1 comments about Munich: City of the Arts.

1. This is a lovely book with inspiring photographs, complemented with relevant and well-researched text. For anyone who has visited Munich or is about to, you will cherish this book. Well worth the price!

No comments about Germany: Architecture, Interiors, Landscape, Gardens.

3 comments about Letters Back to Ancient China.

1. The story of a tenth-century Mandarin who travels through time to Germany in the 1980s, Rosendorfer's book is told as a series of letters to a friend back home. At heart, this book is an attempt to examine the fundamental questions of how our lives are affected by progress. For the most part, it succeeds. This book is quite humorous, and a highly enjoyable reading experience. Recommened.



2. A man from ancient China purposely travels through time (and accidentally travels through space) to modern-day Munich. Initally he assumes that the strange beasts we all know as cars have gained power over the human population. He is disgusted by the way the Germans, who he assumes are the distant relatives of the Chinese people of his society (since he is initially unaware of his change in location), look with their large, protruding noses and round eyes. He is astonished that they have forgotten how to speak the language of man. They just seem to make gruff noises. Lots of cultural and social differences are showcased in this book in a humorous manner. At one point his German friend explains to him why it's unacceptable in German society to have two girlfriends. This is a very interesting and funny read which I highly recommend.



3. The book arrived on time, in good shape. The plot worked better than I thought it might. Although originally written in German, it translated well in both terms of language and as a plot device. Although a bit forced (ancient Chinese technology managing time travel), the plot allows for a suprisingly effective outsider's evaluation of late 20th century Western life--with all of its warts. Written in such a manner as not to seem an affectation, the author successfully made me think of 'modern' life outside the box. The only detraction is, or course, the clumsy and unexplained manner in which the main character is magically tranported in a linear fashion back and forth through time.

1 comments about Jiffy Travel Pack German (Book & Cassette Edition).

1. I carried this little book with me when I traveled Germany last year. It was very helpful, all the more so because of the tape.

1 comments about Ending in Ice: The Revolutionary Idea and Tragic Expedition of Alfred Wegener.

1. "Doesn't the east coast of South America fit exactly against the west coast of Africa, as if they had once been joined? This is an idea I'll have to pursue." So wrote Alfred Wegener in 1910 to his future wife.
   
   Pursue the idea Wegener did, in four major books and a number of lectures. (See especially the fourth edition: The Origin of Continents and Oceans.) Wegener's thesis: fossil and geological evidence clearly showed the continents were once connected, the current theory was based on land bridges that sank into the ocean, these bridges would have had to float up again since they were denser than the ocean floors, and the only logical alternative was that the continents themselves had been joined and had since drifted apart.
   
   Leading scientists were highly skeptical:
   
   "Utter, damned rot!" "If we are to believe this hypothesis, we must forget everything we have learned in the last 70 years and start all over again." Anyone who "valued his reputation for scientific sanity" would never dare support such a theory. The American Petroleum Society held a conference to demolish the theory. The oceanic crust was too firm for the continents "simply to plow through".
   
   Roger M. McCoy has written a wonderful biography describing Wegener's development of his theory of continental drift, and its triumphant acceptance 30 years after his death. McCoy also describes the accomplishments of Else Wegener in the years after Wegener's death (she died in 1992 at the age of 100). She wrote about her husband's work, including a book of his "diaries, letters and her own memories".
   
   McCoy also describes Wegener's accomplishments in climatology and ice age studies, in particular his four expeditions to the Greenland icecap to gather data about climate variations. Wegener was a record-holding balloonist, and he pioneered the use of weather balloons to track air masses.
   
   In 1912, his four-man expedition "escaped death only by a miracle" while climbing a suddenly calving glacier on the northeast coast of Greenland, then became the first to overwinter on the ice cap. The following spring, they made the longest crossing of the Greenland ice sheet, a traverse of 750 miles. His objective was scientific knowledge; he was the first to trace storm tracks over the ice cap.
   
   On his fourth trip, Wegener led a large group of scientists and technicians to Greenland in 1930. Wegener planned to establish three observation posts at latitude 71 degrees North, one on the western edge of the ice, one on the eastern edge, and one at mid-ice. The expedition went badly from the beginning (McCoy's descriptions have a wonderfully suspenseful character), and the party was over two months late in establishing the mid-ice camp, "Eismitte," on July 30. Eismitte was 250 miles inland at an elevation of 9,850 feet. (The eastern station was established later, by a separate party that landed on the east coast.)
   
   By mid-September, only a small portion of the supplies necessary for Eismitte had arrived. Wegener had written his brother about his "obligation to be a hero." On September 21 Wegener led a 15-dogsled run to relieve Eismitte. Bad weather resulted in the group covering only 38.5 miles in a week; Wegener wrote it was now "a matter of life and death" for his friends at Eismitte. Wegener and two companions continued on for another 32 days, and found that Georgi and Sorge, the two scientists stationed there, had been able to dig an ice cave for shelter and had enough supplies for the winter. Wegener's relief trip had been unnecessary.
   
   Wegener "looked as fresh, happy and fit as if he had just been for a walk. He was fired with enthusiasm and ready to tackle anything." Rasmus Villumsen, the 22-year-old Greenlander who had accompanied them, was also in good shape. On November 1, the group celebrated Wegener's 50th birthday. Supplies were short so Wegener and Villumsen with the wind now at their backs set off to return to base camp. Neither man survived the journey.
   
   McCoy tells the entire story of Wegener's life in clear language. One cannot help but be impressed with Wegener's dedication to science and to his wonderful accomplishments. Alfred Wegener has found the biographer he deserves.
   
   
   Robert C. Ross 2008

No comments about The Rough Guide Map to Germany (Rough Guide Country/Region Map).

1 comments about Knopf MapGuide: Munich (Knopf Mapguides).

1. This Knopf map guide was the BEST money I've spent in a long time! We brought another "top ten" guide with us on our trip to Munich, but found ourselves returning to this guide over and over. The full color maps were easy to use and so informative! From "sights to see", subway stops and restaurant listings, the suggestions in the guide were beyond fantastic!
   On the last day of our trip we were in a quiet part of town without a restaurant in sight. The guide suggested an Italian cafe a few blocks away and it ended up being the best time we had on the whole trip. We never would have gone there had it not been for the guide.
   Also, my husband and I are vegetarian and the guide even listed a few vegetarian restaurants which was VERY helpful when traveling in Germany (and delicious!). Now that we're back from the trip, we still look back at the guide to remind us of all the great fun we had. Can't wait for our next trip... and our next Knopf Guide!

No comments about Memoirs of Hector Berlioz, from 1803 to 1865, comprising his travels in Germany, Italy, Russia, and England..

No comments about AAA Travel Snapshots - Germany (Aaa Travel Snapshot).

2 comments about Munich & Bavaria (Regional Guide).

1. I really like the set up of Lonely Planets Best Of travel guides. Couldn't find one for this area so tried this book. All the info is in this guide, but is difficult and time consuming to find.



2. The book has all the updated information on Munich.
   Helpful hints for first time travers.