When the Vietnam War finally ended in April 1975 with the communist capture of Saigon, Vietnam itself became a closed country, out of bounds to western travellers & journalists. By 1989, however, such was Vietnam`s economic plight that the government decided the time had come to open its doors again, albeit most gingerly. By a stroke of good fortune Justin Wintle became the first writer from the West to be allowed to journey around the whole of Vietnam, from Pac Bo on the Chinese border in the north to Ca Mau in the far south, below the Mekong Delta
- though never without a posse of helpful, watchful ”minders”. But because he had official approval, he was able to meet many of those who had played a prominent part in Vietnam`s recent history, among them General Vo Nguyen Giap, the victor of Dienbienphu & principal architect of America`s military humiliation, & Le Duc Tho, the man who outsmarted Henry Kissinger during the Paris peace negotiations.” Romancing Vietnam” is Justin Wintle`s classic account of what he found in post-war Vietnam, & how, for three months, he played cat & mouse with those charged with keeping him in line, while developing a profound love for more ordinary Vietnamese & the astonishing landscapes they inhabit. A young man`s book, written with open eyes & a deft pen, ” Romancing Vietnam”, first published in 1991, describes a heaven & hell country, still full of the pain of war & unappeased ghosts, but a place of hope nevertheless, as also of sometimes outlandish comedy.
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The Romanesque churches to be found in every corner of France are one of the wonders of Europe. They were built between about 1000 & 1200 & were contemporary with English Norman architecture. Their architectural style varies from region to region, as do their size, shape & layout. The period saw the first revival of the art of sculpture since Roman times, & many of the churches such as Moissac, Autun, Vezelay & Chauvigny contain outstanding sculpture. Some, like St-Savin-sur-Gartempe & Tavant, have superb frescoes, & a few like Ganagobie have fine mosaics. It was the age of pilgrimages & a number of the churches were built along the four great pilgrim routes through France to Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain. Many have links to Romanesque churches in Italy, England & Germany, since Romanesque was a style that was admired throughout Europe. ” Romanesque Churches of France”, which covers a hundred or so churches in ten geographical sections from Normandy & Burgundy in the north to Provence, Roussillon & Languedoc in the south, is the first comprehensive book to be published on the subject. This book is an ideal companion for travellers, with its many maps & its regional arrangement, & will be a stimulus for the exploration of remote & beautiful areas that are less familiar, such as Auvergne & the Pyrenees. It will also be invaluable as a reference book for all those with a general interest in the history of French architecture & sculpture. ...

The widespead & numerous Romanesque churches in the northern half of Spain rival those of France for their distinctiveness & originality & for their remarkable sculpture. They were mainly built between about 1000 & 1200 & mirror the progressive rolling back of Islamic power in the long reconquista, first of all along the north coast & in Catalonia, which was only occupied by the Muslims for about a hundred years, & then in Leon & Castile. Their architectural styles vary greatly from region to region, & some of them contain fine frescoes as well. Romanesque style introduced the first revival of the art of sculpture since Roman times, & in Spain there good examples of decorative carving as far back as the seventh century. It was the age of pilgrimages & many of the churches were founded along the pilgrim routes from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, which are popular destinations for travellers in Spain today. Romanesque Churches of Spain, which covers a hundred & twenty churches in Catalonia, Aragon, Navarre & the Basque Country, Cantabria, Castile, Leon, Asturias & Galicia, &

Includes:: no less than twenty pre-Romanesque churches in the Visigothic, Asturian & Mozarabic styles of 600-1000, many with exotic features such as the horseshoe arch, is the first comprehensive book to be published on the subject. It is a perfect companion for travellers, with its ten maps & its regional arrangement, & will be a stimulus for the exploration of wild & remote areas that are unfamiliar to many people, especially across the Pyrenees & in the mountainous areas of Aragon, Cantabria & Asturias. It will also be invaluable as a reference book, with its 262 illustrations, for all those with a general interest in the history of Spanish architecture & sculpture, many of the churches possessing outstanding examples such as Santiago de Compostela, Jaca, Soria, Agramunt, Ripoll, Armentia, Estibaliz, Sanguesa, Santo Domingo de Silos & San Pedro de la Nave. Peter Strafford is a distinguished journalist who worked on the Times for more than three decades, including in Paris & Brussels, & was, among other things, the Times correspondent in New York for five years. His acclaimed Romanesque Churches of France has recently been reprinted.

