Guidebooks featured previously by European Traveler:
2009 European Timetable
European Food Cultures
Switzerland: Quest for the Sublime
Travel Companion Guide and Journal
European Cookbooks
The Travel Book
The Europe Book: A Journey Through Every Country on the Continent
Walking the Bible
The 125 Best Italian Recipes
Spain: A Culinary Road Trip
Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work
Greek Island Hopping
The French Chef
Three books by David MaCauley
Quest for Kaitiakitanga
Adventures with a Purpose
1,000 Smart Travel Tips
Best of Provence, Best of Spain
Rough Guides
Europe By Rail
Sacred Places Europe
Rick Steves' Eastern Europe
Rick Steves' Europe 101
Czech & Slovak Republics
Karen Brown's Switzerland
Italian Phrase Book
Teach Me German
100 Greatest Trips
Venice Pocket Map & Guide
100 Places Every Woman Should Go
EUROPEAN RAIL TIMETABLE 2009. Published by Thomas Cook, distributed by Globe Pequot Press, 246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437 800-243-0495
I know of no other better publication for finding out the exact and specific information you might need to know when traveling by train in Europe than this 544-page softcover bible. It bills itself as "the only up-to-the-minute guide to European rail and ferry services," and I believe it.
This edition is an enlarged edition of the 135-year-old European Rail Timetable. This book is packed with travel tips, explanations of the European Rail Pass system, ideas on where to purchase rail passes arranged country-by-country. Since there is an annual mid-December timetable change in nearly all European countries and another one in mid-June, it's necessary to keep up with these changes if you are traveling frequently by rail.
One very helpful section of the timetable is on page 5 where it shows you how to read the timetable, since these can be a bit daunting, even for a railfan. An index in the front of the book lists the various European major train stations which is helpful when you're looking for a particular town/station. There is even a city map showing where the train stations are in some of the major European cities.
The bulk of the book is timetables, fairly dry stuff unless you want to know that, for instance, an international Eurostar train leaves London's St. Pancras Station for Brussels at 7:57 a.m. and at 8:34 a.m. Or that the distance between Ghent, Belgium and Ronse is 39 kilometers and a train leaves Ghent for Ronse about every hour and sometimes on the half hour.
Traveling by train, a handy and easy way to travel through Europe, is enhanced with this guide. There is also a Thomas Cook Rail Map of Europe which folds out to 39" x 27" printed both sides that clearly outlines the various rail routes, categorizing high-speed lines, main lines, secondary routes, scenic routes and even routes still under construction. One side of the map is an enlarged view of the central European countries. The large map is nicely printed with different colors used for different boundaries, cities and bodies of water. In all, its a very nicely-done rail map when you want to see "the big picture." It evens shows Scandinavia and parts of Russia. Price: $16.95 U.S.
EUROPEAN FOOD CULTURES
Greenwood Press is publishing a series of books on Food Cultures around the World, focusing on the culinary history and contemporary foodways of many countries and regions on the globe.
The European countries and regions already published in this "Food Culture in..." series are Scandinavia, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Russia and Great Britain.
Written by academic specialists, but for general readers, each book includes a historical overview followed by chapters on major foods and ingredients, typical meals, eating out, special occasions, diet and health, recipes and a glossary of food terms.
These relatively expensive hardback books aren't what you'd carry along on your next trip to Europe. But if you're really interested in learning more about the foods of the countries you'll be visiting, Greenwood's books are certainly worth reading before you go.
For more information, go to www.greenwood.com, then type "Food Culture of the World" into the search field on that website.
SWITZERLAND: QUEST FOR THE SUBLIME
Book published by Menasha Ridge Press, www.menasharidge.com, $16.95; DVD from Small World Productions, PO Box 28369, Seattle, WA 98118, www.AdventuresWithPurpose.TV, info@travelsmallworld.com.
Richard Bangs is a travel writer, but he adds a lot of “extras” when he travels and writes. Yes, he goes places and does things and reports about it like other travel writers, but he is, if you will, more cerebral about his journeys and how he researches them.
Bangs is not about the best hotel in Europe, or the most attractions on a mountain or the highest-rated restaurant in Brussels. He is about how travel makes Man appreciate the wonders of the earth, and thus will support keeping “pure” landscapes free of global warming, pollution and other man-made disasters that threaten the environment.
