Showing titles in Travel Writing & Commentary

In 1815 the Battle of Waterloo brought to an end the Napoleonic Wars and the European continent opened up once again to British tourists. The nineteenth century was to be an age driven by steam technology, mass-industrialisation and movement, and, in the footsteps of the Grand Tourists a hundred years earlier, the British middle-classes flocked to Europe to see the sights. In Tourists, the voices of these travellers – puzzled, shocked, delighted and amazed – are brought vividly to life.

Billy Connolly, music-lover, biker, and scourge of the beige and bland the world over, has dreamed about taking a trip on the legendary Route 66 since he first heard Chuck Berry belting out one of the greatest rock 'n' roll records of all time. And now he's finally had the chance to do it, heading out on his custom-made trike in search of the real America that can still be found beyond the nation's freeways.

From the source, where Assyrian kings had their images carved into stone, McCarron and his small team journeyed through the Turkish mountains, across north-east Syria and into the heart of Iraq. Passing by historic cities like Diyarbakir, Mosul and Baghdad, McCarron kept the company of fishermen and farmers, but also artists, activists and archaeologists who rely on the flow of the river. Occasionally harassed by militias, often helped by soldiers, McCarron rode his luck in areas still troubled by ISIS and relied on the generosity of a network of strangers to reach the Persian Gulf.

The Japanese people have always seen themselves as a nation uniquely apart. Their exquisite art forms and elegant culture, military prowess and technological precision, have long been the envy of friend and foe alike. Today, even as Japan adapts to a rapidly changing world, its traditional culture and consensus-based philosophy have proved remarkably resilient. Culture Smart! Japan will broaden your perception and understanding of this complex, rich, and dynamic society.

The Road to San Donato is an adventurous and nostalgic bicycling memoir of an American father and son tracing their Italian heritage. Riding rental bikes and carrying a bare minimum of supplies, Rob Cocuzzo and his 64-year-old father, Stephen, embark on a 425-mile ride from Florence to San Donato Val di Comino, an ancient village in the mountains outside of Rome from which the Cocuzzo family emigrated a hundred years earlier.

This guide is based on our larger guide to Naples and the surrounding area, but it zeros in on the Sorrento Peninsula & the Amalfi Coast. Plush resorts line the coast and islands, Greek and Roman excavations, plus street theater and musical performances are everywhere. Positano, the most photographed fishing village in the world, clings to a rock above the sea. The unforgettable coastal town of Ravello is here. The superlative Greek temples at Paestum.

Alba used to live a hectic life, working as a book publicist in Italy, and yet she always felt like a woman on the run. And so one day she decides to stop running and go back to Lucignana, the small village on the Tuscan hills where she was born, to open a tiny bookshop. Alba's enterprise seems doomed from day one but it surprisingly sparks the enthusiasm of many across Italy. And after surviving a fire and multiple COVID lockdowns, the 'Bookshop on the Hill' becomes a refuge for an ever-growing community of people

In his latest entertaining and thought provoking narrative travelogue, Michael Booth sets out to discover how deep, really, is the enmity between these three 'tiger' nations and what prevents them from making peace. Currently China's economic power continues to grow, Japan is becoming more militaristic and Korea struggles to reconcile its westernized south with the dictatorial Communist north. Booth, long fascinated with the region, travels by car, ferry, train and foot, experiencing the people and culture of these nations up close. 

For more than half a century, a shared love of canals and narrowboats has been inseparable from the marriage of Timothy West and Prunella Scales. The two iconic actors have spent many of the happiest days of their life together enjoying the calming pleasures of watching land and nature unfold before them at four miles an hour.

My Exile Lifestyle is a memoir made of stories from the life of author, entrepreneur, and full-time traveler, Colin Wright. From his early years as an antisocial geek, to his high-flying career in Los Angeles, to his life as a wandering vagabond, Colin holds nothing back as he talks about love, business, blogging, and culture through tales that span four continents. In the easy to digest style of storytelling that has made his other work such a success, Colin discusses life on the road and nothing is too taboo.

A Suitcase Full of Koalas is a modern, edgy travel book set to test your wits and memory for detail. Gallivanting around London and somewhere distinctly south of the great capital in a sleepy seaside village, the author finds herself handing out tiny furry koalas to the English, to the Polish, to the Italians, in fact to anyone who cares to accept the little fellas as a gift from Australia.

If you're traveling to Florence, Italy, you want to go home with a special souvenir: a leather bag, a gold bracelet, or a beautiful set of stationery. But selecting which wallet or jacket to buy can be an intimidating experience. How do you know if you're buying something authentic, made locally and in a traditional way? How do you determine if you've fallen prey to one of the city's many tourist traps?

Where's the Next Shelter? is the true story of three travelers on the Appalachian Trail, a 2,000-mile hike that stretches from Georgia to Maine, told from the perspective of Gary Sizer, a seasoned backpacker and former marine who quickly finds himself humbled by the endeavor. If you long for the horizon or to sleep under the stars, then come along for the hike of a lifetime. All you have to do is take the first step.

A young man once called unteachable journeys across America to investigate the lives of those, like himself, who are forced to create new ways of living in order to survive.

The Pacific Crest Trail is a 2,600-mile footpath from Mexico to Canada through the mountains of the West, and Rick sets out for the six-month trek looking forward to being immersed in nature. But once on the trail, he's surprised to find that his fellow humans, when observed and listened to at foot speed, are the more interesting and instructive creatures.   

Are you excited about planning your next trip? Do you want an edible experience? Would you like some culinary guidance from a local? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this Eat Like a Local audiobook is for you. Raluca D. Florea offers the inside scoop on the most traditional food in Florence. Eat like a local. Slow down, stay in one place, and get to know the food, people, and culture. By the time you finish this listen, you will be eager and prepared to travel to your next culinary destination.   

Come ride with us at New Zealand Mountain Biking, where we offer exciting multi-day trips, skills clinics, and lessons that cater to riders of all levels from all corners of the globe! Our rides will show you the best of Rotorua's trails and beyond. Let us be your guide. Jamie, NZMTB Director, is passionate about hearing stories from different riders and what inspires them. That's why he created Share The Stoke. Join us as he invites guests to share their experiences, backgrounds, and insights on MTB. You'll discover new places, trails, gear, and skills. @newzealandmountainbiking nzmtb.com

Over the years, authors, artists and amblers aplenty have felt the pull of the Thames, and now travel writer Tom Chesshyre is following in their footsteps. He's walking the length of the river from the Cotswolds to the North Sea - a winding journey of over 200 miles. Join him for an illuminating stroll past meadows, churches, palaces, country (and council) estates, factories and dockyards.

Learning English does not need to be hard. Follow Vanessa, a new Chinese Australian immigrant, as she goes through the ups and downs of learning English and starting her new life in Australia. Your host, Dory Wang, introduces Vanessa to language experts who explain common issues that Mandarin speakers face. You’ll learn useful habits, tips to understand Australian slang and how to improve your pronunciation. Laugh, learn and be inspired so that you too can say that learning English is not hard at all! - 《英文难不难》...

Henrietta Lovell is on a mission to revolutionize the way we drink tea by replacing industrially produced teabags with the highest quality tea leaves. Infused invites us to discover these remarkable places, introducing us to the individual growers and household-name chefs Lovell has met along the way - and reveals the true pleasures of tea. The result is a delicious infusion of travel writing, memoir, and recipes, all written with Lovell's unique charm and wit.