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Sicilian Splendors: Discovering the Secret Places That Speak to the Heart
by John Keahey"A wondrously joyous account of travel as it should be." –Publishers WeeklyA travel narrative that focuses on Sicily's little-known regions, from the author of Seeking Sicily and Hidden Tuscany.From Palermo to Castiglione di Sicilia to Alimena, Sicily holds great secrets from the past and unspoken promises. Tradition, in the form of festivals, the written word, photographs, and song, reverberates through village walls. Now, slowly shaking itself free of the Mafia, Sicily is opening itself up to visitors in ways it never has before.Sicilian Splendors explores the history, politics, food, Mafia, and people which John Keahey encounters throughout his travels during his return to Sicily. Through conversing with natives and immersing himself in culture, Keahey illustrates a brand new Sicily no one has ever talked about before. Villagers, eager to welcome tourism and impart awareness of their cultural background, greet Keahey for meals and drink and walk him through their winding streets. They share stories of well-known writers, such as Maria Messina, who have found inspiration in Sicily’s villages. Keahey’s never-ending curiosity as a traveler shines light on Sicily’s mythical mysteries and portrays the island not only through his eyes but also through Sicily’s heart.This picturesque travel memoir navigates Sicily today and seeks to understand Sicily’s past. In lyrical prose and vivid dialect, Keahey paints images of the island’s villages, people, and culture with careful strokes and a meticulously even hand. Keahey not only serves as a guide through the marvel of Sicily’s identity, but he also looks deeply into Sicily’s soul.
Sicily: The Time Traveler's Guide (The Time Traveler's Guide)
by Jacqueline Alio Louis MendolaIf you want more information about Sicily's long history than what's included in your otherwise-useful guidebook, but you don't want to read a 600-page history tome that ignores the places you would like to see, this book is for you. It will take you from seeing to understanding.Written by two of Sicily's leading historians, this unique guide emphasizes not only the archeology and sights of Sicily but the history behind these fascinating places, including many "secret" details unknown to most travel writers. The book presents a general history of Sicily and a detailed timeline covering three millennia, along with chapters dedicated to things to see in the island's cities and towns.There are chapters on sights, natural attractions (like Mount Etna), food and wine, and other topics. A number of maps and charts are included. The text mentions museums and the main points of interest of each place described. The book's focus is always those places that elicit the greatest curiosity among the majority of visitors. Localities of lesser interest are omitted while the authors concentrate on Erice, Siracusa, Cefalù and other cities known for their history and monuments, and of course archeological sites like Segesta, Agrigento, Selinunte and Himera. They mention a few of the more impressive castles, such as Caccamo, and Baroque jewels like Noto and Ragusa. Palermo and Monreale get their share of attention.Since its focus is history and culture, this guide doesn't present information about hotels, beaches, restaurants and transportation. Its purpose is to complement the guides that offer those details by "completing the picture" of the world's most conquered island for readers seeking more history than what is found in the typical guidebook.Most of this information is drawn from the authors' earlier books and a website (Best of Sicily) for which they have written many articles over the years. In fact, the vast readership of that website, online since 1999, has made Alio and Mendola Sicily's most popular historians, with millions of readers during the last two decades. In scholarly circles, they are called upon to peer review papers for publication in academic journals and several of their books have been used in university courses.Sicily: The Time Traveler's Guide follows the authors' earlier book in this series dedicated to Norman-Arab sites in Palermo, Monreale and Cefalù, as well as their book, The Peoples of Sicily, a popular ethnography. Jackie Alio has written groundbreaking biographies of the medieval queens of Sicily while Lou Mendola wrote a history of the Kingdom of Sicily, among other books. A few of those books, being based on original research, were "firsts" in their fields of study.This is accurate history without the clichés found in some books. Whether they're discussing the Punic Wars, the Sicilian Vespers or Sicilian literature, the authors bring you an understanding of the story behind the stories. Their narratives are captivating yet informative. This book is the extra step for thinking travelers seeking to take their experience to the next level of knowledge.Some travel writers are well-informed about history, but this book is the work of scholars based in Sicily. The information it presents, and the way it is presented, makes this convenient guide a highly insightful source for your discovery of Sicily. As an ebook, it's easy to take with you to read along the way.In print, this book would run to more than 500 pages. In this format, it fits in your pocket or purse. Traveling back in time was never so simple.
