The only state once recognized by the U.S.gov-ernment as an independent country.Texas is still more a nation than a state in many ways.It's larg-er than several European nations combined,with an amaxingly varied landscape and population. Since the fall of the Alamo,the Lone Star State has been the site of historic collisions:between the Old South and the New West,be-tween the Anglo culture of North America and the Hispanic culture of Latin America,between persistent small-town values and the glittering internationalism of Houston and Dallas.Yet its citizens are all Texans first,united by a storied past of epic battles,rangers and rustlers,cattle barons,wildcatters,and wheeler-dealers. The Texas Myth also embraces legendary sports teams and the fans that cheer them on; a down-home cuisine featuring Tex-Mex,chili,and rancn-style barbecue; and colorful politics across the spectrum,including outspoken liberals like Lyndon Johnson and former governor Ann Richards.Oil and cattle wealth built a legacy of ach

In 1912, six months after Robert Falcon Scott and four of hismen came to grief in Antarctica, a thirty-two-year-old Russiannavigator named Valerian Albanov embarked on an expedition thatwould prove even more disastrous. In search of new Arctic huntinggrounds, Albanov's ship, the Saint Anna, was frozen fast in thepack ice of the treacherous Kara Sea-a misfortune grievouslycompounded by an incompetent commander, the absence of crucialnautical charts, insufficient fuel, and inadequate provisions thatleft the crew weak and debilitated by scurvy. For nearly a year and a half, the twenty-five men and onewoman aboard the Saint Anna endured terrible hardships and dangeras the icebound ship drifted helplessly north. Convinced that theSaint Anna would never free herself from the ice, Albanov andthirteen crewmen left the ship in January 1914, hauling makeshiftsledges and kayaks behind them across the frozen sea, hoping toreach the distant coast of Franz Josef Land. With only a shockinglyinaccurate map to g

Think Los Angeles and Southern California and you're feelinggolden warmth and a coastal breeze. This culturally vibrantand ethnically diverse area is equal parts movie makers, high-techtrailblazers, dreamy ocean drives and scorching desert.Throw in campy Palm Springs and some serious wine country and we knowyou'll be hooked. This revised edition includes special planning chapters forDisneyland, "Beaches Outdoors", "Travel with Children",and more road trips and scenic drives for touring holidays. This guidebook has been fully updated! * Intuitive layout and new text styles make it easier to read,scan and find information at a glance * New visual design and structure improves navigation withoutsacrificing depth or quality * Expanded planning section helps travellers plan by time,season, interest or region * New map desiegn improvs map legibilty for easy navigation

What Will Your Dubai Encounter Be? Try Skiing on the world'sfirst indoor black run, commissioning a special gold ring at amarket price, or spend hours doing nothing at a Jumeirah beachresort. Kickback with a beer, a sea breeze and a view of the Gulfat sunset, or recline on cushions and smoke sheesha. Clear yourhead in the Arabian desert. Discover twice the city in half thetime. Navigate Dubai easily with a fully indexed street map plusdetailed neighborhood maps. Our discerning author recommends thevery best in shopping, dining, clubbing and relaxing. Take thehassle out of daily planning with unique thematic itineraries andgo straight to the source: this guide includes cultural highlightsfrom the founder of the Al Bastakiya Art Fair, shopping hints froman antique gallery owner.

From Fouad Ajami, an acclaimed author and chronicler of Arabpolitics, comes a compelling account of how a generation of Arabintellectuals tried to introduce cultural renewals in theirhomelands through the forces of modernity and secularism.Ultimately, they came to face disappointment, exile, and, onoccasion, death. Brilliantly weaving together the strands of atumultuous century in Arab political thought, history, and poetry,Ajami takes us from the ruins of Beirut's once glitteringmetropolis to the land of Egypt, where struggle rages between amodernist impulse and an Islamist insurgency, from Nasser'span-Arab nationalist ambitions to the emergence of an uneasy PaxAmericana in Arab lands, from the triumphalism of the Gulf War tothe continuing anguished debate over the Israeli-Palestinian peaceaccords. For anyone who seeks to understand the Middle East, here isan insider's unflinching analysis of the collision betweenintellectual life and political realities in the Arab worldtoday.

Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar, may be a hotbed of progressiveattitudes, but in the rest of the 'Land of the Blue Sky', liferemains pretty much the same - horses outnumber people, nomadsstill move camp each season and on long-distance bus rides you'llbe serenaded by passengers singing folk tunes. If you time yourtrip right you can experience the festival of Naadam, this annualthree-day festival features Mongolian wrestling, horse racing,archery and traditional sports. The only guide to include maps of major towns across all regions.GPS coordinates to help you find what you're looking for, even whenthe signs don't help, as well as feature essays to provide insightinto Mongolian history and way of life. This guidebook has been fully updated! * Intuitive layout and new text styles make it easier to read, scanand find information at a glance * New visual design and structure improves navigation withoutsacrificing depth or quality * Expanded planning section helps travellers plan by time, season,interest or re

Packed with phrases on everything from bargaining at a rynok to hiking and eating out, this book will spice up yourUkrainian adventure. Whether bathing in culture or the Black Sea,speak the language and make your experiences unique. Our phrasebooks give you a comprehensive mix ofpractical and social words and phrases in more than 120 languages.Chat with the locals and discover their culture - a guaranteed wayto enrich your travel experience.

This stunning volume was the gift book of the year when it firstpublished, and the images that grace its pages remain iconic. Fromthe famous Afghan girl whose haunting green eyes stare out from thebook’s cover, and her poignant story that captured the world’sinterest, to award-winning photography culled from the Society’svast archives, The Photographs offers readers an inside look atNational Geographic and a sharp-eyed view of the world. The bookshowcases the skill and imagination of such notable Geographicphotographers as David Doubilet, William Albert Allard, Sam Abell,Jim Stanfield, Jodi Cobb, Jim Brandenburg, David Alan Harvey, andmany more. They share their techniques, as well as personal andcolorful anecdotes about individual images and their adventures inthe field—sometimes humorous, sometimes terrifying, always vividlycompelling. Author Leah Bendavid-Val writes about thephotographers’ achievements from technical, journalistic, andartistic perspectives. Five chapters cover core Nationa

illinois,that long slice of the heartland stretching fro lake michigan fto kentucky,may be the most american place of all.its great patriot,abraham lincoln,and its great athlete,michael jordan,stand for what s best about our country. the prairie state has some of the midwest s richest farmlnd,and,by geographic luck,illinors also has the vital metropolis of chicago.the windy city took in the continent s resources and shipped them far and wide ,becoming the nation s railroad hub and later its crossroade of the air.after the dev-astating 1871fire,visionary planners and architects like daniel burnham and louis sullivan designed boulevards,gracious parks,and beaux arts buildings thet make this one of the most livable of cities. both chicago and downstate illinois have grow them,like john dere s plow; the prairie style homes of frank lloyd wright;mail-order merchandising from sears and wards;an ener-getic,all-american literture from carl sandburg,nelson algren,gwendolyn brooks,and saul bellow;and the soulf

Lonely Planet Knows Ireland. Gentle mountains, rugged ridges,wild moorlands, warm hospitality and the infamous Irish weather:taking to the trail in Ireland is never dull. With routes acrossthe most spectacular landscapes of the Republic and NorthernIreland and highlights of the Waymarked Ways, this guide has hikesfor every ability level. Our resident Irish authors share the bestof their walking experience, including the rolling WicklowMountains, the spiky summits of Connemara, the sandy beaches of theDingle Peninsula and the dramatic coastal cliffs of the northwest.In This Guide: Everything you need to know to get prepared.Listings for sleeping, eating and facilities along the way. Adviceon equipment, health and safety.

