Currently featured guidebooks:
The Rome Guide
Michelin Guides: Germany, Scotland
Ultimate Food Journeys
Hamburg: A Cultural History
Top 10 Italian Lakes
Switzerland DVDs
Classic London Restaurants
Stern's Guide to the Cruise Vacation
Pocket Rough Guides
Interlink Guides
Michelin Atlases and Maps
Frohliche Weihnachten
For the Love of Italy
Italian-English and German-English Dictionaries
Wine Regions of France
Best Drives Austria
Essential Amsterdam
Make Your Own Maps
Alastair Sawday's Green Europe
Travel with Kids
Memories of Times Past: Rome and Paris
Rome and Paris, Then and Now
Scotland and Its Whiskies
Burgundy and Its Wines
Rosetta Stone - German
Switzerland without a Car
Tuscany
Globetrotter Map of Vienna
THE ROME GUIDE. Interlink Publishing Group, 46 Crosby St. Northampton, MA 01060. www.interlinkbooks.com. Price: $25
This isn't your typical European country guidebook that tells you what to see, where to stay and where to eat. This 730-page 6 x 8” softbound guide is heavy, and doesn't fit in your pocket. It also doesn't skimp on information, especially when it comes to the historical aspects of Rome.
Written by Mauro Lucentini, a journalist and native of Rome, this is a comprehensive book that features 10 different walking tours of this complex city, two for each section of the city covered, including Roma Romantica, Ancient Rome, Rome of the Popes, Renaissance Rome and Trastevere.
The first walk in Roma Romantica features 12 highlights to visit, including the Porta del Popolo (the main north portal to the city) and the Walls, the Piazza di Spagna, Via Condotti, the Trevi Fountain, The Quirinal, Via Sistina and Trinita dei Monti, among others. This walk, which takes about seven hours with additional “side” tours which are also recommended in the book for those who have additional time, is shown on a black and white map, as are all the walks. These maps come in handy when walking through this city which is hard to negotiate to begin with.
Information for the walks includes when museums and attractions are open, which is extremely helpful. The book also tells you when you are at the midpoint of your walk. Perhaps only a native—certainly one who is intimately acquainted with city—could point out the complexities and details of the city. For example, at the crossroads of the Quattro Fontane, the author says, “This is the only spot in Rome from which three obelisks are visible; two mark the nodal points of Trinita dei Monti and S. Maria Maggiore; the third is atop the statuary group of the Horse Tamers in Piazza del Quirinale. The fourth terminus of the intersection is a monumental gateway in the Aurelian Walls...”
One section of the book is entitled “Before Going,” which details historical aspects of what you will see as you walk the city. It is advisable you read these sections prior to your excursion. Fascinating reading, especially if you like stories: “He (Michelangelo) worked on the (Sistine Chapel) ceiling for four long years, mostly standing, his head tilted back, dust and paint raining into his eyes, with a doggedness and a singlemindedness that bordered on the insane...”
Numerous black and white photos and more than 100 maps help illustrate the book, but the real gem here is the text, which illuminates Rome's history and relates it to today, as on page 173 (The Imperial Fora {Forum}), where Lucentini states, “the present scene is thus one of dazed masses of tourists wandering about the avenue, anxious to see the ancient glories but repelled by the incomprehensible clutter of the new excavations and barely aware of the old ones, which in some places are smaller and further off. Many people are reduced to observing, photographing or filming the fake statues, which they mistake for the main ancient feature, and the Fascist-era maps.”
Following the detailed guided walks, a section describes practical hints such as finding washrooms, shopping tips, store hours, using telephones, eating and drinking in Rome and coping with the Italian language and more.
While not a lightweight book you'll likely wish to bring with you when walking the streets of Rome, it is a very insightful and detailed tome that will add significant background and flavor to your Rome adventure. Or put it in your carry-on luggage and read it at night in your hotel room, along with a glass of fine Italian red wine.
MICHELIN GUIDES FOR GERMANY AND SCOTLAND. National Book Network, PO Box 62188, Baltimore, MD 21264. www.travel.viamichelin.com. Price: $21.99 each.
The Michelin Guides—those small 4-5/8” x 8-3/4” deep green softbound books— pack a large wallop.
The latest two, one for Germany and one for Scotland, have been updated, and are ready for use. And useful they are. The Scotland guide gives tips on when and where to go, what to see and do, information about wildlife viewing, spas, children's activities, shopping, books and films, how to get there, where to stay, where to eat, and information about foods, government and the economy, history, architecture, monuments and much more.
The books are divided into sections: Scotland is divided into southern Scotland, central Scotland and northern Scotland, whereas Germany is divided into sections on Berlin, the Baltic Coast, the Northwest, the West, the Southwest, Munich and Bavaria, northern Bavaria, central Germany and the East.
“Scotland is a relatively small country,” states the book, “and it's quite possible to stay in either Edinburgh or Glasgow and make trips as far afield as the Highlands. Either Edinburgh or Glasgow can comfortably occupy three or four interest-packed days (and nights)...”
The guide indicates that there are as many as 40 distilleries open to the public, offering tours and samples of Scotland's national drink. Scotland also has more than 550 public and private golf courses. A Calendar of Events is helpful in determining what to see in Scotland: in April-May is the Shetland Folk Festival, in July-August is the Edinburgh World Pipe Band Championship and in November-December Glasgow features something called Winterfest (www.winterfestglasgow.com).
Scotland's 5 million people are a colorful lot, as are their tartens (the colorful clothing material they wear). With numerous color photos, maps (45 in this edition), small informational paragraphs and suggested tours and interesting places to see, this book provides a wealth of valuable information on Scotland. It is conveniently divided into the sections of Scotland for your convenience and easier reading.