In his latest quest, he travels to beautiful Switzerland in search of the sublime, ending up in places like Lucerne and St. Moritz. What he finds is a travel playground at such exquisite places as Mt. Pilatus, Mt. Rigi and Lake Lucerne, and helps the reader and viewer appreciate not only what they see and hear, but the nature of the land, the people and the...sublime. He even subtitles his book, “Finding Nature’s Secret in Switzerland.”
He mixes history with natural beauty and current events and creates a travelogue with a conscience. He calls it “adventures with a purpose.”
He asks questions such as, “How do we safeguard and maintain the diversity of plants and animals and keep the ecology in a healthy equilibrium?”
On a train trip riding the Glacier Express, Bangs says, “The route misses no excuse to shoot through a tunnel, negotiating 91 in all. It crosses 291 bridges and wanders through screens of illusion, making many detours off the path of reason.” And, he says Jean-Jacques Rousseau in 1775 wrote:” ...the odd thing about my liking of precipitous places is that they make me giddy, and I enjoy this giddiness greatly, provided that I am safely placed.”
From interviewing weather sniffers to gliding over the crystal clear waters of Lake Lucerne, Bangs is for and about Nature. His writing is crisp and magical, and the accompanying all-color one-hour DVD that was a public television special and thus well photographed and edited will make you want to order tickets for this heaven called Switzerland right away.
TRAVEL COMPANION GUIDE & JOURNAL
Hearst Books, Sterling Publishing, New York, www.sterlingpublishing.com, $14.95
This is a very nicely done, quality book of small dimensions (5 1/4 x 7 3/8”) and thus easy to pack, that is described as a “fill-in-the blank journal” containing prompts for everything from new friends you meet along the way to first impressions. The booklet contains a list of travel books to pack along with you, suggestions on how to take good pictures, various sightseeing highlights in various places such as Paris and San Francscio, blanks for filling in the names and addresses of hotels you can recommend to your friends, travel quotes, and even an article on how to survive a long flight (drink lots of liquids and use a good moisturizer on your skin). At the rear of the book are conversion charts, time zone map and a mini translation guide.
VARIOUS BOOK TITLES
Penfield Books, 215 Brown St., Iowa City, IA 52245 319-337-9998, www.penfieldboks.com, penfield@penfieldbooks.com.
This firm publishes a number of foreign recipe books, as well as books that have to do with European countries. We enjoyed the 5-1/2” x 3-1/2 horizontal spiral-bound booklets such as the Scandinavian Sweet Treats, Scandinavian Style Fish and Seafood Recipes, Czech & Slovak Kolaches & Sweet Treats and Great German Recipes. Each title begins with some background of the country, or the food, or the traditions of the country. In one there’s a humorous Cook’s Prayer, in another a German table blessing, and in one “kolache memories.”
From Holiday Bread Fruit to Bohemian Coffee Cake, Norwegian Spritz and Curry Herring to Heidelberg Rye Bread and Fried Potato Bread, these books give ingredients and mixing/baking instructions, one recipe per page. We can’t wait to try the Bavarian Sweet Rolls or the Icelandic Christmas Cake. These are easy to use, informative and sturdy books, with "easy to swallow" prices. Check their website for a complete list of recipe books.
One other book we like is German Proverbs, with quotes such as, “He who wants to warm himself in old age must build a fireplace in his youth,” and, “Every mother’s child is handsome.”
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THE TRAVEL BOOK. A Journey Through Every Country in the World
Lonely Planet, $30, softcover.
First of all, I don’t see how they can sell a heavy 444-page all-color book for only three $10 bills, unless it is because it's softbound. Nevertheless, this beautifully-illustrated 9 x 12” travel book is chock full of information and temptations to travel. In alphabetical order, this book revels in each country’s best, including a brief description of the country, suggested best time to visit, essential experiences to have there, what to see, eat, drink and what books to read before you go. The book also suggests a “surprise” in every country. Where else could you travel all the countries easily for only $30?
THE EUROPE BOOK. A Journey Through Every Country on the Continent
Lonely Planet, $40, hardbound.
This 258-page 9 x 12” all-color book will start you dreaming about travel to Europe. Each country is afforded a landscape description, country history in a nutshell, information about the people, something about the economy and notable things about each country. In Spain it’s “fiery flamenco” and sipping sangria, while in Switzerland it’s chocolates, watches and cows. Slovenia is remarkable for its splendid scenery, the hair-raising Vrsic Pass and the unique Karst region. In Romania there are a dozen national parks spread throughout the country. Every country has important cultural and scenic possibilities to explore--and this volume helps you sum it all up. So what are you waiting for?