The Sickness
by Alberto Barrera TyszkaErnesto Durán is convinced he is sick. It becomes an obsession far exceeding hypochondria, and when Dr Andrés Miranda gives up responding to his letters and e-mails, Durán resolves to stalk him. The fixation has its own creeping effect on Karina, Miranda's lonely secretary, who cannot resist becoming involved. Meanwhile, Dr Miranda has troubles of his own: he has diagnosed his father's illness, but cannot summon the courage to tell him. In trying to find the perfect opportunity to break the news gently, Miranda ensures only that their relationship descends into farce.Profound and philosophical, The Sickness is a tender and intimate celebration of life's little absurdities and unlikely alliances.
Sideswiped: Off the Map 2 (Off the Map #2)
by Lia RileyIt was only meant to last the summer . . .Talia Stolfi has seen more than her share of loss in her twenty-one years. But then fate brought her Bran Lockhart, and her dark world was suddenly and spectacularly illuminated. So if being with Bran means leaving her colourless NorCal life for rugged and wild Australia, then that's what she'll do. But as much as Talia longs to give herself over completely to a new beginning, the fears of her past are still lurking in the shadows.Bran Lockhart knows that living without the beautiful girl who stole his heart will be torment, so he'll take whatever time with her he can. But even though she has packed up her life in California and is back in his arms for the time being, she can't stay forever. And the remaining time they have together is ticking by way too fast. Though fate seems determined to tear them apart, they won't give up without a fight-because while time may have limits, their love is infinite . . .Book #2 in the OFF THE MAP seriesPraise for Lia Riley:'Upside Down gave me all the feels. Romantic and poignant, the journey of love and acceptance lingers long after the book is closed' Jennifer L. Armentrout/J. Lynn, #1 New York Times bestselling author'Must read romance . . . refreshing and heartfelt New Adult contemporary romance' USA Today'Addictively readable' Booklist (starred review)'Riley writes a captivating story from beginning to breathtaking end' Publishers Weekly starred review'Fresh, sexy, and romantic. I cannot wait for the next book' Kristen Callihan, bestselling author'Fast paced, electric and sweetly emotional!' Tracy Wolff, New York Times bestselling author'Where to even start with this book? Beautifully written, Australia, hot surfer Bran, unique heroine Talia. Yep, it's all just a whole lot of awesome. Loved it!' Cindi Madsen, USA Today bestselling author'A rich setting and utterly romantic . . . I absolutely loved it!' Melissa West, author of Pieces of Olivia'Upside Down is a brilliantly-written New Adult romance that transported me to another country. With vivid imagery and rich characterisations, I was completely smitten with the love story of Bran and Talia. I cannot wait for the rest of their story!' Megan Erickson, author of Make it Count
Sidewalk City: Remapping Public Space in Ho Chi Minh City
by Annette Miae KimFor most, the term public space conjures up images of large, open areas: community centers for meetings and social events; the ancient Greek agora for political debates; green parks for festivals and recreation. In many of the world s major cities, however, public spaces like these are not a part of the everyday lives of the public. Rather, business and social lives have always been conducted along main roads and sidewalks. With increasing urban growth and density, primarily from migration and immigration, rights to the sidewalk are being hotly contested among pedestrians, street vendors, property owners, tourists, and governments around the world. With"Sidewalk City," Annette Miae Kim provides the first multidisciplinary case study of sidewalks in a distinctive geographical area. She focuses on Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a rapidly growing and evolving city that throughout its history, her multicultural residents have built up alternative legitimacies and norms about how the sidewalk should be used. Based on fieldwork over 15 years, Kim developed methods of spatial ethnography to overcome habitual seeing, and recorded both the spatial patterns and the social relations of how the city s vibrant sidewalk life is practiced. In "Sidewalk City," she transforms this data into an imaginative array of maps, progressing through a primer of critical cartography, to unveil new insights about the importance and potential of this quotidian public space. This richly illustrated and fascinating study of Ho Chi Minh City s sidewalks shows us that it is possible to have an aesthetic sidewalk life that is inclusive of multiple publics aspirations and livelihoods, particularly those of migrant vendors. "
Sidewalks
by Cees Nooteboom Valeria Luiselli Christina Macsweeney"Valeria Luiselli is a writer of formidable talent, destined to be an important voice in Latin American letters. Her vision and language are precise, and the power of her intellect is in evidence on every page."--Daniel Alarcón"I'm completely captivated by the beauty of the paragraphs, the elegance of the prose, the joy in the written word, and the literary sense of this author."--Enrique Vilas-MatasValeria Luiselli is an evening cyclist; a literary tourist in Venice, searching for Joseph Brodsky's tomb; an excavator of her own artifacts, unpacking from a move. In essays that are as companionable as they are ambitious, she uses the city to exercise a roving, meandering intelligence, seeking out the questions embedded in our human landscapes.Valeria Luiselli was born in Mexico City in 1983 and grew up in South Africa. Her novel and essays have been translated into many languages and her work has appeared in publications including the New York Times, Granta, and McSweeney's. Some of her recent projects include a ballet performed by the New York City Ballet in Lincoln Center; a pedestrian sound installation for the Serpentine Gallery in London; and a novella in installments for workers in a juice factory in Mexico. She lives in New York City.
