There is far more to Switzerland than beautiful scenery, chocolate, watches, faceless bankers, & spotless cities. The real Switzerland is full of surprises & anything but bl&. This small, rugged, landlocked country at the heart of Europe has been a confederation since the first three cantons came together in a defensive alliance in 1291. Four national languages are spoken within its borders. Its present twenty-six cantons are largely autonomous & retain their individual characters. In this grassroots democracy real power lies with the people, who exercise it directly through frequent referendums. Swissness is, above all, a spirit of independence & of communal involvement. Although it is a model of peace & multicultural cooperation, with one of the highest standards of living in Europe, Switzerland s prosperity has been hard-won. Historically neutral, it maintains a semi-detached relationship within the European Union. In 2014, a national referendum supported"as on EU migrants. Despite the several hundred thousand EU nationals living & working within its borders, & almost half a million Swiss working in the EU, this small, resource-poor country appears determined to retain its independence. ” Culture Smart! Switzerland” provides an historical perspective, explores Swiss values & attitudes, & looks at the cultural continuity of festivals & traditions. It helps you navigate the workplace, the neighborhood, & the social scene. It offers crucial insights into Swiss business culture, & more generally on differences in communication style. Swiss people are not always easy to get to know. Proud, industrious, fair-minded, & creative, they respect the individual, which means that while they appreciate clear thinking & direct talking, they avoid confrontation. They will never intrude, yet will willingly help out if asked. Make the effort, & people will respond. Warmth, decency, intelligence, & wit are among the many hidden riches of this fascinating society.” ...

This guide presents Switzerland`s Jura Crest Trail. Also known as the Jura High Route (Swiss national route 5), this 310km long-distance route traverses the sub-alpine mountains of the Swiss Jura from Dielsdorf near Zurich to Nyon on the shores of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva), running roughly parallel to the Swiss-French border. With over 13, 500m of ascent, the trail demands a moderate level of fitness & can be comfortably completed in around a fortnight. The Jura Crest Trail is easily accessed from Zurich & Geneva. The region boasts excellent walking infrastructure & facilities, & although the trail crosses the mountains, you are seldom too far from civilisation. The guide contains all the information you need to plan & walk the route. You`ll find advice on transport & comprehensive details of accommodation & refreshments. The trek itself is presented from east to west in 14 stages of 12-32km, with step-by-step route description accompanied by clear mapping & notes on local points of interest. The Jura Crest Trail boasts far-reaching views of the Bernese Oberl&, the Haute Savoie & the Rhine & Rhone Valleys, & is rich in geological, natural & historical interest. Passing through woodland & alpine meadows & crossing rolling limestone plateaux, highlights include the spectacular amphitheatre of the Creux du Van, the medieval towns of Baden & Brugg, & Lac de Joux, the largest lake in the Jura mountains. ...

A detailed guide to a selection of the unadvertised & privately owned mountain inns or ” Berghotels” of Switzerl&. Day hikes from each inn are described. Information is given on how to connect the hikes from each inn so as to make an extended ” Grand Traverse” holiday. Schematic location maps are included, illustrated extensively with black & white photos. ...

SWORD & SCIMITAR is the gripping tale of the Great Siege of Malta from Simon Scarrow, bestselling author of the Eagles of the Empire series. A must read for fans of Conn Iggulden & Robert Harris. 1565, Malta: a vital outpost between the divided nations of Europe & the relentlessly expanding Ottoman Empire. Faced with ferocious attack by a vast Turkish fleet, the knights of the Order of St John fear annihilation. Amongst those called to assist is disgraced veteran Sir Thomas Barrett. Loyalty & instinct compel him to put the Order above all other concerns, yet his allegiance is divided. At Queen Elizabeth`s comm&, he must search for a hidden scroll, guarded by the knights, that threatens her reign. As Sir Thomas confronts the past that cost him his honour & a secret that has long lain buried, a vast enemy army arrives to lay siege to the isl&... ...

ENGLAND IS BORN. BBC2`s major TV series THE LAST KINGDOM is based on Bernard Cornwell`s bestselling novels on the making of England & the fate of his great hero, Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Sword Song is the fourth book in the series. Season 2 of the epic TV series premiers this March. It is 885. England is at peace; the Danes rule the north & King Alfred holds the south. But trouble stirs when a band of Vikings invade London. Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Alfred`s greatest warrior, must lead his men to attack the Viking raiders in the south. But his allegiance to the King will be tested in perhaps the most threatening way yet. ...

