Currently featured guidebooks:
Bradshaw's Illustrated Hand Book to LondonCornwall with Caroline Quentin
36 Hours: 125 Weekends in Europe
London: Portrait of a City
Europe: The Places We Love
Roman Provence
Paris: Portrait of a City
Richard Bangs' Switzerland
Most Beautiful Villages: Ireland, England, Greece, Provence, Tuscany
A Traveller's Wine Guide to Spain
Paris to the Past
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
BRADSHAW'S ILLUSTRATED HAND BOOK TO LONDON. Reprinted in 2012 by Conway, 10 Southcombe St., London W14 0RA. www.conwaypublishing.com
George Bradshaw (1801-1853) was an English cartographer, printer, and publisher. He is most famous for developing a series of railway timetables and guides, which became synonymous with their publisher so that, for Victorians and Edwardians alike, a railway timetable was “a Bradshaw.” After his death, Punch magazine said of Bradshaw's guides: “seldom has the gigantic intellect of man been employed upon a work of greater utility.”
Reading this illustrated handbook, first published in 1862, is like taking a journey back to Victorian London. Originally meant as a guide for visitors, it's now reformatted to preserve the book's historical value, and includes beautiful engravings of London attractions, an overview of the city, and information on London theaters, hackney carriages, omnibuses, churches, and even banks. The main body of the book focuses on a series of walking tours, and some of the advice on coping with London smog, avoiding pickpockets, and more is as useful today as it was back then! This reprint is a handsome hardback and just as interesting as a look into London's history as it is as a tourist's guide.
CORNWALL DVD. Acorn Media Group, 8515 Georgia Ave., Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910. www.acornonline.com. Price: $39.99.
Cornwall with British Comedy Award winner Caroline Quentin is a lighthearted travel series that investigates summer life in this United Kingdom region.
Cornwall is a peninsula bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, and to the south by the English Channel. Cornwall has a population of 536,000 and juts out from the United Kingdom mainland.
In two DVD's, each featuring several episodes, Quentin takes the viewer on small journeys throughout Cornwall to visit fishermen, chefs in restaurants, home rental agents and owners, gardeners, vintners, vegetable growers, boat racing enthusiasts, fishmongers, campsite operators and others to gauge their reaction to living and working in Cornwall. In one scene, beachcombers are barbecuing lobsters by the water.
Quentin's film crew records these small snippets (eight in all) of sometimes quirky Cornwall life, and wraps them up into a presentable collage for all to see. Interspersed with lots of lively bantering and humor, each outpouring of local pleasantries affords another view of life in this stunningly beautiful area. The Cornish peninsula, offering hundreds of miles of rugged and beautiful coastline, acts as the backdrop for this travelogue.
At one moment Quentin is interviewing a man who owns a castle on a small bit of land which juts out from the peninsula, and the next she is listening to a local sing in a quaint pub. These lively sessions make up the footage, and they tell the story of the Cornwall seashore and the surrounding villages and the people. Quentin starred in the hit series Men Behaving Badly and Blue Murder.
THE NEW YORK TIMES 36 HOURS: 125 WEEKENDS IN EUROPE. Taschen Publishing, 107 Greene St., New York, NY 10012. www.taschen.com. Price: $39.99
This 643-page acclaimed travel feature of the New York Times is now available in a 6-7/8 x 9-3/4" volume. Based on columns that have been a staple of the NYT travel section for years, each article is full of concise advice on how to enjoy famous locales in the space of a weekend. (Almost every European city you can think of is represented.) The book is color-coded by region, with an overview of the city followed by practical recommendations for hotels, restaurants, museums and other sites for each place. All the original stories have been updated and revised by Barbara Ireland, a veteran NYT travel writer. Every listing has enticing color photos as well as a city map with the destinations pinpointed on it. If you have a European destination in mind, and not a lot of time to spend in it, this book is as excellent place to start your planning.
Excerpt: "No other Prague cafe is quite like the restored Grand Cafe Orient in the Black Madonna House, a century-old Cubist structure that is now home of the Museum of Czech Cubism. Have breakfast, then proceed to the displays of Cubist paintings, furniture and architecture."
Lots of good reading, interspersed with photos, specific travel attractions and colorful maps. This is the kind of book that will invite travel to parts of the world you may have never been.
LONDON: PORTRAIT OF A CITY. Taschen Publishing, 107 Greene St., New York, NY 10012. www.taschen.com. Price: $69.99
Armchair travelers and lovers of London will enjoy perusing this hardcover, 9-3/4 x 13-1/2", 544-page coffee table book. London's remarkable history, architecture, landmarks, streets, style and stalwart residents are pictured in hundreds of compelling photographs taken from a wide array of archives around the world. London is a vast and sprawling metropolis, but the unique character and spirit of its citizens has remained a constant through the decades. In lively essays, quotations from residents both famous and obscure, and references from movies, books and records, the history of this epic city over the last century and a half is presented in a fascinating volume.
TRAVEL & LEISURE EUROPE: THE PLACES WE LOVE. Charlesbridge Publishing, 85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472. www.charlesbridge.com
This 8 x 10" softbound book from the famous travel magazine could inspire your next trip! A collection of enticing destinations—from a seaside getaway in Capri, to the modern metropolis of Berlin; from Aix-en-Provence's rolling countryside to the newly fashionable coast of Croatia—are described in newsy and personalized essays. Sought-after destinations like Paris, Berlin and Venice are here, as are intriguing places like Sicily, Prague and St. Petersburg. The 192-page book also includes a resources section in each chapter with practical information aimed at letting you make one of these destinations your own, like hotel, restaurant and site information. Enjoy insider tips from noteworthy locals, more than 200 stunning color photographs, and exhilarating and fun itineraries to make your vacations plans come to life.