The same format is true for the German guide book. In Germany you might want to see the world's largest harbor festival in Hamburg in May, Luther's wedding re-enactment in mid-June in Wittenberg or visit in Advent when as many as 2,500 colorful Christmas markets—most serving hot mulled wine called Gluhwein—are operating.
A misty color photo in the guide of Schloss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria sets the stage for the beauty and variety you will see in Germany in its various regions. From Berlin with its famous museums to Hamburg and its nightlife, to the Harz Mountains and the Black Forest, to Cologne with its imposing churches and Kolle Alaaf (Carnival) along the Rhine River, Germany is a country jammed with events and festivals, spirals and castles, good foods and good beers.
The Michelin Guide tells you where to stay (with a brief overview of the hotel), where to eat (including descriptions of the establishment and places to visit )(in Trier—Germany's oldest city— be sure to see the famous Porta Nigra, the Hauptmarkt (main square), and the Dom (cathedral) with its six towers.
Tips like “When you're in Constance, don't miss the beautiful islands of Mainau and Reichenau” are very helpful if you've not been there before. Otherwise, you may go and never see these interesting places. Even if you're a seasoned traveler, it's a good idea to refresh your memory about what each section of the country offers.
With 85 maps, addresses of establishments, and highlights of all there is to see and do in Germany, this guide is a must.
You'll recoup the cost of the books, $21.99 each, in a matter of minutes when you set foot in these countries.
ULTIMATE FOOD JOURNEYS. DK Publishing, 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014. www. traveldk.com. Price: $40.00
Aimed at the traveler who also loves to eat, this big and beautiful coffee table book is filled with tantalizing photos of food from every part of the globe. The theme of the book is "the world's best dishes and where to eat them;" i.e., the best place in Italy for risotto, the best place in France for beef bourguignon, the best place in Maine for lobster, etc. Every continent and more than 40 countries are featured, and other local attractions and foods are also in each country's listing. The book is arranged according to country, and the table of contents allows you to look up the country or the food you like best! With its beautiful four-color photography, this is a wonderful armchair vacation for gourmands, or a great reference if you actually happen to be traveling to one of the countries listed.
HAMBURG, A CULTURAL HISTORY. Interlink Publishing, 46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804. 413-482-7054, www.interlinkbooks.com. Price: $15.00
Hamburg in northern Germany on the Elbe—the second largest city in that country— is an industrial town with large docks and lots of waterways. But it also has a cultural history worth studying.
Hamburg is the city that invented the hamburger, but it also features striking architecture with numerous theaters, museums and music halls (about 60 museums, 40 theaters, 160 art galleries, 259 libraries and 150 bookstores in all).
In this new 256-page 5-1/4” x 8” softbound book, authored by Matthew Jeffries, a professor of German history at the University of Manchester, we learn that Hamburg sports 2,500 bridges—more than Venice and Amsterdam combined. The publisher says the book is neither a standard city guide nor a conventional history, but the way is it laid out, it’s a book to read from cover to cover to get the full effect.
Chapters contain a brief history of the town, the stone monuments that dot the city, how water and rivers effect the area, how the city was devastated by the fire of 1842, and how it was rebuilt in brick and mortar (such as the Monckebergstrasse, which opened for traffic in 1909 and which is the main shopping street, now closed to auto traffic).
Also, the book features what is called “The Neon City,” such as the Reeperbahn section, and contemporary counterculture, and how the world views the city and how the city affected the world, with places such as BallinStadt, the little “emigrant city” that between 1834 and 1924 saw five million people leave for other countries.
When Jeffries first visited Hamburg in 1981, he says he was not impressed, and it was another three years before he fell under the city’s spell. Jeffries tells a good story, and this work will help elevate the cultural significance of this major German metropolitan area.
TOP 10 ITALIAN LAKES. Eyewitness Travel, c/o Penquin Group (USA), 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. By Lucy Ratcliff. Price: $14.00
Now here’s a smallish (4” x 7 1/2”) 128-page (with fold-out map) semi-hardcover all-color book about Italy’s Lake Region.
It describes and pictures many villas and gardens, scenic cycling routes, picturesque towns and villages, restaurants, swimming sites, Roman sites, hotels for different budgets, outdoor activities and insider tips.
I’ve been on several trips in this area around Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, Lake Garda, Lake Bergamo, Brescia and Lake Iseo— and will tell you that it is a charming region. Palm trees, placid blue water, pastel-colored villas, some of the best Italian food in Italy, and a laid-back atmosphere all contribute to the attraction here.
Some major highlights: In Roman times, the Grotte di Catullo, Sirmione on a promontory in Lake Garda, the Roman Temple at Brescia and the Arena at Verona are all worth seeing. The Centovalli Railway, opened in 1923, runs 32 miles over rugged countryside, much of which is hidden from the outside world and passes through craggy cliffs, wooded valleys and high bridges. Line runs between Domodossola in Italy and Locarno in Switzerland-- it’s a ride you’ll not soon forget.
Learn from this book about art in the area, where to find excellent gardens, bars and cafes, where to shop, what the culinary specialties of the region are, festivals and sports, cycling and walking routes and things to avoid-- and more, such as a list of guesthouses and campsites.
Serene settings, gentle breezes, perhaps a cool drink, a boat ride on the lake or visiting the local farmer’s market is what you’re after in this area; relaxing lakeside with a good book is also appealing.
This book beckons you to visit, and provides plenty of reasons to come. Great photography despite the limited book size, well-written, and maps and tips are worth the price alone.
TRAVELSCOPE SWITZERLAND DVDs. Travelscope LLC, 120 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Suite 105, Topanga, CA 90290 888-876-3399, www.Travelscope.net
Travel writer Joseph Rosendo and his wife Julie team up in these two DVD episodes to delve into the breathtaking country of Switzerland and discover its charms, as well as Julie’s Swiss roots: the two DVDs together provide a look at the rich heritage of Swiss culture, foods, travel ideas and family ties.