WALKING THE BIBLE
www. wgbh.org, Boston. Price: $19.95
So you’d like to walk where significant Bible events took place. Now you don’t even have to leave home for this: Bruce Feiler has done it for you, taking a number of journeys, these accounting for the five books of Moses.
In his quest, Feiler visits--by foot, rowboat, jeep and camel--the places where the Bible tells us significant events occurred. Included are Mount Ararat, where Noah’s Ark was to have ended up; to the place in the desert where Abraham first heard God speak; and to the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
Does he stumble onto anything truly new and revealing? Well, not really, but you can take the trip with him and picture for yourself where these events took place. Check out this DVD.
125 BEST ITALIAN RECIPES.
Kathleen Sloan-McIntosh, published by Firefly Books, 66 Leek Crescent, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada L4B 1H1. Price: $19.95.
Here’s a beautiful little 192-page book that offers up 125 great Italian recipes from the haute cities in the north to the rural farm villages of the south and from one coast to the other.
Italian food is really taking off, and this book, with its beautiful photography (not every recipe rates a photo) and easy-to-read recipes, will please readers. Chapters relate to how Italian food is served, a portion tells you how to stock an Italian pantry and the recipes utilize everyday ingredients from your local supermarket.
Try the ricotta gnocchi, quail roasted with pancetta, Tuscan vegetable soup and the peaches with mascarpone! As they say in Italy, “Eat little, well and often!”
SPAIN, A CULINARY ROAD TRIP
By Mario Batali, with actress Gwyneth Paltrow, published by Harper-Collins. Price: $34.95.
This handsome 384-page 8 1/2 x 10 1/2” all-color book is fun reading--as well as cooking and eating the many foods shown therein. The art director did a super job on
design of the book.
It starts with a colorful map of where the authors traveled to dish up the special recipes; they went to such places as Madrid, Toledo, Barcelona. Salamanca, Valencia and San Sebastian. The book is told in a story format, where superchef Mario tells you where his group is going and what they’re eating, and the recipes are included.
I loved the photo of the fried eggplant on page 193: ...”when you fry it, fry it properly--eggplant becomes really crispy on the outside and very creamy on the inside.”
In Asturias, the group makes fabada, a bean and pork stew, which looks great. There’s also a recipe for pineapple with lime and molasses that is an “end of the meal” type of dish, a little sweet, a little acidic.
An example of the text: “Later we set up a grill in the vineyards and prepare baby lamb for dinner. We burn grapevines for fire and squeeze grapes over the meat. Then we eat it with Valdubon wine; a totally integrated, inclusive meal.”
I enjoyed the read and the photos; I think you will as well.
MONARCHY: The Royal Family at Work
Available from shoppbs.org; underwritten by Cunard Line, PBS and television viewers. Co-producers: Oregon Public Broadcasting at www.opb.org
Perhaps you're a "Royal Watcher" or just have become interested when you see something about royalty on television or in the newspaper. Whatever category you fit into, this series of six DVD's is what you want for your library.
Included are The State Visit, Part 1 and 2; Headquarters; Head of State; The Queen and Us; and Inside the Firm. Each DVD covers the various aspects of the Queen's "job." For example, in The State Visit, the episode follows the elaborate preparations that go into scheduling a visit from the queen. Included are visits to President and Laura Bush. In Headquarters, we take a look at the 650 rooms of Buckingham Palace and how the Queen directs the royal family, entertains heads of state, and conducts her private life. One of the highlights shows her preparing for her annual move to Balmoral in Scotland.
In The Queen and Us, we follow four invited guests of the Queen and watch as they ponder what they will say and do when the Queen greets them.This episode also follows the schedule of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. Inside the Firm centers on handling the some 4,000 state visits, balls, dedications and charity events that take place every year that the royal family attends. The queen talks about the role the family plays and the challenges of royal life.
In a year-long sequence, filmmakers were allowed exclusive access for a behind-the-scenes look at all that goes on in and around London's Buckingham Palace and the queen. Many intimate interviews were filmed, and little-known areas of the palace were shot, such as the wine cellar and royal kitchens. Yeomen, ladies in waiting and the crown jeweler were filmed, going about their duties as well.
