 30 pages on my iPad, it is frustrating to see that some images are missing and format of the pages is "glitched"."
"The perfect book for a visit to Italy."
"I was traveling mostly off the beaten path and I should have known that this is much more tailored to the sheer volumes of touristy (and amazing) places to see."
"Lonely Planet books are the best!"
"This book was completely disorganized and so hard to follow."
Best British Travel
Full-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, literature, music, landscapes, sports, food and drink Free, convenient pull-out Dublin map (included in print version), plus over 86 colour maps Covers Dublin, Waterford, Kilkenny, Cork, Kerry, Kildare, Limerick, Clare, Galway, Sligo, Donegal, The Midlands, Louth, Belfast, Armagh, Derry, and more. eBook Features: (Best viewed on tablet devices and smartphones). 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. Davenport was born in and spent most of his youth in Dublin.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I found it to be easier to pull out my cell phone and look up information on the fly rather than pulling out this book."
"It is the perfect gift for someone who is traveling to Ireland."
"all of the lonely planet books are great."
"Great book.Travelled across Ireland and Northern Ireland with this as a guide."
"Cannot wait to visit Ireland and put to use the resources listed in this book!"
"Great information for most of the places I will visiting."
"Good to use as a resource."
Best Greek Travel
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
Find Best Price at Amazon"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)."
"Magical wonderful & full of interesting bits, interspersed with even more wonderful stories & ideas."
"I much prefer the 1987 miniseries with the great Brian Blessed playing Spiro who seems more like the Spiro in the book than the one playing him now."
"Even if you are not a fan of the PBS series you might want to give this a try."
"Having watched the "Durrells of Corfu" on Masterpiece theater, I was aware of the plot, but this gives so much more detail."
"I loved 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."
"If you have watched the series on TV and like it, you will love this different and original take on their adventures."
Best French Travel
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
Find Best Price at Amazon"Go to his website or your local PBS station for videos on where you plan to visit. Eliminate wasting time on things your don't care about seeing (like every guided tour)."
"We kept our new and used separate but still got stooped at a security check and charged two 33€ fines saying they weren't valid."
"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."
Best Turkey Travel
His portrait of his city is thus also a self-portrait, refracted by memory and the melancholy–or h ü z ü n– that all Istanbullus share: the sadness that comes of living amid the ruins of a lost empire.With cinematic fluidity, Pamuk moves from his glamorous, unhappy parents to the gorgeous, decrepit mansions overlooking the Bosphorus; from the dawning of his self-consciousness to the writers and painters–both Turkish and foreign–who would shape his consciousness of his city. Turkish novelist Pamuk ( Snow ) presents a breathtaking portrait of a city, an elegy for a dead civilization and a meditation on life's complicated intimacies. Throughout, Pamuk details the breakdown of his family: elders die, his parents fight and grow apart, and he must find his way in the world. Reminiscent of works by Jorge Luis Borges and Gabriel García Márquez, Pamuks novels, mostly set in his native Turkey, have racked up an International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, New York Times Notable Books of the Year, and profiles on NPR (see Snow , ***1/2 Nov/Dec 2004).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If a reader approaches the book with this concept firmly in mind, many aspects of mid twentieth century society in Istanbul acquire a clarity that is quite surprising. Pamuk clearly has an artist's eye for description, but unfortunately he allows teenage angst to overpower his book, making it frustrating reading too many times."
"Nowhere else can you read about the two sides of Turkey like in Orhan Pamuk's books - where East meets West in both candid and honest terms."
"His fond memories of his hometown take us to times which will never return and, in a careful and well-documented (the pictures are great) way, he gives us lessons of history, clash of cultures, and humanity."
"Orhan Pamuk’s 2004 adolescent self portrait backs into a welcoming and descriptive introduction to his Istanbul, not the tourist mecca nor travelogue, but his home and the well spring for his Nobel Award winning writings."
"fabulous."
"Orhan Pamuk has a cadence to his writing that is so beautiful it's aching."
Best Bosnia, Croatia & Herzegovina Travel
Most travel books seem trivial beside it." Kaplan, an acclaimed foreign correspondent and author of Balkan Ghosts , is congenitally pessimistic about the developmental prospects of West Africa, the Nile Valley, and much of Asia.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"These passages often evoked in me the swelling and intoxicating highs of the wonder, discovery, and mind/soul-expanding effects such travel brings...and, on the flip side, the discomfort, anxiety, and risks that come with visiting such places, which, while being experienced can be unpleasant in the extreme, in retrospect often become key aspects of the journey. (Countries visited and documented in this book are: Ivory Coast, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Togo, Ghana, Egypt, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia."
"Robert Kaplan's "The Ends of the Earth: From Togo to Turkmenistan, from Iran to Cambodia, a Journey to the Frontiers of Anarchy" is an excellent and insightful travelogue of Robert Kaplans journeys in Africa, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, in 1994. Kaplan travels light and, although sometimes he stays with or socializes with Western diplomats, most of his travel is done at ground level, on local buses and trains, as he tries to find the true culture of the places he visits - the soul of the people he meets on the street corners, in the hotels, and on the buses. Ultimately, Kaplan sees the central power of states weakening in much of the world as ethnic and religious ties amongst its people strengthen."
"They are places that most of us would rather not think about, but must - West African states (so-called), Upper Egypt and on east to Southeast Asia which I regret is one of the failings of the book since he tires by the time he reaches here and the coverage is is less astute."
Best Austria Travel Guides
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
Find Best Price at Amazon"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."
Best Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg Travel
You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in Amsterdam. Connect with Rick: facebook: Rick Steves. twitter: @RickSteves. instagram: ricksteveseurope.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We are mid-budget travelers; meaning we can splurge on certain things (nice dinner, personal tour, etc.). In particular, the Paris guide was very helpful for the metro system, walking tours, history lessons, and restaurant suggestions."
"In fact, you will have a great trip that is well-planned, without having to hire your own private tour guide, or waste time with the big tour groups if you have limited time or would like to just go about at your own leisure."
"First, the bad: many of the important maps are on two page spreads, which means they're useless."
"Rick Steven books are always top notch."
"I highly recommend this book if you are planning a vacation to London."
"The warnings about scams and pickpockets might be a bit overdone, but they're the kind of thing you can and should prepare for, so I don't regret listening to Rick's advice."
"I followed his previous guide last year in London... and am going back."
"I usually like Rick Steves books, but I was disappointed in this one."