4 comments about Knopf MapGuide: Florence (Knopf Mapguides).

1. I've used Knopf Mapguides all over the world and find them to be the single best way to orient and explore a major city. Their pocket sized format and clear, fold out maps make them perfect for navigating a city without looking like a clueless tourist unfolding a huge map on a streetcorner. The restaurant and attraction recommendations are excellent. If you buy only one guide to vist one of the world's major cities, get one of these.



2. I like the fold out maps and the variety of info organized by neighborhood. I've used this brand of guide for London as well and thought it really worked. The only big complaint I have is that they do not list prices/admissions for the attractions, which can lead to big surprises, especially in the major Italian art cities.



3. 
   Best travel guide bar none. Fits your pocket or small purse.. Visually great looking.There are actual pictures .... All high recommended hotels different prices..Great maps.. hard to get lost even in Venice. Great recommends for food I am a shopper.. Absolutely great & unusual shops ..None of the bad tourist gear only the styling gear.. .I had three guides to Florence this is the one we used every day...Do not go anywhere without this guide if there is one available for the destination Im will be traveling to....



4. We love the Knopf Mapguides. We used this one for our 10 days in Florence and the ones For Rome and Venice on other visits. They fit in your hip pack or purse and are easy to read and follow. We wont travel without them!

3 comments about Lonely Planet Tuscany & Umbria.

1. 
   My partner and I used this guide for our trip to Tuscany (Toscana) in June 2006, and we found it very serviceable. The places we visited were Siena, Florence (Firenze), Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto, and Volterra, among others.
   
   Lonely Planet's guide gave us all the options available for getting to and from each city and town in the region. Whether by train, car, bicycle, or foot, it provides enough information to help you get there and back without too much trouble. This is in contrast to the Let's Go guidebooks which provide more information about staying in the towns themselves than about how to get there. This guide helped us with taking the train from Rome (Roma), and renting a car in Siena and making daytrips to Assisi, Perugia, and Orvieto.
   
   The information on hotels is sufficient but I'd recommend doing a little research online about places to stay BEFORE you leave. LP guides give you a sampling of hotels and inns and a little blurb about each, but don't expect too much information on them. The quoted price ranges can be a little off, but LP assumes one is travelling during the peak season (July-August).
   
   The information on restaurants is okay, and LP provides a decent listing of places to eat in whatever town you may be. It was either hit or miss for us. A few of the places LP recommended turned out to be duds but a few were spot on. One of the hits was a little taverna in Assisi that served linguini with black truffle sauce--yum!
   
   As far as sites and attractions go, don't expect a wealth of information. LP gives a brief history/description for all the major sites but a lot of minor ones are either only touched upon or passed over altogether. One would be better off using the Michelin Green Guides for more detailed information about specific sites and attractions, as those provide a plethora of names, dates, and events that make them more akin to history books than travel guides.
   
   The maps in the book are really good; they are accurate and easy to read. For all the major cities and towns covered in the guide, LP plots out the locations of all the hotels, restaurants, and attractions they mention. In this regard they are exactly like Let's Go (and all other guides, I imagine).
   
   In my opinion this Lonely Planet guide is not the definitive book on Tuscany, but when used with other guides it can be an invaluable resource for your trip to this wonderful region of Italy. Pack it with you when you go--and don't forget the sunscreen!



2. This is a decent overview, but lacks in-depth directions and full details of the area. I found key areas and towns missing. Also, not a lot of hours are printed in detail. Lack of editorial reviews or even hints as of what is good and what is not. I'm getting a second book to supplement this.



3. Upon traveling to the Tuscany and Umbria regions I brought two travel guides, one of them Lonely Planet. The LP became my travel bible, since the other guide was difficult to follow and lacking in critical information. Overall, the Lonely Planet saved us a great deal of travel time because the maps were accurate, the restaurant recommendations were bang on, bus and train routes were efficient, and the sight guides were adequately informative.
   This is essential guide to anyone traveling to this region.

5 comments about Old Glory : A Voyage Down the Mississippi.