ROMAN PROVENCE GUIDE. Interlink Publishing, 46 Crosby St., Northampton, MA 01060. www.interlinkbooks.com
Romans ruled what is now Provence for six hundred years, beginning more than 100 years before the birth of Christ and surviving until well after more of Europe had become Christian. Still today countless ruined aqueducts, monuments, arches, roads and amphitheaters are visible to the interested tourist. The author of this guide to the Roman ruins of Provence is an expert on this ancient empire, and in this book he shares his vast knowledge of the monuments and sites that dot the cities of Nimes, Arles, Vienne and Orange. The book is divided into chapters on various Roman achievements: triumphal arches, acqueducts, farming, city life, bridges, roads, temples and shrines, among others. A fascinating way to learn about the remaining traces of an ancient empire.
RICHARD BANGS' SWITZERLAND. Small World Productions, PO Box 28369, Seattle, WA 98118. AdventuresWithPurpose.tv, 800-866-7425
Richard Bangs takes a different approach to travel: he tries to understand the nature of where's he's going by first looking at the people and events of the past. In this four-part series about Switzerland, he uncovers “hidden” gems of wisdom about the past so he can bring relevance to his program.
In this series, which covers Basel and Lucerne, as well as Geneva and the Matterhorn, Bangs talks about the ancient crossroads of Basel and Lucerne which link one another, and with the world. These cities were hubs of commerce and enterprise, democracy and freedom. The mountains notwithstanding, Bangs' quest to see how these ancient trade routes developed lead him to the Gotthard Pass, down through central Switzerland, along the beautiful city of Lucerne and finally to the port city (on the Rhine) of Basel.
Along the way, he discovers friendly people, good food and the reason Switzerland is a favorite attraction of many.
In the Geneva and Matterhorn series, Bangs investigates the Rhone River
which “spills from the roof of the European continent, bringing wealth, pleasure and inspiration.” The journey on this segment starts in Geneva, a multi-cultural city, and then proceeds to Nyon, Lausanne and Vevey. A tour of the Uri Alps, which extend into five Swiss cantons and border the Bernese Alps; Switzerland's wine-growing Valais region; the Aletsch Glacier, largest in the Alps; and Zermatt, near the Italian border and at the base of the Matterhorn, round out the series.
Richard tugs at the viewer to follow his path in Switzerland, and makes a good case for allowing a visit or two to see what drives this small country. Each documentary is one hour.
MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES. W.W. Norton, 500 5th Ave., New York, NY 10110. www.wwnorton.com. Price: $26.95 each
Clusters of white cottages huddled between rich green hills, villages of a single street, seaside towns with colorful fishing boats pulled up on the beach...the small towns that embody the regional character of Greece, England, Ireland, Provence in France or Tuscany in Italy are portrayed by authors who are experts on each region.
This series of 7-3/4 x 9-1/2" softcover books highlights the charming small towns of selected European countries with gorgeous color photography and descriptive information. Although the books are not traditional travel guides, if you are planning a trip to any of these areas, the books could be invaluable in helping decide where to visit with their descriptive prose and dazzling pictures.
PARIS: PORTRAIT OF A CITY. Taschen Publishing, 107 Greene St., New York, NY 10012. www.taschen.com. Price: $69.99
Lovers of Paris or of French history will enjoy perusing this hardcover, 9-3/4 x 13-1/2", 544-page coffee table book. The history of Paris is recounted in photographs ranging from Daguerre’s early experiments to the most recent images – an almost complete record of over a century and a half spanning 500 photographs. Images captured by some of history's most famous photographers – Daguerre, Marville, Atget, Lartigue, Brassaï, Kertész, Ronis, Doisneau, Cartier-Bresson and many more – but also by many unknowns, attempt to bottle just a little of that “Parisian air”, something of that particular poetry given out by the stones and inhabitants of a constantly changing city that has inspired untold numbers of writers and artists over the ages.
A TRAVELLER'S WINE GUIDE TO SPAIN. Interlink Publishing, 46 Crosby St., Northampton, MA 01060-1804. www.interlinkbooks.com. Price: $22.00
Spain has more land under vine than any other country in Europe, and over the past 30 years has transformed its wine industry into one of the greatest in the world. Even though Spanish wines are becoming more common in the U.S., Spain's wine regions and villages, many of which are located in unspoiled and remote areas, remain relatively unknown. This beautifully-illustrated book introduces the wine-loving traveler to Spanish wine regions as well as providing a background to the wines and leading bodegas, or wineries. Madrid-based wine columnist Harold Heckle tours Spain's various wine regions, and shares his personal anecdotes and wine knowledge along the way. The 5 x 9" softcover book also includes itineraries and maps, restaurant suggestions, lists of wine festivals, museums and sightseeing tips.
PARIS TO THE PAST. W.W. Norton, 500 5th Ave., New York, NY 10110. www.wwnorton.com. Price: $17.95
Author Ina Caro invites readers on 25 one-day train trips that depart from Paris and transport us back through 700 years of French history. Whether taking us to Orléans to evoke the miraculous visions of Joan of Arc, to Versailles to experience the flamboyant achievements of Louis XIV, or to the Place de la Concorde to witness the beheading of Marie Antoinette, Caro animates history with her descriptions of architectural splendors and tales of court intrigue. Organizing her destinations chronologically from twelfth-century Saint-Denis to the nineteenth-century Restoration at Chantilly, Caro appeals not only to the casual tourist aboard the Metro or the TGV but also to the armchair traveler dreaming of Paris. Caro's passion for and knowledge of France—its soaring cathedrals, enthralling history, and sumptuous cuisine—are so impressive that Paris to the Past is an entertaining book if you are in the city or at home. Softcover, 5-1/2" x 8-1/4", 382 pages.
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.