Map No. 854, Coconino National Forest: Sycamore Canyon & Verde Valley Wilderness Areas, AZ, in an extensive series of GPS compatible, contoured hiking maps of USA’s national & state parks or forests & other popular recreational areas. Cartography based on the national topographic survey, with additional tourist information. The maps, with most titles now printed on light, waterproof & tear-resistant plastic paper, highlight walking trails along with campsites & other accommodation, picnic sites, areas for various recreational pursuits such as horse riding or skiing, drinking water sources, & many other facilities of interest to the outdoor enthusiast. Cartography is based on information from the USGS (United States Geological Survey
- the country’s national survey organization), revised by the National Geographic Maps in cooperation with the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, etc. Topography is excellently presented by contours (interval varies according to scale), enhanced by relief shading & colouring/graphics for wood cover, glaciers, etc. All heights are given in feet. The maps have a UTM grid plus latitude & longitude margin ticks & GPS waypoints for selected important locations. Each map is double-sided to give either maximum coverage of the chosen area or additional enlargements of its important sections. Accompanying notes provide useful information on relevant regulations, safety precautions, contact addresses, etc.* *IMPORTANT
- PLEASE NOTE: the series is very extensive, ranging in scale from 1:400, 000 for the vast national parks of Alaska to 1:25, 000 for local map in several states. We recommend, therefore, viewing the series by state rather than the whole list.*

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Sydenham was popular for its medicinal spring but in the 19th century was the home of Crystal Palace. The building encouraged development & large family homes were built on the slopes
- those that remain being much sought-after today. Famous residents included the cricketer W G Grace, George Lansbury, the future Labour leader, & the young Ernest Shackleton. Sydenham was the centre of a musical group whose leading lights were Charles Grove & Arthur Sullivan. Forest Hill was home to the tea merchant, F J Horniman, whose vast collection of anthropological & musical objects were opened to the public later in the Horniman Museum.
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For centuries, Sydenham was a small hamlet on the edge of a large tract of common l&, known as Sydenham Common, in the parish of St Mary`s, Lewisham. London was more than an hour`s travel away. Over little more than half a century, three events radically altered Sydenham, turning it from a rural hamlet into a populous, even fashionable, suburb of London: the enclosure of Sydenham Common, the coming of the railway in 1839 & the construction of the Crystal Palace on Sydenham Hill. Today, Sydenham & Forest Hill are attractive & popular places to live, with good access to green spaces & local amenities. Join local historian Steve Grindlay on a photographic tour of Sydenham & Forest Hill past & present, showcasing points of interest such as the Horniman Museum, the Kirkdale Building & Jews Walk. Sydenham & Forest Hill Through Time is an essential volume for anyone who knows & loves these leafy suburbs. ...

Sydenham & Strandtown in 1902 in a fascinating series of reproductions of old Ordnance Survey plans in the Alan Godfrey Editions, ideal for anyone interested in the history of their neighbourhood or family. The map is one of a group covering parts of east Belfast, east of the Lagan. Coverage stretches from Connswater Bridge eastward to Circular Road, & from Dundela Street & Belmont Road northward to the shore. Features include Victoria Park, railway with Sydenham station, Bunker`s Hill, Norwood Tower, Sydenham House, Belmont Presbyterian church, Strandtown House, many other villas in grounds including Craigavon & Marmont, St Mark`s church, Holywood Road area, Dundela Park, Sydenham School, Irish Distillery, Conn`s Water, etc. On the reverse are street directories for Circular Road, Holywood Road, Palmerston Road, Sydenham Avenue & Park & Victoria Road. About the Alan Godfrey Editions of the 25” OS Series: Selected towns in Great Britain & Ireland are covered by maps showing the extent of urban development in the last decades of the 19th & early 20th century. The plans have been taken from the Ordnance Survey mapping & reprinted at about 15 inches to one mile (1:4, 340). On the reverse most maps have historical notes & many also include extracts from contemporary directories. Most maps cover about one mile (1.6kms) north/south, one & a half miles (2.4kms) across; adjoining sheets can be combined to provide wider coverage.FOR MORE INFORMATION & A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL AVAILABLE TITLES PLEASE CLICK ON THE SERIES LINK. ...

Large scale street plan of Sydney. All roads are shown, with clear distinctions between dual carriageways, through roads, & secondary roads. Railway lines & stations are marked, as are public buildings, pedestrian zones, forests/parks, & industrial zones. Points of interest such as sporting facilities, historical sites, zoos, commercial centres are displayed, as well as post offices, hospitals, police stations & cemeteries. The map is grid-referenced & fully indexed. ...