It's all very good material, professionally filmed and brilliantly edited. From beginning to end, this series will keep you entertained and amazed at the multitude of preparations that go into the life of the queen and the royal family. These "modern monarchs" come alive in this fascinating series.
THE FRENCH CHEF
www.wgbh.org, Boston
For years, Julia Childs made people laugh while she was cooking. She made me chuckle a few times while I reviewed this 3-disk DVD set (18 episodes) of some of her shows as seen on public television.
As The French Chef of public television, she would exclaim, “If I can do it, you can do it...and here’s how it’s done.”
In the series, which is quite old now (begun in 1962), Julia demonstrates her special style and her wit. The series includes such recipes as boeuf bourguignon, salade Nicoise, bouillabaisse a la Marseillaise, mousseline au chocolat and others.
As part of the series, you can download printable recipes and learn about Julia’s background
GREEK ISLAND HOPPING
Thomas Cook Publishing, www.greekislandhopping.com. Price: $26.95.
Here's a dream vacation for many European travelers: hopping from island to island in the blue Aegean Sea—after all, Greece has some 1,425 of them and 166 are inhabited. Fortunately it's possible to make this trip a reality without chartering your own sailboat, because Greece has an excellent ferry system connecting many of its islands to Athens and each other. An adventurous traveler can easily use these ferries to "island hop."
That's where this comprehensive guidebook comes in. Dubbing itself "The Island Hopper's Bible," it offers everything a traveler needs to know about traveling the Greek Islands, based on the national system of ferries. Beginning with an explanation of how the ferry system works and helpful tips on planning an itinerary, the 720-page 5 x 7-1/4" book combines complete information about mainland Greece and Athens with the necessary information on each island in the various chains, including ports, lodging, beaches, land transport, and the all-important ferry schedule. Color sections highlight the gorgeous sights of selected islands.
An important added feature for buyers of the book is the constantly-updated web site, which allows for up-to-the-minute changes in ferry schedules and other pertinent travel information.
THREE BOOKS: CITY, UNDERGROUND AND PYRAMID
By David MaCaulay, published by Houghton Mifflin, 215 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10003. Price: $19 each, except CITY, $18.00.
These large 9-1/2 x 12-1/4” hardbound books are black and white volumes that tell you how the Romans planned and developed their cities, how the clever Egyptians slaved to build the Pyramids and how cities are supported from underground with water, gas, sewer, electricity installations, telephone wires and subways.
All three use simple text and easily-understood hand drawings to illustrate the themes. In Pyramid, for example, MaCaulay tells you the step-by-step construction process of building these giant pharaoh tombs, as well as explains how and why they came to be built.
These are fascinating books, and much of the reason is because they are so simply stated. MaCaulay also has one called Cathedral, which looks at an imaginary 13th century Gothic cathedral. Before you travel to Europe, you’ll want to read this one!
QUEST FOR KAITIAKITANGA and
ADVENTURES WITH PURPOSE
Menasha Ridge Press, 2204 First Avenue South, Suite 102, Birmingham, AL 35233. 888-604-4573, www.menasharidgepress.com
Kaitiakitanga, $16.95; Adventures, $16.95
"Imagine a ravaged land, devoid of forests, animals and clean water," says travel writer/adventurer/author Richard Bangs, auother of Quest for Kaitiakitanga.
Bangs moves through the world, catching Nature, sizing it up, weighing it against itself, and finding good in all creation. Then he makes sure people are aware of the beauty and usefulness of the mountains, streams, rivers and lakes, forests and all natural resources. He seeks a onesmanship with the Earth so he understands it, and then shares that relationship with others so they, too, understand it.
Beneath the surface of travel--romance, adventure and promise--are quieter things of import. Bangs is right on top of this quest for what nature means to the world. This 5 x 7 1/4" 262-page hardbound book is all about finding peace with nature, and preserving it. A good read.
In Adventures With Purpose, Bangs again is awed by the beauty of the earth, but alarmed by its mindless destruction. He is honestly concerned about our environment and how to preserve it. From the Eiger of the Swiss Alps to the Nile in Egypt and the quest for the source of the Zambezi, Bangs is a terrific guide. He has written numerous articles, 16 books and is a founding partner in America's oldest and largest adventure travel firm. This 6 x 9" softbound 352-page book is your invitation to adventures from the front lines of the earth.