Joseph Rosendo is an award-winning travel journalist and author, having researched many countries and many cultures in his travels around the world and in Europe. His shows can be seen on public television, and they always relate the theme that travel creates a bond between countries and lessens the anxiety some people feel with cultures different from their own.
Crossing the Swiss Alps, the viewer travels with Rosendo from cosmopolitan Geneva to the UNESCO heritage Aletsch Glacier, by bus, train and lake steamer. In Geneva’s lakeside villages, he takes in Vevey and the Olympic City of Lausanne. A trek on a glacier, colorful festivals and tasting of local cuisine combine with the Swiss people and their hospitality.
In Swiss Roots, Rosendo's wife Julie traces her roots in and around Lucerne, and searches for her ancestors in the villages of Ebikon and Koelliken. Across Lake Lucerne, she and her husband visit historic alp horn and Swiss accordion shops in Schwyz, and go to the top of Mt. Pilatus for a look-see from this 7,000-foot-high mountain, which boasts the steepest (48%) grade of any cog railway in the world.
This DVD could be an incentive for anyone to travel across the ocean to search out long-lost relatives.
LONDON’S CLASSIC RESTAURANTS. By Cara Frost-Sharratt, published by Interlink Publishing Co., 46 Crosby St., Northampton, MA 01060-1804. www.interlinkbooks.com. Price: $17.95
This 144-page 6 3/4” x 8 1/4” paperback book will lead you to some of London’s best eateries. Paging through the full-color volume will tempt you with pictures and text that will tell you to take this book along with you when you visit this exciting town. Since dinners are the all-important meal for most tourists, this book divides the various London districts so you can find your evening meal quicker. Soho and Fitzrovia, Piccadilly, Mayfair, St. James and Knightsbridge, Covent Garden (one of my favorites), East London and The City, South London, Waterloo and Strand are all included.
“Although Rowley’s has only been open for business since 1977, it is certainly a true classic on the London scene…it began as a humble enterprise set up by Richard Walls who was an apprentice butcher in St. James’s Market. British ingredients and dishes are given pride of place and little is done to dilute or disguise the inherent flavors of these quality raw ingredients…it is classic British cuisine executed with great confidence.”
Another quote: “The Wolseley offers a great solution to the perennial “quick bite to eat” question…the service and food will knock the socks off the competition.”
Great reading, excellent photography and handsome pages; stuff this book into your carry-on bags and read it once you’re in the air. Maps also help you find the restaurants you’d like to visit.
STERN’S GUIDE TO THE CRUISE VACATION. Pelican Publishing Co.,1000 Burmaster St., Gretna, LA 760053. 504-368-1195. www.pelicanpub.com. Price: $26.95
I like this 736-page book. And the reason is it gives valuable information that other books don’t offer. I’ve never been able to locate so much information about cruise ships, cruise companies, cruise itineraries, foods on board ships, European riverboats and barges and just what you can do on board a ship.
The other important aspect of this softcover 6 x 9” book is that it rates ships in 11 categories. In the author, Steven B. Stern, we have a man who likes to travel by ship, and who has sailed and personally inspected virtually every major cruise ship and has visited every major port of call in the world; as a luxury travel writer, Stern has put together a solid piece of work that will help take the guesswork out of cruising, especially if you’ve never been on a cruise, or only a few.
Stern describes various countries and their ports of call, what people will wear aboard ships, what ships cater more to those who are handicapped, what entertainment and foods you can expect on board, and various descriptions of what cruising is all about. “Barges are generally sold in six-night segments or are chartered to families or groups for other time periods. Prices tend to be quite steep and can run from $2,000 up to $6,000 per person for a six-night sojourn,” says Stern.
About Uniworld Cruises, Stern says, “The European–based riverboats are designed on the generic European model but are customized to American tastes. Each ship is outfitted as a fine hotel…”
Good reading and valuable information before you take that cruise of a lifetime.
POCKET ROUGH GUIDES. Rough Guides, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. Price: $12.99. www.roughguides.com
The Rough Guide pocket series is a smaller format (4 x 7-1/2”) full-color guidebook that helps independent travelers understand the history, culture and attractions of various world cities. The three guides we reviewed are those for London, Barcelona and Paris.
Each laminated cover guidebook includes a map of the city and a transit map in the front, as well as a large-scale, pull-out glossy map in the back that shows recommended sights, hotels, shops, cafés and restaurants, bars and clubs, railway stations, metro stops, streets and a detailed street index. As in the Paris map, we see the Latin Quarter, St. Germain, Louvre area, and the Rive Gauche section, among others.
The books are divided into an 1) Introduction, with subheads as the city at a glance and suggested touring itineraries and 2) “Best of…” which includes what the editors call Big Sights, Culture, Dining, Romantic Paris (or the Paris book), Shopping, Bars and nightlife, calendar, Kids, etc.
A third section breaks down the various areas of the city…in the London guidebook we have Whitehall and Westminster, Soho and Covent Gardens, South Bank and around, Greenwich, and Hampton Court, as examples. The Barcelona book includes such districts as the Ramblas, Barri Gotic, El Raval, Port Olympic and Poble Nou and Dreta de l’Eixample.
Another section features accommodations, offering a list of better quality hotels as well as some tips. The Barcelona guidebook reads, “Finding a hotel vacancy in Barcelona at any time of year can be very difficult, so it’s best to book in advance. Breakfast isn’t usually included, unless specially stated in the review. There is a lot of street noise in Barcelona, so bring earplugs if you’re at all concerned.”
The final section is called “Essentials.” In the Paris guidebook, that includes how to get to Paris’ city center from the airports, by rail and by road, how to get around the city with public transport, how to take a boat trip along the Seine, how to find street addresses in the city, information about banks, cinemas, crime, how to find internet cafes, what you should do about lost property, how to obtain passes for museums, hours for attractions, postal services, travelers with disabilities, festivals and events, and some French words and phrases that will come in handy.