1. Um, fellow reviewers, do you think that every little town in America is a picture postcard? Or do you not think there is a dark side to life in London, New York, or in any little burg one might chance upon, say, going down the Mississippi? Do you think that people don't have a disgruntled, distrustful side as well as a kind, generous side? Would you, in short, prefer a chintzy Hallmark postcard to a well-penned, thoughtful, erudite travel book, such as this?--If so, why did you bother reading or reviewing it?
   
   As Raban remarks to one of his inquisitors, he in not a journalist and this book is about him and his impressions on his, brave or quixotic, depending on how you view it, travel down the Mississippi inspired by dreams of it since a boyhood reading of Mark Twain.
   
   Yes, some of it is sad and melancholy. But often it is laugh-out-loud funny at the author's expense as much as at the expense of any of the people he meets. It is often very bracing and generous; and erudite, like all of Raban's writings.
   
   As a refutation to all the nay-sayers, please cast your eye on the last page of Chapter 10 where he opens the note from the tow captain he has been accompanying:
   
   "I opened it ten minutes later and read it by the light of a city streetlamp, with the paper dimpling in the warm rain.
   
   "I know very little
   of writers, but people
   I do no. You are a
   Good man to ride
   The River with, Jonathan Ravan
   Bob Kelley
   Master M/v Jimmie L.
   Dec. 7, 1979"
   
   It was the one certificate I had most wanted to earn."
   
   Another fantastic book by Raban, the greatest, most thoughtful, introspective, literate travel writer alive today.
   



2. Raban is a very special travel writer and this book, which I read 18 years after he drifted down the Mississippi, warmed me like few others.
   His conversations with such a diverse (but from my experience, typical) set of Americans were classic. I dont believe he is unduly pessimistic but rather realistic and in many ways he captured early , many growing influences that impact American society (and global politics) today.



3. This is the first book I would recommend to anyone who wanted to understand the Mississippi River. It is the story of an Englishman who dreams of seeing the river, from Minneapolis to New Orleans, and so buys a 16' motorboat in which to ride downriver, see interesting cities, boring cities, and judge everyone he sees on the way. Telling a narrative of his journey, Raban takes time to meet the people who make the river work, from lock operators to barge drivers, and gives a clear picture of how the Mississippi lives. He offers colorful, clear descriptions of river features like boils, eddies, wing dams, and tows (which actually push). And still, he takes time out of his trip to campaign for a mayoral candidate.
   
   Nevertheless, in any book of this nature the author becomes the only major character, and I didn't find myself liking Raban the character very much. When I think of traveling the Mississippi, part of that dream is something of a wilderness adventure, but here is the wealthy Raban spending most of his nights in hotels, seeming rather weak and overly afraid of nature and wildlife. And while one's personal relationships during a solo journey like this are sure to be mostly superficial, Raban seems to take a uniformly negative, judgmental view towards the people he meets. Read this book to better understand the river, not mankind.



4. Raban left his wife in England and went to live in the States a number of years ago. He's written a number of great books about America and this is his best. He remarried and lived in Seattle, but is now divorced again. You won't see too many photos of a smiling, happy Raban- but apart from his Passage to Junea and his fiction, everything he's written is first class



5. Cerebral, yet accessable, Jonathan Raban is hard to peg in terms of genre. A book such as Old Glory could be considered travel writing, but such easy classification would fall far short of the mark. He incorporates history, some incredible descriptive prose, and sparse but welcome bits of dry British wit. In fact, his Englishness is part what makes the book so interesting - you see America, warts and all, from the eyes of an outsider. Raban is a stylist, who reveals himself to the reader slowly. I found him to be a very interesting, complex, slightly tortured figure. I will never look at the Mississippi as just some long line on a map ever again. The whirlpools, the logs, the dangers; always moving atop and into the unknown and on a vessel ridiculously undersized for such a trip; a metaphor, certainly. In terms of pure writing style, there cannot be many better than Jonathan Raban. This is a writer, you think, you will come back to.

4 comments about The Most Beautiful Villages of Greece (Most Beautiful Villages).

1. Breathtaking photographs that would convince anyone to travel to these villages. Excellent source of information pertaining to the photos as well.



2. I love the whites and blues of the hillside villages overlooking the Mediterranean. This book is an inspiration for a quality of life that we simply don't have in the US. Simplicity is an art in these wonderful villages and homes we are allowed to explore in this wonderful book. Flowers abound. Life is wonderful. This book is something to treasure until you get your chance to see it for yourself. And in response to that silly editorial review....not everyone is watching that Raymond TV show!