Fodor's Travel Publications, 1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019, www.fodors.com. Price: $9.95
Want to travel like a pro? This 4 1/4" x 7 1/2" softbound packs a wallop of useful information such as how to save money on hotels, flights and car rentals; how to resolve travel issues with various firms; avoiding local scams; obtaining passports; avoiding cultural faux pas; packing checklists; timing your trip; train travel tips; kids and hotels; booking cruises; and much more. A compact book with a lot of information.
BEST OF PROVENCE and BEST OF SPAIN
Open Road, distributed by Simon & Schuster, 800-223-2336. Price of each, $14.95
Spain: This 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" softbound guide book includes ideas for one-day, weekend, one-week and two-week trips to Spain. The book is divided into what to do, see and eat in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, the south of Spain, north of Spain; trips in 1-3 days, 4-6 days, etc; and then the best sleeps and eats; the best activities; practical matters and a series of maps--39 of them. Great color pictures, glossy paper.
Provence: Another 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" book that offers insights on northern Provence, Avignon, the Luberon, Arles, Marseille and the coast of Provence, western French Riviera, Nice, eastern French Riviera and the best sleeps and eats, activities and practical matters. This book offers tips such as, "The quaint medieval village of Sequret clings to the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail, a series of limestone rocks stretching skyward. You can climb its car-free and steep cobblestone streets lined with vine-covered stone homes." The book also lists festivals, events, and even best department stores.
Europe on a Budget-Germany-Britian-Vienna-Edinburgh-London-Scottish Highlands & Island-Prague-Dublin-Brussels
Distributed by Penguin Group, www.roughguides.com. Prices: vary from $11.99 to $24.99.
These handy guidebooks are published for about every European country, and are supplemented by the smaller, pocket-friendly Directions series. They're crammed full of facts, tips, detailed maps and suggestions on what attractions to see, how to get there (either the country or city), where to stay, where to eat, general pricing, what's hip and what's not, neighborhoods, culture, nightlife, essential telephone numbers, distances between points, historical facts and "practicalities." A typical reading (this one from the Rough Guide to Germany): "S-Bahn #5 links Frankfurt with Bad Homburg, which is situated in the southern foothills of the Taunus, a hilly forest area bordered on three sides by the rivers Rhine, Main and Lahn. Following nearly two centuries as capital of the tiny state of Hesse-Homburg, it was annexed by Prussia in 1866 and quickly established itself as the favorite summer retreat of the Kaisers." The guides typically begin with a color map of the city or country, give the reader basics on getting there, costs, money, accommodations, eating, drinking, public hours of stores, restaurants, a listing of festivals, consulates and police information, and then launch into detailed information specific locations, towns and areas. The book offers language aids and legends to help the reader even more. Well researched and very thorough. A good price, too, for what you get.
Distributed by Globe Pequot Press, www.GlobePequot.com. Price: $18.95
This 6 x 9" 544-page softbound is the railfan's and traveler's dream to riding the rails in Europe. Packed with essential rail information, this hefty book is divided into chapters by country: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, and others. The author says this book "reflects the new Europe and the energy and exuberance of its rail system. It's dynamic, it's futuristic, and it's on the move--accelerating with the high-tech boldness and immense speed of the world's finest transportation system." That statement is true---nowhere else except perhaps Japan and a few scattered rail corridors in the U.S. will you find such an efficient and developing rail system. This book is all about planning your rail trip---sit down with a bowl of popcorn and dream about your rail vacation in Europe. Rail is the way to go, because most train stations are at the heart of European cities where the historic attractions are located. You can hop from city center to city center by rail for weeks! The book explains all about rail passes, how to use them and what to expect. The book offers rail schedules and gives suggested rail tours. Example: a day excursion to the Austrian Alps via Villach and Salzburg departs from Vienna South station (Sudbahnhof) and passes through three different Alps mountain ranges. Besides long-distance travel, the book offers a guide to city/metro trams, undergrounds and buses, as well. This book is two pounds of good information.