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The Michelin national road map of Romania at 1:750, 000 scale is best suited to trip & route planning. The map gives comprehensive coverage of national road networks showing major motorways, dual carriageways, national & regional main roads & some smaller local roads. Unsurfaced roads & tracks & some major footpaths are also shown. The map shows useful motoring information for motorways & major roads
- including toll sections, numbered interchanges & rest stops. Michelin's selected scenic routes are also highlighted. Distances between major locations are marked along roads, with total distance & several intermediate distances shown. A quick-reference chart of distances & driving times between major locations is also given, as well as a grid-referenced index of principal place names. The map shows latitude & longitude on a WGS84 grid (30' intervals for latitude, 20' for longitude). Clear, easy-to read cartography clearly differentiates different classes of road. Major topography is indicated with slight 3D relief shading, but no contours or other topographic information is shown except mountain peaks. Woodland & forest is marked with green shading, & national parks are highlighted. Built-up urban areas are clearly marked in yellow. Airports, ferries, & motorails are also marked. National borders & administrative divisions are marked. Selected sights, including historic houses, castles & ruins, religious buildings & other places of tourist interest, are shown with symbols This map

Includes:: two inset city plans of Bucharest
- an overview plan showing main roads at 1;62, 000 & a high-scale street plan of the centre at 1:20, 000. Another inset map shows Romania's administrative distracts with their names & abbreviations. The map also

Includes:: a quick reference panel giving national driving regulations, including speed limits, equipment requirements (e.g. bulb kits, warning triangles) & seatbelt rules.





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Romania on a single-sided, indexed road map at 1:800, 000 from Insight. This large map

Includes:: many places

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Romania in the Countries, Regions & Cities series from Rough Guides; comprehensively detailed guidebooks specifically designed for independent travellers & serving a range of worldwide destinations. Widely recognised for their free editorial style, Rough Guide authors are allowed to express their personal opinions on a range of subjects. Although sometimes controversial, this editorial stance allows readers to experience more detailed & personal takes on each destination, a feature often more limited in other guidebooks. Cultural & historical nuances are explored in significant depth throughout the text & descriptions on the ambience of individual settings alongside personal recommendations, particularly in cities, are notably prevalent. Each Rough Guide in the Countries, Regions & Cities series has a similar layout. A ...

New for 2008, Travellers Romania is the perfect guidebook for mainstream visitors wanting to discover one of the most dynamic & intriguing countries in Europe. This book delivers: expert advice, tracking down the best sights & experiences; suggested Itineraries & Highlights sections to help you make the most out of your trip; detailed background on people, geography, culture & history; clear & accurate mapping for orientation at country, region & city levels; suggested walks & tours to somewhere a little different; impartial & dependable sleeping, eating & entertainment listings; full colour throughout, with over 140 photographs; &, comprehensive coverage of the best of the destination including: Bucharest, Brasov, the Black Sea Coast & the Danube Delta, Bran Castle, Prahova Valley, Sibiu, the Carpathians. Travellers are popular, compact guides for mainstream travellers wanting to discover something a little different on their trip. Covering the very best of country, regional & city destinations, they offer the perfect balance of culture, history, practical information, mapping, photography & listings to appeal to a mass-market readership. ...

Romania is one of the most beautiful, intriguing, & little-known countries in Europe. This new book, arranged as a series of essays, is the most lucid & wide-ranging guide available to Romania`s architecture, history, & culture. From the remains left by the Romans to the unique churches of Moldavia & Maramures, & not forgetting the Transylvania of Vlad Dracul, ” Romania ”explains, informs, & inspires. A comprehensive gazetteer & essential practical information make it the perfect companion on the road, while a generous selection of photos makes it a pleasure to read & use. ...

Overview road map of the country with an index & a distance table on the reverse. Relief shading & colouring, with spot heights & names of peaks & mountain ranges give a good presentation of the country’s topography, contrasting Transylvania against the coastal areas. Road & rail network are clearly presented, given the scale of the map & the large number of small villages shown on it. Scenic routes, towns of particular interest, & other special sites are highlighted. Symbols mark campsites, beaches, spas, & various places of interest. Latitude & longitude grid is drawn at 1° intervals. Map legend

Includes:: English. On the reverse there is an index, indicating for each place its the administrative district, & a distance table.

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Romania at 1:850, 000 & Moldova at 1:445, 000 on a double-sided indexed map from ITMB, showing the topography of the two countries by altitude colouring, with street plans of central Bucharest & Chisinau. Each country is presented separately on one side of the map. The map of Moldova is shown with north-east rather than the conventional north at the top of the sheet, so that the country can be presented at a better scale. Topography is shown by altitude colouring with spot heights, plus graphics for swamps, forests, orchards & vineyards. Road network

Includes:: selected local roads & tracks; driving distances are marked on main & selected secondary routes. Railway lines are included & local airports are marked. Also shown are internal administrative boundaries with names of the provinces. A range of symbols highlight various place of interest, including locations with tourist accommodation. The map of Romania has no geographical coordinates; on the Moldova map latitude & longitude are shown as margin ticks at 30’ intervals. Each country has a separate index. Also provided are large, clear street plans of central Bucharest & Chisinau, highlighting various facilities, including selected hotels, & places of interest.

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