Each book is easy to read, conveniently divided in various logical chapters, and includes enough photos and smaller colored maps to make reading enjoyable.
There is an enormous amount of information in each book; these guidebooks are a great read, besides being helpful.
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MICHELIN ATLASES AND MAPS. Distributed by National Book Network, PO Box 62188, Baltimore, MD 21264-2188. 800-462-6420
I love maps and atlases. As a kid I used to draw maps of towns, including highways and back roads, railroad tracks, bridges, mountains, rivers and lakes and even structures.
Reading a map is not only instructional, especially when you’re trying to get to somewhere, but you can often “imagine” the scenery you’re going through, especially if you’re familiar with some of the territory.
These Michelin fold-out color maps, measuring 4-1/2 x 10”, are scaled 1:400,000 and feature cities and towns, rivers and lakes, distance locators, road width (two or four-lane highways), show mountain passes with altitudes, railways and airfields, sports and recreational facilities, and sights (historic houses, castles, etc.) Even oil refineries, power stations, mines and dams are shown, as are national and regional parks. There are even signs for skating rinks, churches, cemeteries and hospitals, stadiums, fitness trails and universities.
The maps are printed on sturdy paper that will take a beating during a long road trip. In the Austrian map, as an example, a large city center map is included for Salzburg. From it I could locate the major churches, the main train station, the town hall, the post office, parking lots, recreational areas, the airport, hospitals, and the large well-known castle on the hill overlooking the city.
I was also able to locate a favorite area of mine, Hellbrunn Palace on this 1:70,000 scale color map. A 1:100,000 scale map of Wein (Vienna) is also featured as part of the overall package map.
The maps we reviewed include one for Austria, Ireland and Germany, and a European 8 3/4 x 11 1/4” spiral-bound notebook listing 78 town plans, a route planner, more than 40 countries and a place name index. This map book divides countries into regional maps, each numbered, so you can “piece together” a country. An overall map guide at the beginning of the book shows the countries, then what map sections they are located on. Spain, for instance, is 14, so turning to page 14 will show that country or section of country.
There are also numerous maps of cities in the atlas such as Amtersdam, Dublin, Munich, Zurich, Dresden. Athens, Bologna, Helsinki, Liverpool and Lille. Another interesting part of the book is a schedule of temperatures and rainfall in major cities, an informative panel on driving instructions in Europe and charts for distances between cities and their population. Each map shows highways, towns, bodies of water, airports and mileages between various points.
The individual maps and atlas are well done, and make great trip companions. Just looking at the maps will peak your interest in traveling these countries. You’ll want to add these to your travel library.
THREE TRAVEL BOOKS. Interlink Publishing Group, 46 Crosby St., Northampton, MA 01060. 413-582-7054. www.interlinkbooks.com
Here are three 6 x 8-1/4” travel books that you might pick up not only for informative reading before you go to any of these places, but they also are enjoyable reading—just for the fun of it.
The first, Walking Dublin by Pat Liddy, consists of 24 different themed walking itineraries, which when added together, make up 80 miles of walking in this city.
Providing easy-to-follow maps, as well as access information, suggested stops for food and beverages, and descriptions of each walk, the tours tell you precisely where to walk to see the best views of historic and interesting attractions. “A rather complicated road junction lies ahead, but after you ensure your safe crossing, head up the West Avenue Towards the entrance to the Royal Hospital.”
With maps and drawings, the Irish capital and surrounding areas are completely covered, including the walk around the Grand Canal, St. Enda’s Park to Marlay Park and the Temple Bar area. The author grew up in Dublin and remains a Dublin resident. The book features 176 pages, $17.95.
In Walking in France, by Gillian and John Souter, the 288 pages offer a variety of day walks and long distance walks along river valleys, through vineyards, over mountain passes and along coast lines. There are 18 walks through France’s best-loved cities, and advice on local transportation, opening hours for attractions and how to plan your journey.
The book is also a history/geographic book:“France’s longest river, the Loire, runs through the heart of the country…it is the least tamed.”
Great color photos, maps, ideas on available tours and detailed text combine to bring a tremendous amount of information to the reader. Price is $20.00.
The last book, Secret London, is 192 pages ($17.95) and reveals London’s little-known gems and remarkable history of its famous landmarks. Maps, color photos and knowledgeable text by Andrew Duncan provide a rich historical review and overview: “The Palace of Westminster is one of the best-known buildings in the world—at least in outline form. Millions of people have also seen part of the sumptuous interior…”
The book includes descriptions of estates, attractions such as the Eye of London and the Coade Stone Lion (the lion guards the entrance to the Westminster bridge). Of course, numerous other monuments and attractions and places to visit are included, some well-known, many not well known at all. Easily-missed gardens and walkways and long-buried rivers—and an underground tunnel beneath the city—are all discoveries waiting to be found—by you through the pages of this volume.
FROHLICHE WEIHNACHTEN - Learning Songs and Traditions in German. Teach Me Tapes, Inc., 6016 Blue Circle Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55343. Price: $19.95 www.teachmetapes.com
This is an 8 1/2" x 11" hardbound and beautifully illustrated book designed to teach traditional German Christmas customs to children.
The customs so familiar to those of German heritage, from Advent through Epiphany, are explained in both German and English and clearly illustrated in delightful four-color drawings filling each page. Advent calendars, wreaths, St. Nicholas Day, Christmas markets (specifically the famous one in Nuremberg), the secret decorating of the Christmas tree, and the origin of the Twelve Days of Christmas are all covered, as the author recalls the wonder of her childhood experiences during the Christmas season.
