Head off to discover hidden tunnels & a bomb shelter beneath the Old City, follow a secret passage open once a year, admire the cathedral s Orpheus capital, pray at Calvin s fake grave, look for the plaque that compares the pope with the Antichrist, visit the secret gardens of the Carouge district, discover why the national monument represents two Savoyard women, learn where Frankenstein was created, sleep in Professor Calculus room, & more. Far from the crowds & cliches, Geneva holds well-hidden treasures that are only revealed to residents & travelers who know how to wander off the beaten track. An indispensable guide for those who think they know Geneva well or who want to discover the hidden side of the city. ...

A replica of the Pantheon in Rome for Japanese weddings, a hydrocephalic head, the secret symbolism of the Fountain of the Lions in the Alhambra & the cabala symbolism of the Alhambra, a macabre joke, a spectacular natural history museum from the nineteenth century, a secret library, a curious watch to celebrate the birth of the Prophet Mohammed, a water chess championship, an erotic chapel, the fifth Gospel in the Sacromonte, the subterranean route of the river which crosses the center of the city. Far from the masses & the usual cliches, Granada continues to keep hidden treasures which it only reveals to residents & travelers who wish to go off the beaten track. An indispensable guide for those who think they know Granada well or for those who wish to discover another side to the city. ...

Greenwich`s position on the River Thames has drawn many people to this fascinating area of south-east London over the years. This book delves into the history of Greenwich, detailing intriguing & lesser-known facts associated with many of its famous landmarks & intriguing sites. Topics covered include royal localities & the little-told stories behind them; green spaces including gardens, parks & graveyards; underground tunnels, caves & hideaways; residents of Greenwich noted for their heroics or villainy; river traders upon which Greenwich`s maritime & trading enterprises depended; & its sporting heritage, including the origins of sports that evolved & were first established in Greenwich. Secret Greenwich, by local historian David C. Ramzan, contains many colourful stories to enliven these little-known facts about Greenwich. ...

” Where should we stay?” This may be the most vexing question facing anyone planning a holiday, especially travellers whose resources are limited. But finding affordable accommodation does not mean having to settle for surly desk clerks, paltry meals & a cramped hotel room whose only window faces a brick wall. Breathtaking views, attentive service, great on-site food & the full range of amenities are all available at a cost that won`t make you cringe. You just have to know where to look. That`s where ” Secret Hotels” comes in. Compiled by the editors of ” Budget Travel” magazine, this out-of-the-ordinary guidebook acquaints you with an enticing array of lodgings including beachside cottages, hilltop villas & gracious, family-run guesthouses where you can stay in comfort & style without having to worry about breaking the bank. Setting its sights on eight of the world`s top travel destinations, including Provence, Tuscany, Tahiti, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Cornwall, Bali & the French Riviera, ” Secret Hotels” scopes out the hidden treasures that, till now, have mostly been known only to the locals. The description of each hotel is accompanied by sumptuous colour photos of the grounds & interiors, & contact information & rates are provided. ...

A personal tour of twenty of the UK`s most beguiling castles, estates, palaces & manor houses in this much-loved area of western Engl&, including Daylesford, Stanway, Sudeley Castle & Hilles House. Author & architectural historian, Jeremy Musson, & Cotswolds-based photographer Hugo Rittson Thomas, offer privileged access to twenty houses, from castles & manor houses, as well as eighteenth- & nineteenth-century mansions, revealing their history, architecture & interiors, in the company of their devoted owners. In the footsteps of artists & designers including Humphry & George Repton, & Victorian visionary, William Morris, who inspired the arts & crafts movement, & others such as Detmar Blow, Norman Jewson, Clough Williams-Ellis & Oliver Hill, we find a series of fascinating country houses of different sizes & atmospheres, which have shaped the English identity. Each house has their own story, but their distinctive honey-coloured stone walls, set amongst rolling hills, in different ways express the ideals of English life. Most of the houses included here are privately owned & not usually open to the public. In this beautifully produced book, they can now be enjoyed through the eyes of their owners, as well as an experienced architectural historian, & an award-winning photographer. ...

Capture the beauty of colourful kimonos, the intricate designs of fans, the peace of an ancient temple & enjoy the uniquely elegant Japanese way of life in the course of these pages. As you focus on colouring in & forget the stresses of everyday life, you`ll find calm returning. ...

National Geographic’s “ Secret Journeys of a Lifetime” is packed with lavish photographs & detailed insight into some of the most inspiring journeys out there in the world, bringing to life 500 unique destinations that have managed to fly under the radar of even the most seasoned traveller.. Divided into themed chapters, the book features the ” World at Your Feet, ” ” Last Wildernesses, ” ” Island Getaways, ” ” The Road Less Traveled, ” ” Secret History, ” ” Spiritual Havens, ” ” Hidden Treasures, ” ” Undiscovered Villages, ” & ” City Secrets.” There are also ” My Secret Journey” sidebars, written by National Geographic contributors, that describe & personalize travel experiences providing insight on additional excursions. Each chapter contains several lists of ” Top Tens, ” shorter features describing experiences in a wide variety of categories, from quirky museums & quiet city garden oases to atmospheric ghost towns & the best spots for amazing ocean views. ...

When Reuben discovers an old pocket watch, he soon realizes it holds an incredible power: it can turn you invisible for fifteen minutes. He can`t resist the lure of disappearance: for a time, he can vanish from the despotic regime of New Umbra. But the watch`s power is even more extraordinary than he imagines. Soon, he`s on the run from New Umbra`s ruler, The Smoke, who`s determined to possess it for himself.. . ...

Where were Cut Throat Alley & Heathen Street? How many could be hanged at one time & where? Who won the battle of the town undertakers? Secret Kingston upon Thames goes behind the facades of the familiar to discover the lesser-known aspects of the town`s fascinating past. Kingston upon Thames has many secrets, & as you walk along the streets you are walking through history. There are clear reminders of the town`s past everywhere, waiting for you to stop, look & listen to their intriguing stories. On a journey through this ancient town, local tour guide Julian Mc Carthy tells these forgotten or untold tales. You may think that you know Kingston upon Thames, but take another look around & you will find more than you could possibly imagine. ...

Purposefully imitating Voltaire`s classic Candide, another dark comedy which derives its humour from life`s tragedies, Habiby`s The Secret of Saeed the Pessoptimist is a classic of Arab literature. The story of Saeed, a Palestinian who becomes a citizen of Israel, is a story of fact & fantasy, tragedy & comedy. At once a comic hero & luckless fool, his life is full of terror, aggression, resistence & heroism. As an informer for the Zionist state, Saeed`s stupidity, candour & cowardice make him more the victim than a villain; but in a series of tragicomic episodes, blundering from disaster to disaster, he is slowly transformed from gullible collaborator into a Palestinian intent on survival. The novel, informed by the author`s own experience in Israeli politics, is both biting & funny. The Secret Life of Saeed the Pessoptimist was named in the top ten novels set in the Arab world by The Guardian in 2010, won the Al-Quds Prize in Palestine in 1992 & The Israel Prize for Literature, awarded by the State of Israel. It is the only novel to have the top literary award in both countries. ...