CCC Publishing Co., distributed by Independent Publishers Group, 800-888-4741, Price: $19.95
This book is a compilation of 108 "spiritual" destinations as composed by author Brad Olsen. Olsen, in 320 pages--16 of them in color--takes the reader to sacred mountains, prehistoric megaliths, Christian shrines and pilgrimage destinations. In the Germany section, the small village of Altotting is described, a spot in Bavaria first mentioned in documents dating to 748, when the first Christian missionaries built a baptistery there. It's called the Chapel of the Miraculous Image, based on an incident in 1489 where a drowned three-year-old girl is said to have come back to life after her mother placed her in front of a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary--pilgrims have traveled to the village now for 500 years. The book is divided into England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and the Low Countries, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Germany and the Alps, Italy and Malta, Spain and Portugal, and Greece. Olson suggests you take a parallel journey through the mythology, history and folkfore of these holy sites as you visit them. if you're looking for other reasons to visit Europe than just tourist attractions, this book might do the trick.
RICK STEVES' EASTERN EUROPE 101 and EASTERN EUROPE
Avalon Travel, 1400 65th St., Suite 250, Emeryville, CA 94608, 510-595-3664, www.travelmatters.com. Price: Europe 101, $24.95; Eastern Europe, $22.95
"Who but Rick Steve tells you what you really need to know when traveling in Eastern Europe?" is a question on the dustjacket of his 988-page 4 1/2 x 8" softcover book. Well, Rick does, in fact, give lots of valuable information and tips that can save a traveler money and time. And he does "tell it like it is." Traveling to Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bosnia, Austria, or Croatia? This 1"-thick tomb is your answer to those many questions you may have about traveling in these countries, which can be a bit intimidating. This book will tell you the history of a country, population, geography, language spoke, the currency, politics of the land, and even what the national flag looks like. Divided into countries and then into cities, this guide says about Prague,"No other place in Europe has become so popular so quickly." This book will help you plan your trip, give you an orientation, tourist information, give tips on how to get around the city, "rip-offs," helpful hints (medical, internet access, bookstores, car rentals, best views, laundry facilities, etc). Where to find tours, what the major sites are, entertainment, where to shop, where to eat, where to sleep (including hostels), how much to tip and many more bits and pieces of information are central to this work.
In Rick Steves Europe 101, the reader is saturated with Steves' humor, which makes the reading fun and enjoyable.
"Relax. There will be no test," is how he starts the "conversation" with his readers. "After stripping history naked, this book dresses it up with just the personalities, stories and sights that will be a part of your travels," he says.The book is divided into time periods such as Prehistoric Europe, 3000-1000 B.C., A.D. 500-1000 and 1650-1815 and so on, reaching to the final chapter entitled "Europe Today." An overall timeline is also presented for those who are word-challenged. Numerous photos, sidebars and more timelines help the reader soak in the history. A sample reading: "The "Low Countries"--today's Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg--are just that: flat, soggy and easily overrrun by invaders. But out of this poor, feudal landscape emerged three powerful cities that thrived on trade. Each had a prime location. Amsterdam and Bruges sat where rivers flowed into the North Sea, while Brussels hugged a main trading highway. In their day, these cities were as rich as entire nations." And thus this 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" 526-page book is a great way to learn Europe's complex history--and enjoy learning it at the same time.
CZECH & SLOVAK REPUBLICS
Lonely Planet, 150 Linden Street, Oakland, CA 94607. Price: $22.99
This 5 x 7 1/2” 496-page softcover book is well organized to give the reader a quick—or exhausting—look at these two adjacent republics which lie north and east of Vienna, and are squarely located in the middle of Europe. Both countries joined the European Union in 2004.
Family is the center for almost everyone in these two countries: Czech Republic has 10.2 million people and Slovakia has 5.35 million. Big cities the average person would recognize in these countries include Prague and Bratislava. “If you envisage the mystical Gothic buildings of Prague’s historic center, you’re not alone,” the introduction reads. “In two compact countries you can climb eerie sandstone rock formations, hike alpine slopes, enjoy what some argue to be the world’s best beer, soak in a hot spring spa, watch swordplay by firelight at a medieval castle, and down a shot of slivovitz (plum brandy) with the locals.”
The book offers information on itineraries, history, culture, environment issues, outdoor activities, food and drink, as well as numerous sections on the larger cities and areas of each country, There are also sections on transportation, health concerns and language. In fact, there are sections for subjects that you probably didn’t realize you needed, but that is the sign of a good guidebook.
