City Travel Guides > Books > Europe

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.That Summer in Sicily: A Love Story
City Travel Guides > Books > Europe
by: Marlena De Blasi

May 20, 2008
This author can write! Her descriptions of people, environments, food and relationship are first class.

Unlike the first three books that were memoirs of her travels and life with her husband, A Thousand Days in Venice, A Thousand Days in Tuscany, and The Lady in the Palazzo, this book is really Tosca Brazzi's story as told to Marlena.

De Blasi descriptions of simple, everyday things are strong, such as: Unskilled, unshy hands pounded scales on the piano." I could hear the music and see that person working the keys.

What an interesting story de Blasi tells because of her chance meeting with a woman, now in her mid 60s, while traveling with her husband, Italian born Fernando. Tosca, the nine-year-old daughter ... Read More:
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.Rick Steves' Rome 2009 (Rick Steves)
City Travel Guides > Books > Europe
by: Rick Steves, Gene Openshaw

September 01, 2008
This author can write! Her descriptions of people, environments, food and relationship are first class.

Unlike the first three books that were memoirs of her travels and life with her husband, A Thousand Days in Venice, A Thousand Days in Tuscany, and The Lady in the Palazzo, this book is really Tosca Brazzi's story as told to Marlena.

De Blasi descriptions of simple, everyday things are strong, such as: Unskilled, unshy hands pounded scales on the piano." I could hear the music and see that person working the keys.

What an interesting story de Blasi tells because of her chance meeting with a woman, now in her mid 60s, while traveling with her husband, Italian born Fernando. Tosca, the nine-year-old daughter ... Read More:
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Used Price: $21.20

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.Streetwise Florence Map - Laminated City Street Map of Florence, Italy
City Travel Guides > Books > Europe
by: Streetwise Maps

January 02, 2008
I have been to many European countries and I always buy a streetwise map before I go. These maps are convenient, folds up easy to fit into a purse or backpack, very accurate and laminated. While in Florence it rained often. The map constantly got wet and was dropped in puddles a few times. The map held up great and I do not go to any new place with out one.
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Used Price: $5.20

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.Passion on the Vine: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Family in the Heart of Italy
City Travel Guides > Books > Europe
by: Sergio Esposito

April 22, 2008
PASSION ON THE VINE is a deeply moving, eloquent and personal expression of his love for the essence of Italian wine and its inextricable, sensual and sacred relationship with the land, its people, its culture and of course it's food. As an accomplished cook, my most surprising discovery on my first trip to Italy (Tuscany) was not the quality of the food - I've had comparable quality in LA - but how the experience of food was imbued with wine and the company of friends at table. Nothing was "segmented", nothing was rushed or regarded as "food as fuel" as in the US. It that moment, my understanding of Italian food at a soul level incarnated. And that was my experience reading Sergio's book: this is a very challenging, profound and intimate concept to communicate ... Read More:
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Used Price: $12.00

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.Streetwise Venice Map - Laminated Center City Street Map of Venice, Italy - Folding pocket size travel map (Streetwise)
City Travel Guides > Books > Europe
by: Streetwise Maps

January 02, 2008
I have many maps from visiting Italy and have ordered some that were similar from the hotel lobbies, but this one is excellent compared to those. It shows all the little side canals and even has the canal where my future hotel is, which based on trip advisor comments, alot of travelers had a hard time locating. I am happy with this map - streetwise Venice; as well as streetwise Rome.
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Used Price: $5.30

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.Rick Steves' Great Britain 2008 (Rick Steves)
City Travel Guides > Books > Europe
by: Rick Steves

November 28, 2007
How can you go wrong with Rick Steve's? It's just my kind of travel guide
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.The Patisseries of Paris: Chocolatiers, Tea Salons, Ice Cream Parlors, and more
City Travel Guides > Books > Europe
by: Jamie Cahill

March 25, 2008
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1892145529/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title
The Patisseries of Paris: Chocolatiers, Tea Salons, Ice Cream Parlors, and more
With only nine days and a FULL program for my Paris vacation I won't have time for mistakes of 'so-so' restautants and patisseries. The book seems to be very thorough and well researched, many reviews agree with other 'foodies' opinions. I have 'tagged' the 'must visits' and 'possibles' and will give you my full review after I will have come back (April 2009).
Again, very well organized, well researched and easy to follow.
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.The Travels of Marco Polo
City Travel Guides > Books > Europe
by: Marco Polo, Ronald Latham

September 30, 1958
A very remarkable book written in the 13th century. Many secrets were reviled when Marco returned. And may interesting explanations of things like the origin of cinnamon.

Marco writes well enough of his travels and you feel that you are there. You can actually follow the trail if you have a map. He describes the flora and fauna of each region and describes the economics and industry of the region.

Example: "The women of the superior class are in like manner free from superfluous hairs; their skins are fare, and they are well formed."

It is interesting to see how little has changed from Marco Polo's 13th century and now.
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.Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy
City Travel Guides > Books > Europe
by: Frances Mayes

August 26, 2003
How is it that this even got published? I am a voracious reader, even books I don't really care for I finish just because I want to see what happens in the end. But I just couldn't do it with this one. How can you be so possibly boring?? Have you ever been stuck on the phone with someone who just loves to talk about themselves? You listen, occasionally give a few grunts as acknowledgement, and sigh in relief when they finally run out of words and use for your ear. This book was that, in text form. Frances Mayers needs someone to talk to, I guess no one would listen, so she wrote it all down in book format. If this is all it takes to publish a book, maybe I'll become a writer!
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.Italy (Country Guide)
City Travel Guides > Books > Europe
by: Damien Simonis

February 01, 2008
I did a multiple country tour across Europe and I will preface my review with the disclaimer that I only ended up seeing Venice while I was in Italy so all my comment pertain to the Lonely Planet's section on this city.

The section on Venice was not as helpful as other Lonely Planet guides that I have had the pleasure of using with my travels. The maps, while accurate and useful for approximate locating, will need to supplemented with another map (either the Lonely Planet's or one purchased when you get there).

The hotel reviews were good, but I would also use the internet more as I found a nice cheap hotel not listed in their guide just walking through the city. Their review of the usefulness of the Venice Pass was also spot on - ie you will have to work hard ... Read More:
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Used Price: $13.95