3. This book with its 285 magnificent colour pictures takes the reader on a journey through mainland Greece and its islands. The introduction contains a history of Greece from the earliest times. The book is divided into sections for the mainland, including the Peloponnese: Arkadia, Messinia, Lakonia and The Mani, and Pelion, Epiros and Evritania. The second section covers the islands like the Cyclades, Dodecanese, Ionian, Chios and the Argo -Saronic. A small map covers every section. The book includes a traveller's guide with a map of Greece, sections on festivals and holidays, hotels, restaurants and food, and concludes with a bibliography. This stunning book reveals a glorious picture of Greek village culture in its attractive photographs and engaging text. It is the perfect guide for prospective travellers of for those who wish to familiarize themelves with the charming village life of modern Greece.



4. I saw this book at a friend's home and thought it was perfect for a Christmas gift for my husband. Since we are both of Greek descent and my husband's family was from the island of Halki, I know he will love it. The copy I received from David Starcher is in excellent condition. The pictures are beautiful and the information on each village is very well written and makes me want to visit each one of them. I am thrilled with this book.

2 comments about Fodor's Around Paris with Kids, 3rd Edition: 68 Great Things to Do Together (Around the City with Kids).

1. This book has all the details necessary to make an enjoyable trip with your kids to Paris. Just fabuous. My daughter and I visited Paris and found this guide most helpful. All the good stuff with not all the fluff. There are sections that cover food, playgrounds, and other fun outdoor activities. All in all, I had a wonderful time with my daughter where this guide definately helped with all its ideas. Fudor's is the best, and I hope to see other in the series for trips I may have in the future. So this book is both action and info packed, totally awesome with tons of useful information that I could not remcoment any higher---as in greattttttttttttttttttt.



2. We bought this book for friends who are living now in Paris (and we are French and we know Parish quit well) They have got 3 children and they are thrilled with this book. It gives them plenty ideas to do with the kids. Very easy and good explenation (and it doens't stop with the main attraction!)
   So if you are going to Paris or somebody is going to live there this will be a great book!

5 comments about Hungarian: Lonely Planet Phrasebook.

1. Well, I am a native speaker of Hungarian myself, so I was quite curious to see this book.
   For the most part, I found it very good.
   The main part of the book, the phrases are quite good and natural - it really shows that they had native speakers check it.
   The phrases cover all sorts of issues from shopping to visiting a doctor or even dating and having sex!
   The boxed texts on culture are also quite good and often amusing.
   It has only 12 pages on grammar, but that's quite spot on.
   It does include a box on present tense verb conjugation (taking vowel harmony into account!), and has even devoted a whole page to conjugating four common, but irregular verbs (come, go, eat, drink). Another box conjugates "to be" and yet another shows the suffixes for possessions. I guess it's quite OK for the space.
   The 2000 word dictionary at the back is quite comprehensive.
   A weaker point is the "phonetical transliteration" system used - Hungarian is written fully phonetically in its original form (thankfully also presented here), but the phonetical transliteration provided here for English-speakers may result in blank looks in many cases - you could always choose to ignore it.
   The intro contains useful facts about the history and roots of the language, though the map showing where Hungarian is supposedly spoken might raise some eyebrows in neighbouring countries! ;-)
   The layout is attractive, with color illustrations.
   I even like the cover (different from what is shown on Amazon)- certainly better than a kitshy horseman or traditionally clad dancer could have been! ;-)
   Overall: RECOMMENDED.
   If you are planning to spend any time away from the major cities and tourist areas, you will find it VERY useful!



2. I took one term of Hungarian in college, and I've been to Hungary a few times (but only for a few days each time). So I tried getting this book to relearn some of the language before going back to Hungary this year. It helped me do just that, and I was able to converse with plenty of non-English speaking Hungarians. This is a well-written book.
   
   But how much will this book help you if you don't know Hungarian at all? I'm not so sure. To communicate in a language, I think you really need to hear it spoken and painstakingly learn a bunch of vocabulary words (I like using flashcards to do this). I think it will be more of a help to those who already know something about the language, or at least have access to someone who can help them practice it.
   