Each page contains at least one traditional German song, including “Kling Glockchen,” “Alle Jahre Wieder," “Still, Still, Still,” “Ihr Kinderlein Kommet.” The making of gingerbread houses, Christmas stollen and traditional meals of roast goose and duck, baked apples, marzipan, and hot mulled wine are described. The book also includes recipes for Lebkuchen, baked apples, and cinnamon stars, and an index with translations of German vocabulary words. A CD with narration and German songs is also included. The book is a must for those who wish to keep the German Christmas traditions alive for future generations.
FOR THE LOVE OF ITALY. Crown Publishing Group, 1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. www.randomhouse.com
Subtitled "Rural Pleasures and Hotel Estates," this lovely 5 lb. coffee table-size book—written by the Italian house editor of House and Garden—highlights 25 selected agriturismo—farms in the rural Italian countryside which have been converted to hotels or guesthouses and also specialize in the food of the region. And these aren't just any farmhouses, but luxury villas and restored castles that pamper guests while also allowing them to take part in the life of the farm.
The 9 1/4" x 12 1/4" book is divided into geographical regions: Northern Italy, Tuscany, Central Italy and Southern Italy/Sicily. A brief introduction to the areas is followed by an in-depth description of each farm, illustrated with gorgeous color photos. Every area of Italy has its own charms, picturesque scenery and unique and delicious culinary traditions. From eat-in kitchens with hanging copper pots, fluffy beds with handwoven linens and towering fireplaces, to the vineyards and olive groves, blooming rose gardens and pastures dotted with wandering sheep, photographer Oberto Gili captures what its like to visit these farms.
Some of the visits include Il Picot, the photographer's own Piedmontese cheese farm set on a wooded hill, Tenuta di Marsliana, a 15th century castle, and Castello Romitorio, which is a restored vineyard where Brunello wine is made (it just won the Best Wine in the World title at the International Wine Challenge in London). At the rear of the book is a complete resource directory of farms and contact information.
The author, Marella Caracciolo, grew up visiting her grandfather's farm in Tuscany, where she learned to care for animals and make jams from fruit she picked herself.
This book, with many full-page four-color photographs, is a beautiful guide if you are planning a trip, or a perfect place to browse if you are just daydreaming of Italy. Like Tuscany, the book has a certain dramatic flair to it.
ITALIAN-ENGLISH AND GERMAN-ENGLISH DICTIONARIES. Merriam-Webster, Inc., Springfield, MA 01102. www.merriam-webster.com
These two 416-page 4-1/4” wide x 7” deep softbound books provide up-to-date bi-directional coverage of Italian to English and German to English translations of words. The Italian version contains more than 57,000 translations and more than 40,000 entry words and phrases, while the German guide contains more than 43,000 translations and 38.000 entry words and phrases.
In the Italian version, there are explanatory notes, an explanation of abbreviations, Italian verb forms, English irregular verbs, numbers, time and dates, Italian pronunciations, pronunciation symbols, and the general pages of the Italian to English and English to Italian dictionaries.
In the German version, besides the notes and abbreviations, there are regular German noun endings listed, irregular English verbs, irregular German verbs, phonetic symbols and the dictionaries themselves.
These books are handy when traveling, and don’t take up much room in your carry-on luggage; they could come in very handily on your next trip.
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WINE REGIONS OF FRANCE. Michelin Guides, www.ViaMichelin.com. Price: $21.99
While a 480-page 4-1/2 x 8-3/4” softbound guide to the wine regions of France, this book is also a useful tool when researching and exploring these regions in general. The wealth of information gathered here is not only about wines, but about the people, the culture, the towns and cities, the shopping, transportation and more. Nevertheless, the book talks about planning your “wine trip,” introduces you to the various wine regions of France, including Provence, the Rhone Valley, Savoie and Bugey, the Loire Valley, Bordeaux and others.
“The Romans introduced the vine to Aquitaine, although the wine produced at the time was of poor quality, laced with honey and enhanced with spices, it bore no resemblance to the quality bottles that mature in Bordeaux’s cellars today.”
In the Cote De Beaune section of the book: “Pernand je bois, verre je laisse” -- French wordplay, meaning literally, “I drink Pernand but leave the glass,” could stand as the unofficial motto of this charming wine-growing village. The Pernand-Vergelesses AOC produced here includes good-for-money red and white wines such as those of the Rapet Pere et Fils estate.”
Great descriptions of wineries and towns, interesting collection of regions, with good, solid information for the wine hunter, including the quality of types of wines produced. With this book, someone who wasn’t a wine connoisseur could become one very quickly, and much more easily with this valuable volume.
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BEST DRIVES OF AUSTRIA. www.AA.com
This book highlights two dozen and a half automobile tours in beautiful Austria that have been planned for you, with itineraries, directions, distances and driving times. It shows the most scenic routes and the most historic places, and even presents an easy-to-use planning map. It also gives recommended walks and trips for history buffs and nature lovers. What else could you ask for?
You’ll be driving through the Tirol and Vorarlberg, Carinthia and Styria, northern Salzburg and upper Austria, Vienna, lower Austria and the Burgenland. So you’ll be seeing glaciers and green pastures, lakes and high Alps, abbeys and ancient castles, hot water spas, medieval towns and fortresses, and passing through the wine district of Austria, the Vienna Woods and checking in on Austria’s tradition of music.
For example, the Alps to Spas section auto trip takes three to four days, is 183 miles and takes you to Molltal Glacier which affords skiing year-round. Interlaced with color photos and tips, this 176-page softcover book is a boon when you don’t have enough information to plan your own automobile trip. Learn from the experts.
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ESSENTIAL AMSTERDAM. www.AA.com
If you’ve never been to Amsterdam, you need a book that will tell you what to see and what to do there. This 4-1/2 x 6-1/2” 192-page softcover does just that, in a bare-bones way.
The book tells you how to plan your visit, how to get around, food and drink specialties of the city, ideas on cafes, views, excursions, reference maps, pricing of museums and attractions and hotel and restaurant prices.