“Spectacular landscapes dotted with the ruins of audaciously located castles make this maze of sandstone ‘rock towns’ and basalt volcanic fingers a rugged contrast to the prettified backdrops found elsewhere in Bohemia,” reads a paragraph in the East Bohemia section. To point out the extensive detail the guidebook provides, it goes on to say, “The sandstone formations at Prachovske skaly are renowned through Europe for rock climbing. Your best source of local information is Hudy Sport in Jicin which hires all necessary gear including harnesses, karabiners, ropes and helmets.
There are maps to show the railways of the countries, driving distance chart, helpful language phrases to learn, information about postal rates, shopping, legal matters, a list of embassies and consulates--even a section on mountain huts for the adventurous. There is also a nice selection of city maps to guide you and a tip for Bratislava: while away the hours at one of the many street cafes in the ‘rabbit warren’ old town.
For the larger cities, a list of attractions is given along with a number which locates that attraction for you on the accompanying map. Festivals are also listed with the months they are held, and suggested walking tours are offered.
In all, a handy and helpful guidebook for these two not-yet-mobbed-with-tourist countries.
KAREN BROWN’S SWITZERLAND
Distributed by National Book Network and available in bookstores. Price:
$19.95.
Karen Brown has a clever way of writing about the
special places she’s visited and stayed at over the
years. In her book Karen Brown’s Switzerland (2007),
she writes about exceptional places to stay and offers
itineraries for this beautiful country.
“From the Blausee, continue to Kanderstag, a small
village tucked at the end of a box canyon where the
only means of further transportation is to put your
car onto one of the trains that tunnel through the
mountains. Although this suggested itinerary goes on
to Zermatt, if you have time to linger, Kanderstag is
an idyllic place to spend a few days...Kanderstag
nestles in a flower-strewn meadow dramatically
embraced by towering Alpine peaks,” she writes.
Makes you want to buy an airline ticket right now and find this
place.
And another review: “The Hotel Edelweiss (Blatten im
Lotschental) is right in the center of town with a
glorious position overlooking the valley and up to
mountains. The exterior of the hotel is very
appealing: a three-story chalet-style house with a
dark wood facade, balconies and window boxes with
cascading red geraniums.”
Between the accommodations and the itineraries listed,
travelers can virtually plan an entire trip with this
one book. For European travelers, Karen has published
a number of travel guides, all similiar, for France;
Italy; Germany; Austria; Ireland; and England, Wales
and Scotland, as well as several more specialized
books for European destinations.
This 278-page 7” x 7” softbound with color covers is
an ideal way to cover a lot of territory when you’re
searching for just the right spot to stay, and the
right places to see, without spending days and weeks
scouting out locations. Brown has done the legwork for
you. The overnight accommodations have been personally
selected, and each is chosen for its ambiance. There
are overnight lodging ideas in categories for
budget-minded travelers as well as for those who enjoy
deluxe stays.
The book features a color map of Switzerland and six
additional regional maps showing five recommended
travel routes as well as train, boat and bus
adventures.
The front portion of the book is devoted to describing
general travel information in the regions covered
(everything from making telephone calls to currency
and car rentals to reminding you to bring along an
electric converter). It also describes attractions,
walking tours, museums, boat trips and other things to
do to make your trip fun and exciting.
Besides elongated paragraphs describing the 90 hotels
and pensions in this book, there is a nice pen and ink
sketch of each hotel listed, as well as contact
information, and other operational details of the
hotels/pensions.
Karen wrote her first travel book in 1976, so she’s had
plenty of experience in finding just the right
accommodations that offer a bit more to the traveler.
Penguin Publishing
Company (DK), 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014.
Price: $7.00.
This 4 x 5 1/2” 144-page perfectbound book is divided into chapters with titles such as Everyday Phrases, Colloquialisms, Days/Months/Seasons, Numbers, Time, Eating Out, Stores and Services, Emergencies and Health, among others.
The book begins, “The pronunciation of an Italian word is very similar to the way it is written.” And once you progress beyond “Si” for “yes and “Come sta?” (how are you?), you can start to tackle the 2,000-word English-Italian dictionary located at the back of the book.
Now a book is great, but an additional helpful guide that comes with this book is a 70-minute DVD which guides you through the book, beginning with the easy phrasing. This gives you a good foundation for the later, harder words and phrases. The CD features easy to hear and follow narration, and likely cuts the time by half that it would take to learn Italian.
This doesn’t mean you don’t have to “work” at learning Italian or any language: a daily dose of any foreign language will improve your skills dramatically over time.