   I'm glad I got this book. I recommend it.



3. This pocket book is a must-have for anyone who, like me, has an interest in learning Hungarian or who plans to visit Hungary. Concise & comprehensive, it's a winner. The only drawback is that the 'pronunciation' provided seems to be geared to travelers from the UK &, as such, can cause difficulties for No. Americans. This ancient, beautifully soft, & richly vocalic language is certainly complicated for an English speaker. Along with a Törkenczy grammar any traveler should be speedily humming along in party town Budapest. These people are warm, friendly, & openly admire most anyone willing to tackle their tongue, not to mention the cuisine & the wines!



4. With help from this guidebook I was able to pronounce words off of menus well enough to where servers were pleased with me and eager to help me out. My last phrasebook left people in Poland laughing at me as the phonetic guides led me astray. The problem with this guide is that it was not correct with some of the basic words a traveller would want. Our hotel staff told us that we were using antiquated, formal versions for certain greetings and interactive words, and gave a lesson on what to say (and when) instead. We also found that we got blank stares when we asked about dinner at a resturant. We pointed out the word in the book and the server looked very confused. I guess this book fails to even provide a correct translation for "dinner"...and who knows what else? I was glad to have this book along -- it is basically useful -- but I've got to assume other guides do a better job with getting some of the basics right. If you book at a big hotel you can save a few dollars by getting a free, accurate lesson from the staffers, and forgetting this guide.



5. I love this book. It's small enough to just throw in your bag and go when you are exploring a new city. Since moving to Budapest, it has come in handy several times over - and the pronunciation is superb! It has every helpful phrase you need when traveling abroad!
   
   I think this book could be used for travelers of any age - though the "romance" section may be limited to the younger population.
   
   One thing I would like to see in future publications though is maybe a map of the city - or at least a map of the metro.
   
   I would buy this book - and others from the series - without hesitation in the future. I am a huge fan of Lonely Planet products so having this book in my library is just the icing on the cake!

5 comments about Travels of Marco Polo (Signet Classics).

1. Imagine a very boring person went through something fascinating. This person came up to you, started to talk about this incredible journey of theirs, but talking in this monotonous voice without changing pitch or showing excitement at any moment.
   
   That's essentially what "Travels of Marco Polo" is. It's an INCREDIBLY interesting book and a fascinating tale, but can it possible be said in a more dry and flat way? There is no energetic spark that makes this adventure jump off the page. Perhaps this is due to the times, but I suspect the translation is a bit literal and bland as well. The writing never changes tone, even in parts that are clearly exciting and amazing. All the facts are there, but the reader is forced to put too much energy just to make it interesting.
   
   Marco Polo had a most fascinating journey. Any history buff should snatch this book off the shelves (unless they decide to read the even longer, more annoying records that I'm sure can be found floating around), and anyone interesting in Marco Polo should as well. It may be dull at times, but it's still incredible, fascinating, and a riveting tale.
   
   Recommended to heavier, more able readers.



2. It has been a pleasure to revisit the travels of Marco Polo. I was transfixed by these stories of travel and adventure when I was a child, and never questioned the veracity of the narrative. I know today that the narrative has been corrupted over the centuries, that "The Travels" can scarcely be used as an historical reference, and that a more tantalizing and complete manuscript has probably been lost to the ages. Still, there are glimpses and insights within the narrative that could only have come from first-hand experience, and these describe an enormous, exotic world that titillates even today, while readers in the 13th and 14th centuries must have been enthralled.
   
   I was most keen this time around to Polo's descriptions of the cultures and wildlife he encountered, of the whales and lions and leopards and bears--he even describes a white bear, and the people who hunted it were surely of the group often called Eskimos. He describes dog-sledding in the far north and the cannibalistic practices of the people of Java far to the south, both of which are extant in our current era. There are also the fascinating observations of the Mongol Empire, of that group of nomadic people who somehow rose up, like an event in an Isaac Asimov novel, to conquer much of the known world.
   
   Somewhat depressingly, though, are Polo's observations of the tensions that existed between the Islamic and Christian worlds, tensions rooted in the competition for hegemony over trade in the Far East. Seven hundred years later, these tensions are still acting themselves out.
   