The book contains tips such as… "Odeon: Dance club in a 17th century canal house that retains its character while offering contemporary arena. The balcony bar overlooks the dance floor.”
This book gives you the essence of Amsterdam…just as it promises.
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MAKE YOUR OWN MAPS
Sterling Publishing www.sterliingpublishing.com
This multimedia book and DVD kit features 160 ready-made maps of every country and major geographical area, and it’s a great resource for remembering that special trip. The DVD contains PC and Mac-friendly Photoshop map files. Inside the book, there are simple instructions for adapting the maps to your own requirements, and then printing them out, distributing them, or publishing them online.
All the maps contain 15 different Photoshop layers, offering a wide choice of cartographic styles, and you can turn country borders, place names, and other elements on or off. Every map will print perfectly on a desktop printer, fits on letter-sized paper, and can easily accommodate added graphics, photos, or text.
TRAVEL WITH KIDS—ENGLAND
Janson Media, 88 Semmens Rd., Harrington Park, NJ 07640
So you have children, and you want to go to, say, England with them? Are you nuts?
This 56-minute-long all-color DVD says you are not nuts, and in fact, you could actually enjoy the trip. First, of course, the children should be at least about 4 or 5 years of age to ensure a better experience. Second, planning your trip, your hotels and your days will make the event much more pleasant, as will understanding that at any moment if the agenda is changed, you can go with the flow. The DVD calls this, building in time for “impromptu experiences”
The Roberts family explores Bath, England, the monumental ruins of Stonehenge and the Lake District, and they make it seem, well, seamless.
The Roberts take the trains to give the kids a chance to stretch their feet on board and provide a relaxing atmosphere. Unplanned stops the DVDs points out, are the best experiences. Seeing a hot air balloon, a cricket match, taking a boat ride and visiting parks are all part of the fun with kids. Oh yes, and bring plenty of snacks!
This DVD is fast-paced, enjoyable and funny. Even the precautionary words at the beginning of the DVD are entertaining: “Some program content of this trip may have been edited for television. This includes...whining, crying, tantrums, complaining, throwing things, breaking things, being cold, hot, tired, hungry, thirsty, can't find my favorite toys, general mischievousness and plotting against parents."
In addition to the main segment, there is a trip planner with valuable travel information, family travel tips and resources, language, crafts and recipes segment and a bloopers reel. A highly entertaining and valuable DVD for parents, and one the children will also enjoy.
ALASTAIR SAWDAY'S SPECIAL PLACES TO STAY: GREEN EUROPE
Edited by Kate Shepherd, distributed by Globe Pequot Press, 246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437. Price: $21.95
In today's travel environment, you have choices where you'll stay, and some will prefer a “green” spot over a “hot” spot. Perhaps a shepherd's hut in Wales tickles your fancy, or a chic eco-lodge in the beautiful Alps, maybe a 40-hecter farm in Southern Finland or a 500-year-old farmhouse where organic is the key word for life.
As a journalist, I'm not even sure I would have been able to ferret out such unusual places to stay, much less conjur up an idea for such a book as this.
In this all-color 224-page smallish (5” x 8 2/3”) book, Alastair Sawday has taken his commitment to being earth friendly a step closer to reality. Already his publishing company's offices were renovated to “go green” in 2005, and this jam-packed book invites other green-like citizens to find a cool place to spend overnight throughout Europe. Some of the countries included are Wales, Scotland, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Greece, France, Britain and Germany, among others. Each accommodation was inspected before being written up for the book.
The book consists of a page per listing which includes a color photo, a long paragraph describing the accommodations, pricing, rooms available, meals, hours, directions and price range.
In Cornwall, England at The Hen House, “Sandy and Gary, truly welcoming, are passionately committed to sustainability and love guiding you to the best places to east, visit, cycle and walk,” says the book, and the couple has reduced emissions by 30% at The Hen House. And there's a sanctuary room for reiki and reflexology. Each lodging selected is described in specific “green” terms.
The book is thought-provoking, interesting, colorful and well-written. And it serves a useful purpose: celebrating and encouraging those who are helping to “go green” in Europe.
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MEMORIES OF TIMES PAST: PARIS, ROME
PARIS AND ROME, THEN AND NOW. Thunder Bay Press, 5880 Oberlin Dr., San Diego, CA 92121-4794.
These four large format hardbound books, all published by Thunder Bay, bring excitement to history. Together, they capture the past and bring it into the present for the reader to hold and behold. It's an interesting concept and done well.
In Paris, Memories of Times Past by Solnage Hando, we're presented with 176 wide-screen pages of color, inspired by the pioneering 1909 color book entitled Paris. Each painting from Mortimer Menpes's original book has been reproduced and enlarged and each is placed with contemporary verbage with additional period maps, postcards and newspapers, and even railroad tickets. There's also informative narrative about Paris in the 20th century.
Menpes, born in Australia in 1856, was influenced by James McNeill Whistler, and his impressionist paintings present interesting studies of people and places. A man of many talents, Menpes was an artist, engraver, printer, traveler, raconteur and even a farmer.
In this work, some of his paintings include A Kiosk on the Boulevard, one of our favorite; Curiosity, showing a crowd gathering to see a rare “something” at a sidewalk stall; and Peeling Potatoes, a street scene of women preparing potatoes which they would sell to wealthier people.
This is a wonderful book; it will keep the reader looking and reading for quite a while. An introduction of Paris and a biographical sketch of Menpes begins the work.
Richard Bosworth in Rome: Memories of Times Past, follows the outline of Hando's Paris book, with works of Alberto Pisa's collection, a painter who exhibited in Venice, Bologna, Rome, Florence and Paris.
