3 comments about The Traveler's Key to Ancient Greece, New Edition: A Guide to Sacred Places.

1. The Traveler's Key To Ancient Greece: A Guide To Sacred Places is the ideal guidebook for exploring sacred locations that once were home to the secret mysteries at Eleusis, the oracle at Delphi, the Labyrinths of Knossos, the vast theater and healing center at Epidauros, the perfect symmetry of the Parthenon, and more! This unique and very special travel guide offers informative and expert commentary on the Hellenic world's palace and temple cultures and sites; Greek drama, philosophy, art, and sculpture; sacred geometry and architecture; and gallery collections in three major museums. Whether you are an armchair explorer or plan to be an on-site visitor, The Traveler's Key To Ancient Greece is a compelling, informative, superbly written and flawlessly produced introduction to understanding as well as visiting these sacred sites of antiquity.



2. This book is an excellent starting point for
   anyone remotely interested in the ancient Greeks --
   not merely the most famous ones of the 6th and
   5th centuries B.C. Here interweave myth,
   mystery, knowledge, mysticism (Pythagorean and
   Orphic introductions), plus excellent explanations
   of attributes and psychological aspects related
   to the gods.
   [here is a section from the "Introduction"]
   Each site has its "myth," a term which means
   a story of the life of a place, human being, or
   god. All myths have meaning, and the task has
   been to translate the myth into the myth-language
   of our own era. For the most part, the language
   of our mythology is the language of psychology.
   And of course there are several styles of
   psychological language: Jungian, Freudian, Adlerian,
   and so on. In this case, the language goes back
   to Plato and has been brought to the present
   idiom through the work of Paul Diel, the late
   Austrian psychologist.
   Plato, the great voice of the journey of the
   human soul, was the first Western writer to speak
   of the idea of spiritual development, the idea
   that a human being might lead his life in such a
   way as to AWAKEN [my caps] within himself the
   divine life. The possibility of such a discovery
   makes Plato's works a psychology, or a study of
   human behavior in the physical, intellectual,
   and spiritual sense. Plato was indebted to the
   voices of his own culture and his predecessors in
   philosophy, both Eastern and Western [Orpheus;
   Pythagoras]. These fragments from the past form
   a living mythology which still has power to
   transform lives. -- Richard G. Geldard.
   *The Traveler's Key to Ancient Greece.* (1989).
   * * * * * * * * *



3. If your intention in Greece is to explore the wonders of the ancients, this is the best book to take. Of the several books I had with me, it was the most complete, detailed, informative and enjoyable--it was the one I came to trust and refer to the most often. Small enough to stuff into a pocket, it allows you to sit at the sites and read while looking at the ruins. The facts and suppostions were generally supported by other sources, so being able to rely on its accuracy is another plus.

No comments about Knopf MapGuide: Dubrovnik (Knopf Mapguides).

1 comments about Mediterranean Handbook: Ferry Routes, Islands and Ports.

1. I found this book quite by luck, hoping the title would truly indicate its contents. I have been wanting to plan a trip of travel across the Mediterranean from port to port, and this book is a splendid start for such a venture. Also, it is sufficiently rigorous and detailed-- probably because the author is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society.

3 comments about Crete (Literary Travel).

1. There is an interesting paragraph where Unsworth talks about his approach to writing historical fiction.



2. I had thought that the advent of film and television had banished this genre from the book stores. After all, why read about a place when you can turn on the travel channel and see it in living color? Well, for one reason, it's reading! But, I'll try not to climb up on my soapbox. Unsworth does a wonderful job of presenting a textual picture of the people, culture and history of this cradle of civilization. His insights on travels to the scenic countryside, tourist Mecas and ruins of past civilizations on this Mediterranean island provide the reader with more than just pictures; he provides us with the flavors and smells, awakening the senses of our imagination more than any passive media presentation.
   
   The bottom line is that this is not an exhaustive treatment of the history, geography or culture of Crete, nor is it a picture book; it is a throwback to a time when travel was not the commodity of the everyday man, a time when we lived vicariously through the likes of Hemmingway and Stevenson. If all you want is to see beautiful scenery, there are any number of picture books or web sites to entertain you, but if you want to experience Crete without the trip, you will want to read this book.
   P-)



3. I was surprised and pleased to find a new Unsworth book- particularly since I am planning a trip to Greece this summer. I have perused several travel guides, but this book stands out, despite its brevity (or perhaps on account of it).
   
   Unsworth's glimpse at Crete is by no means comprehensive, but fills in the gaps that he proposes- What kind of place Crete is, some interesting things to see there, and an outline of his tour with his wife Aira. His style is unashamedly first-person reflective, and he gives a fair and balanced account of the island which becomes saturated by tourists each summer. Barry has whet my appetite for visiting this island without overwhelming me with his own ideas and opinions. Do not look for a detailed history; instead look for an impressionistic accounting of the caves, gorges, churches and urban labyrinths of Crete. Fans of Unsworth and thoughtful travellers will enjoy this novella immensely.

1 comments about Frommer's Athens Past & Present (Frommer's Athens Past & Present).

1. The before and after pictures are an excellent resource when trying to visualize the ancient culture as it might have been!
   
   I recently went on vacation to Italy and Greece and focused my souveneir shopping on these books. I had little problem in Italy but in Greece they tended to be overpriced. I was happy to find my theory true, that I would almost certainly find it on Amazon, and saved myself almost $10. The exact same book was arround 25 depending on your bargaining skills!

5 comments about Knopf MapGuide: New York (Knopf Mapguides).

1. I have bought several editions of this handy little guide over the years and am now giving one to all the guests at my daughter's New York wedding. It is very easy to use and has great suggestions for dining, sight-seeing etc. with very simple sections for each area of the city. I call it my New York bible.



2. I went to New York for the first time for two weeks. This map is great. It's small, easy to carry, and easy to read. You won't feel so obvious if you have to pull it out on the street corner or on the subway. It was so much better than the full size map that I got from the hotel. Beware, it only covers Manhattan. So if you have to travel to the outer boroughs (Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Queens) you'll need a different map. However, since all the siteseeing, shopping, and eating I wanted to do was located in Manhattan, it was the only map I needed.



3. The first time I went to New York, my mom bought this for our trip. It's been a life saver since. The maps are very detailed but small enough to carry with you without looking obnoxious. The subway map is detailed as well and when you use them with your sectioned maps, it completes the whole picture. This is a must have especially for first time visitors as the maps are very easy to read. I'm going on my third trip in two months and had to pick up another copy of this, as I can't seem to find my older one. I couldn't imagine a trip to NYC without it!



4. This is the most ergonomically designed useful city guide I've seen.
   100 percent portable, no batteries, internet connection and user friendly.



5. 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 . Great recommends for food I am a shopper.. Absolutely great & unusual shops ..None of the bad tourist gear only the styling gear.. .I am familiar w/ New York but I still use this guide. This is the one I get around with...I do not go anywhere without this guide if there is one available for the destination Im will be traveling to....

No comments about The Ionian Islands: Corfu, Cephalonia, Ithaka and Beyond.

1 comments about National Geographic Traveler: Greece (National Geographic Traveler).

1. This book has wonderful pictures, which is why I bought it. It doesn't have a lot of practical information about hotels and such, but it will give you ideas about what you'd enjoy seeing, then you can go to the Rough Guide or something for the nuts and bolts.

No comments about Pausanias: Travel Writing in Ancient Greece (Classical Literature and Society Series) (Classical Literature and Society).

No comments about Corfu Travel Pack (Globetrotter Travel Packs).