I found the book and CD well-thought-out, and the book is easy to hold if you’re taking it along on your trip (which you should).
Now let’s see, prego (please) pass the dolci (dessert) because I need a bit more food after that filetto al cognac (fillet of beef flambe).
100 PLACES EVERY WOMAN SHOULD GO.
By Stephanie Elizondo Griest, published by Travelers’ Tales, Palo Alto, 853 Alma Street, California 94301,
telephone 904-310-6274, www.travelerstales.com.
352 pages, softcover.
“Despite its name, Llanddwyn Island is attached to the mainland in all but the highest tides, so is technically not an island. It is, however, a romantic place with endless coastlines, rolling dunes, sea cliffs, salt marches and mud flats.” And so writes Griest in her new book that “points the way to places of inspiration and enlightenment…”
Some of her European trip tips include champagne tours of France; Lesbos, Greece (Greece’s third largest island); County Mayo, Ireland; Amsterdam; and the Czech Republic, among others.
The book encourages women to see what pleases them: she recounts where to go for ice cream, for the sexiest lingerie, for dancing the tango and even surfing sites, places to swim with sea creatures and famed teahouses: not all of these are in Europe, however. In fact, the list of destinations for these activities are far-ranging.
Why go to Sweden? Well, it is the best place to be a woman, she says, because of the number of women who graduate from college, hold a job, win public office and serve as cabinet members.
Morocco, she says, is a “full throttle assault on the senses and there is no better way to put it.” In Essaouira, Morocco, you should explore its bustling souks “tucked within the whitewashed medina, where surprises await behind every azure door.”
It’s a wide, daunting and thrilling world out there, and we could use a bit of direction, she writes. With a good bit of road dust under her nails, and the years flying by, she says traveling with a reason now seems more important than ever.
After this read, you’ll find out what reasons there are to go to places she describes.
Venice Pocket Map & Guide,
$8.99 USA; $8.99 Canada.
This is a 2 3/4" wide x 6" 80-page
guide with a pull-out map that illustrates Venice's major sights.
The tall, slender guidebook fits in your pocket quite easily. The booklet
is divided into sections such as Introducing Venice, Venice Area
by Area and Practical Information, along with color photographs that
show some of Venice's highlights,
including Basilica San Marco and its details.
In the Castello section, the copy reads, "Castello is the largest sestiere of the city. Its industrial hub was the historic Arsenale, where warships were made," and proceeds to tell about churches, historical buildings, streets, bridges and squares, museums and galleries. It even shows the vaporetto (water boat) boarding points in the sestiere.
There is also an index and Phrase Book section. The all-color pull-out
map measures 14 1/2" x 11 3/4". This handy book is nicely done
and features a laminated cover. Published by Penguin Group USA (DK Publishing).
100 Greatest Trips, $34.95
This 288-page hardbound book
is a pleasure to have and to hold.
While divided into U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America, Western and Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Asia, and Australia/New Zealand, our readers will want to concentrate on the locations in Europe.
"Europe's Most Livable City," reads one chapter on Zurich. There are two sides to Nice, France, reads another section, and proceeds to tell you about them. This all-color hardbound is a good, easy read and features great photography, as you'd expect from a Travel & Leisure publication.
In Rome, try Cafe de Paris or Harry's bar, two of the featured spots in this book. In Greece, the cosmopolitan Cycladic Island has a history of wild nightlife. Not a guide book, per se, this 8 1/2 x 11" title offers snippets of good reading and "seeing" of locations.
Croatia, Poland's Krakow (Cool Central), and Christmas in St. Petersburg
are also highlighted. At the rear of the book is a section that highlights
hotels, dining experiences and other attractions in the countries mentioned.
Travel & Leisure
(www.travelandleisure.com/guides/)
Teach Me German...and More German, $29.95
Taking your children
to the Germanic lands soon?
This two-pack of softcover 8 1/2 x 11" books--plus a CD with German songs--is one way to get your children involved in the language before you go.
Each book is full of drawings and words to songs that you and your child can look at and read as you play the songs on the CD. Songs featured include Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht; Ringalayoi; Marias suBes kleines Lamm; and Oh! Susanna. Translations of the songs are located at the rear of each book.
The publishing company sells language books for French, Spanish, Italian, and for other languages as well. This is a clever way to get the kids to learn a foreign language! Teach Me Tapes, Inc. (www.teachmetapes.com)