在线阅读本书 What Will Your Vancouver Encounter Be? Rubbing elbows with Olympiads in Robson Square or takin gin theOlympic sites Gawking at breathtaking mountain-backed waterfront vistas fromStanley Park Wandering through a kaleidoscope of brightly colored street art indowntown Kayaking beneath a full moon and the twinkling lights of thecity Sampling heirloom tomatoes, duck prosciutto and organic tea at thePublic Market Dancing the night away with the beautiful people in Gastown Discover Twice the City in Half the Time Full-color pull-out map and detailed neighborhood maps for easynavigation Our resident author recommends the very best neighborhoods, sights,restaurants, shops and entertainment Unique itineraries and highlights help you make the most of a shorttrip Local experts reveal Vancouver's secrets: from a microbrewer'sfavorite local bars to an art gallery curator's take on cityculture

Bill Bryson travels to Kenya in support of CARE International.All royalties and profits go to CARE International. Bryson visits Kenya at the invitation of CARE International, thecharity dedicated to eradicating poverty. Kenya is a land ofcontrasts, with famous game reserves and a vibrant culture. It alsoprovides plenty to worry a traveller like Bill Bryson, fixated ashe is on the dangers posed by snakes, insects and large predators.It is also a country with many serious problems: refugees, AIDS,drought, and grinding poverty. The resultant diary, though short inlength, contains the trademark Bryson stamp of wry observation andcurious insight.

Nowhere else can so many cultures be found in such a tight spaceyou can wake up on the Mediterranean coast, have lunch in Paris andsee a show that night in London. Ryan Ver Berkmoes, Lonely PlanetWriter Our Promise You can trust our travel information because Lonely Planet authorsvisit the places we write about, each and every edition. We neveraccept freebies for positive coverage, and you can rely on us totell it like we see it. Inside This Book 14 expert authors 13 mountain ranges crossed 6,354,782 sq km explored 73 local beers sampled Inspirational photos Clear, easy-to-use maps In-depth background Easy-to-read layout Comprehensive planning tools At-a-glance practical info

Best-selling Tolkien expert Brian Sibley (The Lord of theRings: The Making of the Movie Trilogy and The Lord of the RingsOfficial Movie Guide) presents a slipcased collection of fourfull-color, large-format maps of Tolkien's imaginary realmillustrated by John Howe, a conceptual designer for the blockbusterfilms directed by Peter Jackson. The set includes a hardcover bookdescribing in detail the importance and evolution of geographywithin Tolkien's epic fiction and four color maps presented withminimal folds, including two (Beleriand and Numenor) never beforepublished in this country.

Lonely Planet knows New Zealand like our own backyard, andthis handy guide brings you the best of the country's South Islandin one easy package. Let us help you discover the South's mostbreathtaking mountain roads, quietest off-the-beaten-track escapesand best city experiences. Lonely Planet guides are written byexperts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. Thisfully updated edition is packed with accurate, practical and honestadvice, designed to give you the information you need to make themost of your trip. In This Guide: Comprehensive coverage of thehighlights and hidden secrets. Itineraries to inspire great skiing,eating, wine-touring, driving or bushwalking experiences. Practicalinformation on getting around by car, bus, plane or camper van.

Explore Dublin Explore the placesthat inspired Dublin's literary greats - Swift, Yeats, Beckett andJoyce Enjoy the art then relax on the Zen rooftop terrace at theChester Beatty Library Shout yourself hoarse at a game of hurling or Gaelicfootball North side? South side? You decide over a drink (or two) on eachside of the Liffey In This Guide: One Dublin-resident author, over 500 hours of research, and over300 shopping, eating and drinking recommendations Full-color coverage of Dublin's highlights Insights into city life, from a local fashion designer's shoppingtips to a food critic's top restaurant picks.