Sidney (Images of America)
by Erin Andrews Sidney Historical AssociationNestled in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, Sidney has hummed with economic and industrial activity since its founding by Rev. William Johnston in 1772. Over the years, the town has been home to a silk mill, glassworks, cheese factory, car factory, and many other businesses. Notable figures such as New York State Police captain Daniel Fox, actor Tom Mix, newspaper editor Arthur Bird, and even Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt have lived in or spent time in the town. Today Sidney's civic buildings, places of worship, recreational haunts, and transportation routes continue to reflect the town's long, dynamic history. Traced within the pages of this book, a poignant collection of historical photographs chronicles the town's evolution through the 19th and 20th centuries, and on through the devastating flood of 2006.
Sidney (Images of America)
by Mondak Heritage Center Leann Pelvit Kim SimmondsPositioned just 10 miles west of the North Dakota border, and nestled against the Yellowstone River in the south, Sidney, Montana, has a rich history filled with hearty pioneers who settled in the area starting in the 1870s. Through hard work, and in both good times and bad, those pioneers managed to establish themselves and create a new culture filled with industrious, tireless homesteaders. From the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project, which made agriculture a viable commodity in the area, to widespread ranching, and finally to the boom-and-bust world of black gold in the Bakken, Sidney soon boasted a strong economy fueled by fertile land and hardworking people. Schools, churches, and many businesses were built, giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to prosper in the region. Featured here in over 200 vintage photographs is the history of this pioneer town, once boasted as the "Metropolis of the Lower Yellowstone Valley."
Siena: City of Secrets
by Jane TylusJane Tylus s "Siena" is a compelling and intimate portrait of this most secretive of cities, often overlooked by travelers to Italy. Cultural history, intellectual memoir, travelogue, and guidebook, it takes the reader on a quest of discovery through the well- and not-so-well-traveled roads and alleys of a town both medieval and modern. As Tylus leads us through the city, she shares her passion for Siena in novelistic prose, while never losing sight of the historical complexities that have made Siena one of the most fascinating and beautiful towns in Europe. Today, Siena can appear on the surface standoffish and old-fashioned, especially when compared to its larger, flashier cousins Rome and Florence. But first impressions wear away as we learn from Tylus that Siena was an innovator among the cities of Italy: the first to legislate the building and maintenance of its streets, the first to publicly fund its university, the first to institute a municipal bank, and even the first to ban automobile traffic from its city center. We learn about Siena s great artistic and architectural past, hidden behind centuries of painting and rebuilding, and about the distinctive characters of its different neighborhoods, exemplified in the Palio, the highly competitive horserace that takes place twice a year in the city s main piazza and that serves as both a dividing and a uniting force for the Sienese. Throughout we are guided by the assured voice of a seasoned scholar with a gift for spinning a good story and an eye for the telling detail, whether we are traveling Siena s modern highways, exploring its underground tunnels, tracking the city s financial history, or celebrating giants of painting like Simone Martini or giants of the arena, Siena s former Serie A soccer team. A practical and engaging guide for tourists and armchair travelers alike, "Siena" is a testament to the powers of community and resilience in a place that is not quite as timeless and serene as it may at first appear. "
Sierra Birds: A Hiker's Guide
