Quiet Corners of Paris
by Jean-Christophe Napias
from Little Bookroom
More than eighty of the loveliest, most tranquil, and sometimes hidden places in Paris are celebrated in this charming guidebook
Quiet Corners of Paris is a beautifully illustrated peek into eighty-one often overlooked, always beautiful, locales: hidden villas, winding lanes, little-known 19th-century passages, serene gardens, and cobblestone courtyards. Some of the places have breathtaking views, others are filled with historic and architectural details, from stone archways, garden follies, boxwood mazes, ornamental statuary, stained glass, and Renaissance fountains. Follow a stone path under a trellis of blossoms or wander through a gate to discoverÉ
The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World
by Lonely Planet Publications
from Lonely Planet
The world is a breathtakingly big place, and in this big book we have undertaken the big task of detailing as much of it as we can - every single country, many of the larger dependencies and other, smaller destinations. With the traveler's experience at its heart, this book shows a slice of life in every corner of the globe, and all points in between, engaging the reader's senses in an adventure which conjures up the sights, smells, tastes, sounds and feel of our amazing world.
The Great Wall: From Beginning to End
by William Lindesay
from Sterling
Two men who navigated every inch of the Wall have collaborated on a lavishly-illustrated tribute to this amazing structure. Michael Yamashita, an award-winning National Geographic photographer, spent a year shooting the Wall, its environs, and the people who live in its shadow, for the magazine. One hundred and sixty of his magnificent photos grace this volume, which features text by William Lindesay, who not only conducts tours of the Wall and spearheads the movement to preserve it, but has actually run its entire length. Broken into three sections, The Great Wall provides an overview that debunks myths and dishes up rare facts and figures, a comprehensive history that proceeds dynasty by dynasty through its construction, and an account of Lindesay’s personal experiences of the Wall.
Stories in Stone
from Gibbs Smith, Publisher
Certain symbols abound in modern Western culture that are instantly recognizable: the cross signifies Christianity, the six-pointed Star of David is revered by Jews, the golden arches frequently means it's time for lunch. Other symbols, however, require a bit of decoding-particularly those found in cemeteries. < BR> Cemeteries are virtual encyclopedias of symbolism. Engravings on tombstones, mausoleums and memorials tell us just about everything there is to know about a person- date of birth and death as well as religion, ethnicity, occupation, community interests, and much more. In the fascinating new book Stories in Stone: The Complete Guide to Cemetery Symbolism by noted author Douglas Keister, the secrets of cemetery symbolism are finally revealed. For instance, did you know that it is quite rare to see a sunflower on a tombstone? Did you know that the human foot symbolizes humility and service since it consistently touches the earth? Or the humble sheaf of wheat-while it is often used to denote someone who has lived a long and fruitful life, do you know other meanings it might carry? < BR> Stories in Stone provides history along with images of a wide variety of common and not-so-common cemetery symbols, and offers an in-depth examination of stone relics and the personal and intimate details they display-flora and fauna, religious icons, society symbols, and final impressions of how the deceased wished to be remembered. Douglas Keister has created a practical field guide that is compact and portable, perfect for those interested in family histories and genealogical research, and is the only book of its kind that unlocks the language of symbols in a comprehensive and easy-to-understand manner. < BR> Douglas Keister has photographed fourteen award-winning, critically acclaimed books (including Red Tile Style: America's Spanish Revival Architecture, The Bungalow: America's Arts & Crafts Home, and Storybook Style: America's Whimsical Homes of the Twenties) earning him the title "America's most noted photographer of historic architecture." He also writes and illustrates magazine articles and contributes photographs and essays to other books, calendars, posters, and greeting cards. Doug lives in Chico, California, and travels frequently to photograph and lecture on historic architecture and photography.< BR>
Unforgettable Places to See Before You Die
from Firefly Books
An inspiring exploration of the forty most memorable travel destinations in the world.
As travelers become more experienced and sophisticated, they become more discriminating about their destinations. Many are seeking the unusual and avoiding the routine and predictable tours.
Unforgettable Places to See Before You Die takes readers to familiar places, like the Taj Mahal, and lesser known destinations like Lalibela, Ethopia. Three hundred magnificent photographs accompany fascinating essays about each location.
The chapters cover forty destinations ranging from New York City to Petra, Jordan, including:
- Australia's Great Barrier Reef
- Cambodian temples at Angkor Wat
- Scotland's Eilean Donan Castle
- Thailand's Grand Palace
- Mexico's Pyramid of Kukulacán
- Peru's Machu Picchu
- Spain's Alhambra
- Ecuador's Galapagos Islands.
