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Pat's Picks - Armchair Travel

by Pat Lancaster - 0 Comment(s)

We have received a beautiful new picture book, A Million Steps:Discovering the Lebanon Mountain Trail. " A thrilling, yet intimate, view of the 440 km trail that runs through the remote and majestic Lebanese mountains. Hana El-Hibri and her fellow hikers were the first to walk the length of Lebanon from north to south, and her up-close account of the month-long journey is accompanied by Norbert Schiller’s superb photos, capturing the region’s diverse wildlife, its stunning scenery and the colorful characters that live there." (Syndetics)

From one side of the world to the other:

Andes, by travel writer Michael Jacobs, describes his trek from one end of the Andes to the other.

"Following in the footsteps of "The Liberator" Simon Bolivar and explorer/naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, Jacobs meanders the entire length of the Andes, interweaving his own travels with the postcolonial history of South America." (Library Journal)

"The Andes, earth's longest mountain range, spans seven countries, from Colombia to Argentina, include rain forests and deserts, virtually deserted areas, massive cities, Incan ruins, pre-Incan ruins, Spanish ruins, and more. It's a lot to take on, but Jacobs ... is nothing if not game. He braves high altitude, terrifying bus rides, endless delays, crime-ridden cities, and wackjob mystics." (Publishers' Weekly Review)

SLOW TRAVEL

by Pat Lancaster - 1 Comment(s)

What better way to take in all the sights and sounds of a country than by seeing it from two wheels - whether on a bike or a motorbike?

Take an armchair trip through South America with Dominic Gill or Glen Heggstad.

Take a seat : one man, one tandem and twenty thousand miles of possibilities

When Dominic Gill set out from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, by bicycle on June 16, 2006, it was to be no ordinary bike ride. His goal was to reach Ushuaia, the southernmost city in South America, nearly 20,000 miles away, and he was starting off with virtually no money in his pocket, barely enough food to last a week, and, worst of all, with thousands of miles between him and his friends and family.

Two wheels through terror : diary of a South American motorcycle odyssey Glen Heggstad's journey through South America involved kidnapping, violent protests, mechanical failures and inhospitable climates, not your average gentle ride through the countryside.

Another trek through South America!!

You can armchair cycle from Siberia to England on a three and a half year trek through Papua New Guinea, Australia and Afghanistan with Rob Lilwall or cross America by bicycle with two intrepid middle-aged women.

Bicycle Diaries, part travelogue, part journal, part photo album, a behind-the-handlebars celebration of seeing the world from the seat of a bike with 100 photos throughout.

Check these books out to see the world from the comfort of your own comfy chair!!

PAT'S PICKS - NEW ARMCHAIR TRAVEL

by Pat Lancaster - 0 Comment(s)

Nancy Pearl, the author of Book Lust and More Book Lust who inspired the librarian action figure, starts her newest book, Book Lust To Go, like this: "I am not an enthusiastic traveler. Let me lay my cards on the table, clear the air, call a spade a spade, and make something perfectly clear, I am barely a traveler at all." She goes on to say that she is a "virtual traveler, via books", and thus the perfect person to provide "recommended reading for travelers, vagabonds and dreamers". She goes on to work her way through the alphabet of places and topics, including travel narrative, biographies, memoirs and fiction.

Whether you are looking for an armchair adventure or some related reading before you go traveling, this book is a great resource.

For an out-of-the way read, try Radio Shangri-la: what I learned in Bhutan, the happiest kingdom on earth.

Napoli writes how, caught in the grip of a mid-life crisis, cynical about work, and depressed about her love life, a chance encounter with a handsome stranger leads to the adventure of a lifetime in Bhutan.

(Syndetics)

Another new book that has arrived recently is a starred selection in Bookmarks magazine.

In this dazzling Russian travelogue, Ian Frazier trains his eye for unforgettable detail on Siberia, that vast expanse of Asiatic Russia. He explores many aspects of this storied, often grim region, which takes up one-seventh of the land on earth. He writes about the geography, the resources, the native peoples, the history, the forty-below midwinter afternoons, the bugs. (Syndetics)

From the far-out geographically to the just plain far-out, Weird Hollywood: your travel guide to Hollywood's local legends and best kept secrets has just arrived.

With California resident and humorist Oesterle as the guide, meander through bizarre back alleys and darkened theaters, observe the kitschy Singing Chairs of Santa Monica, and all that makes Hollywood the fantastic spot it is. (Syndetics)

PAT'S PICKS - LONELY PLANET'S DISCOVER SERIES

by Pat Lancaster - 0 Comment(s)

I love this new series by Lonely Planet. The Discover guidebooks highlight the 25 top experiences for each travel destination as well as including practical itineraries and "must-see" recommendations from local experts. The books include beautiful colour photographs as well as maps and practical information. We have the following destinations here already with others on order, arriving soon.

We also have Discover Australia, Discover Thailand, and Discover Germany with destinations like Great Britain, France and Peru on order. Discover this great series for yourself!!