   This translation by Ronald Latham from 1958 includes an introduction that puts Marco Polo's life in context with events and includes footnotes to help the reader make sense of the myriad manuscripts that make up the travels of Marco Polo. This is a somewhat dry read; even Latham comments on the paucity of skill employed by Polo's chronicler. Once I put my mind in context with the narrative, however, I was able to roll with the repetition and sycophancy and enjoy the text.



3. I believe I got what I paid for. There were much better books of great detail, but they cost much more. I would suggest saving your money until you can buy a much more comprehensive book. The reading and information provided in the book was light and was gone over very fast. I question some of the facts contained there in.



4. Marco Polo purportedly spent 17 years travelling to the courts of Kublai Khan and, as an emissary for Kublai Khan, then throughout the Far East. Whether it actually happened or not is up for debate. I went into this text with an open mindset and have accepted that Marco Polo did indeed go on this trip with his father and uncle, but not to the extent as surmised. Instead he travelled and added stories he collected from traders and others to fill in gaps or points of interest to him. The book is broken into four sections now. Part One is his trip to the Great Khan's courts in Cathay (China). Part Two is his travels throughout the provinces of Cathay. Part Three concerns going to Japan, Southern India, and the Islands of the Indian Sea (Java, etc). Part Four is travelling into the 'northern countries' (Russia, etc).
   
   In general, Polo gives very brief descriptions of most regions, accounting for their religious beliefs, money used, fealty to the Great Khan Kublai. There's some intriguing customs (visitors will be taken into a home and the man of the house leaves until they are gone but the visitor has full access to the household including the wives, daughters, sisters, nieces), talks of cannibalism, dress, unfamiliar animals they encountered, and contributes to the whole messy history of Prestor John. It does get repetitive and dry after a while. Polo's talk of Kublai Khan is almost obsessive and he was obviously completely enamoured of this new culture. Overall, it was fascinating to read although I had to push myself through some parts due to repetitive descriptions. Any history buff should read this story about one of the purported most well-travelled explorers ever, not to mention he was possibly the biggest best-selling authors before the printing press was invented.



5. 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.

5 comments about Romania & Moldova (Lonely Planet Travel Guides).

1. I have exchanged emails with Leif, the book's co-author. While this book is generally useful and the authors have done a decent job, my email exchange with Leif only reinforced my impression that the authors were a little sloppy (and perhaps rushed?) when writing this book.
   
   I have some issues with this book, but to keep this review short, I will highlight my major complaint dealing with cultural relevance. This is a very important topic for any travel guide. Slobozia is a town where a Romanian billionaire built a lifesize replica of the 'Dallas' set, as well as some other crazy stuff like a junior Eiffel Tower. Slobozia was completely overlooked by LP. We only found out the day we left Romania, and were thus disappointed at not being able to visit. When I asked Leif about the oversight, he first stated it wasn't within his region to explore. This is wrong, because Slobozia is in Wallachia (which he was responsible for reviewing) and showed ignorance of the region on his part. He also said it probably wasn't included because it wasn't culturally relevant. This raises an important question: How do the authors decide if something is culturally relevant? The book spends several paragraphs on Borat, Madonna, South Park, and Michael Jackson. Are these more culturally relevant than a junior Eiffel Tower? This question has far-reaching consequences, including food, arts, history, language, and politics. Why does Leif omit Dallas but include Borat?
   
   We expect a travel guide to be sensitive to cultural relevance, not to selectively (and apparently randomly) omit certain cultural elements (no matter how tacky, in the case of Slobozia). My exchange with Leif raised important questions about cultural relevance, and reinforced my already mediocre opinion of this book. As a result, next time I will carefully research travel books rather than merely rely on the LP brand name.



2. Some of the reviewers here are focusing on tiny problems with what is a changing, tricky country to visit. And missing what is overall a great asset to a trip there. I mean, if you really want to go all the way to Romania to see an excluded copy of a 70s/80s American TV show set, then maybe you really don't need to be traveling all the way to Europe anyway!
   
   I had a great time using this guide through Bucharest, Wallachia and Transylvania. It was all I needed to gauge where to go, where to stay and how to get around. Sure I found a few great restaurants not included here, and disagreed with a review or two, but isn't that the point of traveling on your own?