Pisa's style was of the Macchiaioli movement, sort of a forerunner of the French Impressionists. Pisa painted the outdoors to capture the natural light, shade and color. As in the Rome volume, there are dozens and dozens of fine paintings reproduced here, along with a wide variety of literature such as postcards, pictures, colorful maps, drawing that accompany the paintings.
Some of the paintings include St. Peter's, called by Mark Twain the “Monster Church,”; the Theater of Marcellus, which is still there today and has a good story to tell if it could talk; and the Arch of Constantine, originally built in 315.
In all, this is a well-conceived volume with wonderful graphics and text.
In Paris Then and Now, by Peter and Oriel Gaine, the reader is shown a number of vintage Parisian scenes, some of them very early (not all early photos are identified by year), and on the following page is a recent color photo of the same building, bridge, monument or area. It's a clever idea and well-executed: a 1898 photo of Place Saint Medard is shown with its present-day counterpart, and the accompanying text aptly describes the current “useage” of the same area. It's done well and is just the kind of comparison that will grab the reader.
This 144-page 11 x 10” hortizontal format will keep you captivated for hours.
In Rome Then and Now by Federica D'Orazio, we go on another journey—this time to ancient Rome—comparing old photos to present-day photography. I especially liked the Tiber Island photo, the 1865 photo of the square of Bocca dell Verita, the markets of Trajan and the Arch of Constantine, now complete with paving bricks instead of grass.
Good photography, interesting captions and good enameled paper which makes the photos “pop,” are a hallmark of this book. The reader realizes the slow transitions that change a city over time, but with this volume, they are magnified and explained. Sit back and relax as you see Rome's history in the making.
SCOTLAND AND ITS WHISKIES, BURGUNDY AND ITS WINES
By Michael Jackson, photography by Harry Cory Wright; and Nicholas Faith, photography by Andy Katz. Both books published by Duncan Baird Publishers, distributed in the U.S. by Sterling Publishing Co., 387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810. www.sterlingpublishing.com
Here are two wonderful 9 1/2” x 8 3/4” softbound all-color books that together form a penetrating duo in your liquor library.
Scotland and Its Whiskies is 144 pages of delightful prose, punctuated with colorful scenes largely of rural Scotland that instill in the reader this thought: “what you taste when you raise the glass is the extraordinary landscape of that nation,” says Jackson.
Thus, when you're drinking a Scotch, you may not know that it's actually a type of whisky, but of course the Scots themselves know. This land has more distilleries than any other country, and the spirit's flavors are shaped by the landscape, says the author.
A first-class color map illustration locates Scottish distilleries and a brief but interesting half page of the book is devoted to a treatise entitled “How to Make Fine Malt Whisky.” The chapters describe the various Scottish landscapes, the people who live in them, and offer bits of “whisky heritage” such as “each distillation of a malt, and each cask, is slightly different in aroma and palate. Their proportions must be adjusted to ensure that the blend retains its character.”
The book describes distilleries: “At the foot of the road, the distillery itself is tucked into the hillside. It has great charm.” The photos of the scenery, as well as pictures like those on page 105 of the different casks at the Macallan Distillery, add a nice flavor to the book.
At the back of the book is a directory of distilleries, a description of the flavors in their whiskies, their address and even their telephone numbers. Sit down with a tall one as you savor the pages of this engrossing book.
In Burgundy and Its Wines, the reader is rewarded with descriptions of wines, the wine country, French culture, French history and stunning photography, like the photo that opens Chapter Three.
There is a map of the Burgundy area of eastern France, that encompasses five distinct regions. In this section we learn of the limestone shelves that make up the landscape, and we hear of the region's history and how nuns and religious orders controlled much of the wine-making areas years ago.
Soil variations, climates and people are featured in this 144-page dictionary of French wines. The pages even explain how vineyard owners seek out additional space: “...families tend not to be content with cultivating their original plots, but itch to have a few rows of vines in every possible appellation, so an individual's holding may be split between a serious hectare or so and an ouvree miles away.”
In Chapter Two, we learn “the slopes between Dijon and Beaune produce most of the truly great red wines of Burgundy.” Here the vineyards have names such as Close De Vougeot, Chevaliers Du Tastevin and Hill of Corton.
Pictures of peaceful villages similar to Monthelie, Volnay and Pommard dot the pages, and at the rear of the book the vineyards are all disected by owners, dates and the types of wines they produce. But not all vineyards are listed: that would take many more pages.
Pour your favorite burgundy, sit back and read this book.
ROSETTA STONE - GERMAN.
Harrisonburg, VA. RosettaStone.com.
I've always been told that even if you know a few words of another language, it is benefical when traveling abroad. It helps because you have made some effort to learn another person's language; this creates a bond with them, and they know you're trying.
If you go abroad more than a few times, you'll really want to study the language more because you'll need it to get by; purchasing food, ordering a cab, hotel room or just getting directions can be trying if you can't speak the language. It helps to also want to learn the language, and finding an "easy" way to learn it will allow you to learn it quicker.
I had heard about Rosetta Stone (the name refers to the 196 B.C. creation of an ancient Egyptian stone called a stele which advanced Egyptian hieroglyphics; it was found by the French at Rosetta in 1799), and their ads indicated this was a quicker, more productive way to learn languages.
The German Rosetta Stone version comes in several CD's which can be inserted into your computer; instructions are pretty straightforward, and I set up my account and had the program running after about 25 minutes. The Home screen features an Introductory video, a Preferences section and a Get Help section. Part of the setup is a microphone that you speak into when pronouncing words and phrases--your words or phrases are "judged" on the spot and you continue you say them until you have them mastered; when mastered, you may continue with the lesson. At the end of each lesson you are graded on how you performed. The software also includes an Audio Companion you can use when you're away from your computer; you can use it on a CD player or download it on an MP3 player.