The book features international destinations for extraordinary scenery, ancient monuments, unusual cultures, rare wildlife, soaring architecture, art and more. The sites range from wilderness areas to cities to uninhabited locations and ruins of past civilizations.
Unforgettable Places to See Before You Die is aimed at adventurous travelers seeking new sights and experiences. It offers insider tips and practical advice for maximizing the enjoyment of each visit such as avoiding crowds, best time of the year to visit and more.
With gorgeous photography, this book is a must for international and armchair travelers.
(20050724)LIFE: Dream Destinations: 100 of the World's Best Vacations
by LIFE MAGAZINE EDITORS
from Life
This is a book of enticements or memories--or both. The things we remember best and longest are the lovely times on vacation with family or friends. That sublime afternoon on the secluded beach on Martha's Vineyard, or that unforgettable crimson sunset as seen from the top of Coppertop Mountain. That extraordinary safari in Africa, and snorkeling along Australia's Great Barrier Reef. In stunning photographs and evocative text, the editors of LIFE take you there--to the best, most beautiful, most relaxing, most inspiring places to vacation on the planet. This book is an enticement--to go there. And it is a remembrance of those magical places you've already gone. Live that vacation again, every time you open this special volume.
1001 Natural Wonders: You Must See Before You Die (Barron's Educational Series)
by Michael Bright
from Barron''s Educational Series
Tourists, nature lovers, and even armchair travelers will discover hours of pleasurable reading in this huge compendium of world-famous sites. They’ll also find a wealth of ideas for their next vacation trip. It’s a guide to the most spectacular natural sites—and sights— around the world, from the magnificent Angel Falls in the Venezuelan rain forest to the fiery volcanic Mediterranean island of Stromboli, off the coast of Sicily. Other natural wonders include Glacier Bay, and Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska; Death Valley and Yosemite Park, California; the Rhine Valley in Germany; Mount Blanc in France; Mount Olympus in Greece; Mount Fuji in Japan; Easter Island; and for divers, spectacular places like the Mariana Trench in the Pacific. Here is a virtual circumnavigation of the globe, with each natural wonder, chosen for its grandeur and sheer beauty. Each location is profiled with a color photo, a description of its origin and present-day features, a thumbnail-size locator map, and a succinct table of statistics. For instance, this volume describes—
Here are breathtaking locations on every continent—sites so spectacular that once seen they are never forgotten. Hundreds of full-color photos.
Great Lodges of the National Parks: The Companion Book to the PBS Television Series
by Christine Barnes
from W W West
Stand amid soaring Douglas fir in the great hall of Glacier Park Lodge or sit in the setting sun and gaze into the Grand Canyon at El Tovar. This beautiful gift book will transport you to the majestic lodges of our national parks to relive the glory of past vacations or plan adventures anew. This book and the PBS television series of the same title (to air in spring 2002) take armchair travelers into these architectural wonders and explore the surrounding natural beauty of our national parks. Lodges, wildlife, and stunning vistas are showcased in 175 full-color photographs, along with historical documents from the PBS series. In his introduction, Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, offers a call to preserve this national heritage, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book go toward the rehabilitation of these magnificent buildings.
Backroads of New England: Your Guide To New England's Most Scenic Backroad Adventures (Pictorial Discovery Guide)
by Kim Knox Beckius
from Voyageur Press
One Hundred and One Beautiful Small Towns of Italy (101 Towns)
by Paolo Lazzarin
from Rizzoli International Publications
Originally written by and for Italians, this is a fantastic source of inside information. The 101 towns featured represent the 20 diverse regions of Italy and their varied landscapes, architecture, and local specialties. Practical sidebars introduce the reader to traditional artisans-Tuscan saddlers, custom cobblers, tapestry weavers, ceramicists, and crafters of papier-mâché-as well as to the best place to buy Parmigiano Reggiano or the greatest terrace to have tea while taking in a Tuscan sunset. And if that weren't enough to keep you busy-or you have a hard time deciding where to go first-art and architecture are also amply covered, from the history of L'Aquila's 99 fountains to the most elaborate of Baroque churches and the most charming of piazzas.
You will be amazed to see how much Italy has to offer beyond the well-trod paths of Venice, Florence, and Rome. From Asolo to Vicenza, flea markets to fish markets, horse races to open air concerts, this book promises 101 great reasons to go back to Italy over and over.
+++