3. I bought this book in 2007 for my 2008 trip to Romania. I was impressed. I was on this trip with my girlfriend who is a native Romanian and live in Romania. Still, the book showed us stuff she wasn't aware of. And in the cities outside Bucharest the book was really specific and perfect. If you follow what is written in this book, you will enjoy this trip 100% and will be using your time effciently.
   I have to admit, this book saved us when we were stuck in Sibiu trying to figure out how to go to the next city. Also is has very accurate maps..



4. This book was useful information-wise in visiting Bucuresti and Transylvania. However, I found the overall language of the book shallow and subtly pejorative and insulting to the local people of Romania, and I am surprised that Lonely Planet, a respected publisher of worldwide guides, has published this book as is. A big part of traveling is to show respect for the other culture and learn from it (especially spiritually). Obviously a guide also needs to be realistic and show the negative sides as well, but I disagree with the author's subtly suggested attitudes. I realize that there are two authors, I am only referring to the section I used, the one on Bucuresti and Transylvania.
   
   I want to stress that I am NOT Romanian. Suffice it to say that I showed the book to a very educated and well-traveled Romanian friend who was very unhappy with the first random sentence they saw.
   
   In conclusion, Romania is a great place that one should visit, but I wouldn't take this guide...



5. While the books is more like a directory than a guide, I am glad I purchased the Rough Guide to Romania as a backup.
   
   Was extremely disappointed that some guides in Romania, Moldavia in particular, use the Lonely planet name as a certificate or guarantee, to find out that these were extremely unqualified and rude individuals.
   Hint: be skeptical about these tour guides, and check www.tripadvisor.com reviews!
   
   Lately, I have been using the LP + Eyewitnees Travel guides which offer rich photographic material. Sorry no Romania yet.
   
   In this case I would say, buy the Rough Guide + the National Geo Guide and enjoy Romania.

5 comments about Streetwise Brussels Map - Laminated City Street Map of Brussels, Belgium - with integrated metro map including tram lines and stations.

1. Came in very handy during my 10 days in Brussels. Durable and quick to fold/unfold. Shows all the little streets, main tourist sites and hotels, although the small print can be hard to read. Includes a street index. Street names are in French only, contrary to what the previous reviewer said, but that's adequate.
   
   Shows Metro stations as color-coded dots but doesn't explicitly show the lines connecting them, so I had to refer to a transit map initially to be certain how the Metro lines ran. However, Brussels' transit network is complex enough that you will need to carry a separate transit map anyway if you plan to use the trams or buses as well as the Metro.
   
   The city tourist office gives out a free map of the city center that is actually easier on the eyes, but lacks a street index and doesn't show Metro stations.



2. this is one of the worst maps i have ever read. the streets are printed so small it is near impossible to read, and the street index is impossible to use due to the fact that some of the streets are listed by the article and others by the first word. give yourself a break and just pick up a free map at any of the numerous tourist information boards located around the city, most notably in grand place. the only reason to get this map is if you are going to be traveling in the brussels suburbs, where the free maps do not cover.
   
   oh, and one more thing. the easiest way to get around brussels is through their easy and free subway system. this map does not have any of the stops on it, as opposed to any of the free maps.



3. This book was received in short order, in great condition, and is being used! The information may not be 2007 but for my purposes it is perfect. I will definitely order from this site again. Lorna Auld



4. the free map given out by the tourist office is far better--much
   easier to read



5. Very nice map, especially in rainy London. Wish it were a little bigger, or wish the title box was a little smaller.

3 comments about Frommer's Croatia (Frommer's Complete).

1. The book was very imformative and helpful. I referred back to it daily on my trip.



2. There are not too many Croatia guide books out there that are up-to-date. Most of the restaurant information and hotel information was accurate. There were a few places that no longer existed (this is a May 2006 version and I was in Croatia in October 2006). My biggest complaint about this book was the lack of maps. There were no good city maps to help you get around. If you want some basic information about Croatia and what to see this is a good guide. But if you need more help in selecting places to stay, what to eat, how to get there and what you are looking at this isn't the guide book for you.



3. I purchased four books on Croatia for our trip, and Frommer's was far and away the very best of the four. Accurate, practical information.