Every time Bill Bryson walks out the door, memorable travelliterature threatens to break out. His previous excursion along theAppalachian Trail resulted in the sublime national bestseller AWalk in the Woods . In A Sunburned Country is his reporton what he found in an entirely different place: Australia, thecountry that doubles as a continent, and a place with thefriendliest inhabitants, the hottest, driest weather, and the mostpeculiar and lethal wildlife to be found on the planet. The resultis a deliciously funny, fact-filled, and adventurous performance bya writer who combines humor, wonder, and unflaggingcuriousity. Despite the fact that Australia harbors more things that can killyou in extremely nasty ways than anywhere else, including sharks,crocodiles, snakes, even riptides and deserts, Bill Bryson adoresthe place, and he takes his readers on a rollicking ride far beyondthat beaten tourist path. Wherever he goes he finds Australians whoare cheerful, extroverted, and unfailingly obliging,

Discover Amsterdam Delve into the life of a great artist at the Van GoghMuseum Find the perfect brown café, secret hang-outs of Dutch drinkersfor centuries Find out how to skip the queues at the city's topattractions Spice up your visit at one of Amsterdam's Indonesianrestaurants In This Guide: Three authors, over 700 recommendations, five neighborhoodswalks, three bike tours Color Architecture chapter on the city's buildings, old andnew Comprehensive Day Trips chapter includes Leiden, Utrecht andHaarlem

Explores Indian English's history and its place in society.Full of humorous and quirky expressions, slang, jargon and commonlanguage misunderstandings. Will help travelers speak like localswith Hinglish terms for food, sports and entertainment

Paul Theroux celebrates fifty years of wandering the globe bycollecting the best writing on travel from the books that shapedhim, as a reader and a traveler. Part philosophical guide, partmiscellany, part reminiscence, The Tao of Travel enumerates “TheContents of Some Travelers’ Bags” and exposes “Writers Who Wroteabout Places They Never Visited”; tracks extreme journeys in“Travel as an Ordeal” and highlights some of “Travelers’ FavoritePlaces.” Excerpts from the best of Theroux’s own work areinterspersed with selections from travelers both familiar andunexpected: Vladimir Nabokov J.R.R. Tolkien Samuel Johnson Eudora Welty Evelyn Waugh Isak Dinesen Charles Dickens James Baldwin Henry David Thoreau Pico Iyer Mark Twain Anton Chekhov Bruce Chatwin John McPhee Freya Stark Peter Matthiessen Graham Greene Ernest Hemingway The Tao of Travel is a unique tribute to the pleasures and painsof travel in its golden age.

What Will You Bali Encounter Be? Catching the perfect wave at Ulu Watu Shopping for a boutique bargain in Seminyak Learning to prepare your very own Balinese banquet at a cookingcourse in Tanjung Benoa Getting swept up in magical Ubud, one of Asia’s most romanticdestinations Shaking it up on a dance floor in Kuta Discover Twice the City in Half the Time Detailed regional and town maps for easy navigation Our expert author recommends the best sights, restaurants, shopsand entertainment Unique itineraries and highlights help you makethe most of your short break Locals reveal Bali’s secrets: from the birth of surfing to theart of rice farming

Take a fresh approach to Venice with this "Step by Step"guide, part of a brand new, stylishly designed series from InsightGuides. Lavishly illustrated in full colour, this book features 14irresistible self-guided walks and tours, written by a local expertand packed with great insider tips. Whether you are new to the cityor a repeat visitor, whatever your interests, and however long yourstay, this book is the perfect companion, showing you the smartestway to link the sights and taking you beyond the beaten touristtrack. All the walks and tours come with clear, easy-to-followfull-colour maps and hand-picked places to eat and drink en route.A 'Key Facts' box at the start of each tour highlights therecommended time needed to enjoy it to the full, plus the distancecovered and a start and end point; all this makes it simple to findthe perfect tour for the time you have to spare. The book alsorecommends top tours by theme and includes a special 'Only in'feature, highlighting a number of experiences or attract

…immersing yourself in the sumptuous excesses of thebaroque Schloss Sch?nbrunn. …devoting an entire afternoon to coff ee and Sachertorte ina Viennese coff eehouse. …feeling the sway of the blue Danube as you cruisedownriver. …hearing the Vienna Boys’ Choir hit the high notes in theRoyal Chapel. …sampling the latest wines from the owner’s vineyard at arustic Heuriger. …falling under the spell of Klimt’s paintings andHundertwasser’s magical architecture.