by John Muir LawsThe beginner’s birding book that covers species found in the Sierra Nevada—from the author of The Law’s Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling.As a naturalist managing the field studies program at the California Academy of Sciences, John Muir Laws noticed that novice birders often distinguish birds by color and size rather than species. This inspired him to create Sierra Birds: A Hiker’s Guide, a unique book that assumes no prior birding knowledge on the part of the reader. Color-coded keys eliminate the time-consuming frustration of thumbing randomly through a guide, and a cross-index is also included for more advanced birders. All this in a format that is simply organized and perfect to read on a smartphone or tablet. A first-rate naturalist, Laws is also an accomplished artist. His illustrations are lively, colorful, and accurate, and drawn to represent species in the manner in which one generally sees them in the field.Praise for John Muir Laws“For those of us who live in California, there are few resources that top the books by John Muir Laws. His Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada and his Pocket Guide to the San Francisco Bay Area combine beautiful illustrations with exacting biological information on birds, beasts, and plants.” —Sierra Magazine
Sierra County (Images of America)
by Cindy Carpenter Sherry FletcherIn 1884, Sierra County was formed in the Middle Rio Grande Corridor of the New Mexico Territory out of the existing counties of Grant, Doña Ana, and Socorro. Not everyone was pleased with the new county, and the courthouse was said to look like "a dance hall." From the fortunes and misfortunes of the miners in the historical towns of the Black Range to the comings and goings of the railroad towns, Sierra County is rich in history. The town of Hot Springs (later renamed Truth or Consequences) came into existence when entrepreneurs decided that the naturally occurring mineral springs could cure arthritis, neuritis, rheumatism, and alcoholism. The Carrie Tingley Hospital for Crippled Children, built to take advantage of the natural warm springs to help in the treatment of polio, is now the current New Mexico State Veterans' Home. Sierra County is also home to Elephant Butte Dam and Caballo Dam, both of which have history with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps.
The Sierra Nevada: A Mountain Journey
by Tim PalmerThis book presents a natural history of the Sierra Nevada that brings the land, the people, and the surrounding communities to life.
Sierra North
by Thomas Winnett Stacey Corless Kathy Morey Mike WhiteNow in its 9th edition, the completely updated and revised Sierra North showcases new trips and old favorites in regions such as Desolation Wilderness, Emigrant Wilderness, the proposed Castle Peak Wilderness, and the world-famous Yosemite National Park.
Sierra South
by Thomas Winnett Chris Tirrell Mike White Analise Elliot Heid Stacey Corless Kathy MoreyThis completely revised and updated 8th edition of Sierra South now covers an expanded region of the Sierra, from the southern boundary of Yosemite National Park to southern Golden Trout Wilderness. With new trips and old favorites, Sierra South is the classic guide to backpacking in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, Ansel Adams Wilderness, and Mt. Whitney.
Sierra Stories: Tales of Dreamers, Schemers, Bigots, and Rogues
by Gary NoyThe Sierra Nevada, with its 14,000-foot granite mountains, crystalline lakes, conifer forests, and hidden valleys, has long been the domain of dreams, attracting the heroic and the delusional, the best of humanity and the worst. Stories abound, and characters emerge so outlandish and outrageous that they have to be real. Could the human imagination have invented someone like Eliza Gilbert? Born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1818, she transformed herself into Lola Montez, born in Seville, Spain, in 1823, and brought to the Gold Country the provocative “Spider Dance”—impersonating a young woman repelling a legion of angry spiders under her petticoats. Or Otto Esche, who in 1860 imported fifteen two-humped Bactrian camels from Asia to transport goods to the mines. Or the artist Albert Bierstadt, whose paintings Mark Twain characterized as having “more the atmosphere of Kingdom-Come than of California.” Or multimillionaire George Whittell Jr., who was frequently spotted driving around Lake Tahoe in a luxurious convertible with his pet lion in the front seat. These, and scores more, spill out of the pages of this well-illustrated and lively tribute to the Sierra by a native son.