The lessons are broken into four segments: Language Basics, Greetings and Introductions, Work and School, and Shopping. Further, each segment is divided into four lessons which include pronunciation, vocabulary, phrases, speaking and conversation. Thus, in Unit 1, Lesson 3, under Vocabulary, you learn the difference between the German words blau (blue), weis (white), rot (red) schwarz (black) and other colors. As the lesson progresses, and you are comfortable with what these words mean, you are then shown these words in sentences: each step of the way is built from the previous steps you have studied. There are multiple answer questions, native speakers who you'll try to emulate and screens that ask you to produce phrases without help of a native speaker.
As an example of one of the lessons, you might be given a sentence such as "Das Auto ist weis" (the car is white), or "Der Apfel ist grun" (the apple is green). Then, you are shown pictures of the words you are learning; sometimes you have to match the words with the pictures, sometimes you must perform other matchups that stretch your mind. While you must study the lessons and be aware of how the lesson builds upon itself, I did not find the lessons boring, or too hard. I also didn't get 100% correct answers for all the lessons on the first go around. It did help that I had been to Germany a number of times and had some knowledge of the language, but I have never taken a German language course.
At the end of the lesson, you are given a percentage grade, just like in school, with the number of correct answers, the number of incorrect answers and how many questions you skipped. I found these grades to be a "reward" for my listening carefully and remembering what I was learning from lesson to lesson. At the end of each Unit, there is a Milestone test with a series of exercises to see how you're doing. I believe after a few times through the lesson, you could and should master these for a perfect or near-perfect score. With the microphone, you get to repeat words and phrases that will help you learn the correct pronunciations quicker. A complete guide which explains all the lessons and options that are included comes with the package, and taking some time to read this at the beginning will answer a lot of questions.
I found Rosetta Stone fun, helpful and challenging, all at the same time, and I'm anxious to keep at it until I can say more than the simple "excuse me" or "where is the toilet?" I want to be able to have enough command of the language to go to that "second level." With Rosetta Stone, I believe I've found a tool that will get me there.
GLOBETROTTER TRAVEL MAP OF VIENNA.
New Holland Publishers, www.newhollandpublishers.com. Price: $9.85 U.S.
This 39" x 27" "wide-screen" map offers an excellent overview of Vienna, that classy Austrian city of note. One side of the map shows the various old and new parts of the city, with yellow for the large thoroughfares. Of note is the Ringstrasse, which envelopes the old city and is the center of attention for most visitors. Also on this side of the map is a Calendar of Events, a legend and a list of streets. The other side of the map shows the Palace grounds at Schonbrunn, also gives a legend and offers an expanded view of a larger ring around the city.
SWITZERLAND WITHOUT A CAR.
By Anthony Lambert, published by Bradt Travel Guides, www.bradtguides.com. Price: $22.95 U.S.
I've been told that 97.5% of the Swiss people are within about a mile of public transportation. It's actually government-mandated, and having been in Switzerland a few times, I'd vouch for this statistic being fairly accurate. You could just about live at 8,000 feet up on a mountainside somewhere on a dairy farm and find that you can walk to a cable car that will take you down into the nearest village where an Intercity train will whisk you to anywhere you want to go. Or a steam-powered paddlewheel boat makes its daily rounds on a hard-to-reach lake, but once at the boat dock, you can catch a bus to the nearest town where a regional train will carry you to, say, Zurich.
This 356-page softcover volume was written by Anthony Lambert who has been visiting Switzerland since childhood and has written 14 books about railways and travel. "My love of Switzerland stems from childhood holidays," he says. "...I was captivated by the sheer scale of the mountain landscapes and ...enthralled by the character and number of mountain railways, cablecars and chairlifts."
Lambert begins by offering practical information such as when to visit, maps, health issues, information on disabled travelers, arts and entertainment. In the second chapter he gives a general overview of the Swiss travel system, indicating that Switzerland has the densest network of public transport in the world. There are 3,125 miles of state- and privately-owned railways--and 600 funiculars, cablecars, rack railways and chairlifts! Only Japanese railroads are used more frequently than Swiss railways.
Most of the rail equipment is operated by the Swiss Federal Railways--SBB,CFF or FFS, letters used for the railroad name in the three swiss languages. There are 65 private railway lines, all working together as a combined transport network.
Lambert tells about the special trains in Switzerland such as the William tell Express, Centovalli, Golden Pass, Glacier express, Bernina express and the Palm Express. He also devotes a chapter to walking and cycling. After that he breaks down the country region by region, although Zurich gets its own chapter; he chapter describes the region, highlights certain areas of each region and gives important facts about the transportation available in that region, with railways taking the front seat. he also offers overnight accommodation suggestions.
This volume is a work of love on Lambert's part; it'll come in handy for anyone wishing to break down and understand the Swiss rail network.
TUSCANY.
By Rebecca Ford, published by Footprint, 6 Riverside Court, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, England BA2 3DZ. www.footprintbooks.com. Price: $21.95 U.S.
Tuscany is one of Italy's best-loved regions, and author Ford has traveled extensively in this area, writing a 320-page softbound book on the subject.
She first introduces the region, offers a very quick overview of the area, gives a brief description of areas within the region, offers 20 things to do in Tuscany, breaks down the months and what happens in Tuscany during those periods, and talks about films and books on the region. Following that, she gives the history of Tuscany, tells about art and architecture, nature and the environment, tells about the festivals and events, entertainment and shopping.
In the Tuscany Today section, she says, "Tuscany still exerts a pull on the imagination that can make you throw caution to the winds." (Sounds like the author herself might move there?) In the book she includes such subjects as getting married in Tuscany, living with the past (Tuscany is "famously" conservative), and describes the various landscapes, animals and plants to be found there.
The 5-3/4" x 7" softcover book is well designed, contains numerous full-color pictures of the region, features many lists of useful websites and explains the many attractions and sights, transportation options, activities and tours, and eating and lodging accommodations. If I were heading out to Tuscany, this is the book I'd want to read first.