Sierra Vista: Young City with a Past
by Ethel Jackson PriceThe story of Sierra Vista, Arizona begins with Coronado's explorations of the southwestern desert in the sixteenth century, long before the 1877 establishment of Camp Huachuca, home of the famed 24th Infantry "Buffalo Soldiers." Sierra Vista grew up in the fury of the silver and copper mining days surrounded by three stunning mountains and the San Perdro River. Once known as Fry, this frontier town bloomed from a virtually unpopulated settlement into the Hummingbird Capital of the World.
Sight Unseen: How Frémont's First Expedition Changed the American Landscape
by Andrew MenardJohn C. Frémont was the most celebrated explorer of his era. In 1842, on the first of five expeditions he would lead to the Far West, Frémont and a small party of men journeyed up the Kansas and Platte Rivers to the Wind River Range in Wyoming. At the time, virtually this entire region was known as the Great Desert, and many Americans viewed it and the Rocky Mountains beyond as natural barriers to the United States. After Congress published Frémont’s official report of the expedition, however, few doubted the nation should expand to the Pacific. The first in-depth study of this remarkable report, Sight Unseen argues that Frémont used both a radical form of art and an imaginary map to create an aesthetic desire for expansion. He not only redefined the Great Desert as a novel and complex environment, but on a summit of the Wind River Range, he envisioned the Continental Divide as a feature that would unify rather than impede a larger nation. In addition to provoking the great migration to Oregon and providing an aesthetic justification for the National Park system, Frémont’s report profoundly altered American views of geography, progress, and the need for a transcontinental railroad. By helping to shape the very notion of Manifest Destiny, the report became one of the most important documents in the history of American landscape.
Signal Hill
by Ken Davis Signal Hill Historical SocietySurrounded by Long Beach, the relatively small city of Signal Hill has a rich and colorful history. Because they used the hill as a view and signal point for the surrounding ranchos, early Spanish settlers called the area Loma Sental, which translates to Signal Hill. At the turn of the 20th century, large estate homes were built to take advantage of the magnificent views and coastal breezes. Then came the oil. On June 23, 1921, Royal Dutch Shell Oil Company hit the first gusher, signaling the start of one of the most productive oil fields in the world. In fact, the area was so dense with derricks during the mid-century it earned the moniker "Porcupine Hill." Today, though oil is still being pumped, the community also proudly boasts stately hillside homes with commanding views of the coastline of Long Beach and Catalina.
Signal Mountain
by Priscilla Shartle Mary Scott NorrisSignal Mountain occupies a portion of Walden's Ridge, a plateau on the lower end of the Appalachian Mountains just outside of Chattanooga. The Creek and Cherokee Indians who used this area for hunting sent smoke signals from the palisades overlooking Moccasin Bend, Williams Island, and the Tennessee River. Union soldiers also sent signals from this lookout, which is now part of Signal Point Park. In 1913, Charles E. James opened the Signal Mountain Inn, beginning the community's development. Resort amenities included golf, swimming and boating on Rainbow Lake, a casino and dance hall, and daily walks to the mineral waters of Burnt Cabin Springs. During World War I, soldiers stationed at Fort Oglethorpe visited the area to spend time with their families. Dignitaries and movie stars arrived for the fine dining and clear mountain air. From this time on, the community grew by leaps and bounds.
Signs of Life: A Doctor's Journey to the Ends Of The Earth
by Stephen FabesA young doctor cycles around the world and discovers how societies treat their most vulnerable, in this thought-provoking and witty medical odysseyWhen Stephen Fabes left his job as an emergency-room doctor and set out to cycle around the world, frontline medicine quickly faded from his mind. The daily challenges of life on the road stack up as he navigates deserts—coaxing a few more miles from &‘Ol&’ Patchy&’ (his most faithful innertube)—and learns to live with the seeming constant threat posed by local wildlife, be it mangy dogs in Indonesia, grizzly bears in Alaska, or, in Australia, the common death adder, three words he was dismayed to find exist in sequence. But leaving medicine behind was not as easy as it seems. As Stephen crossed continents—on a journey that would take six years and cover more than 53,000 miles—he finds people whose health has suffered through exile, stigma, or circumstance and others, whose lives have been saved through kindness and community. After encountering a frozen body of a monk in the Himalayas, he is drawn ever more to healthcare at the margins of the world, to crumbling sanitoriums and refugee camps, to city dumps and war-torn hospital wards. In this gripping blend of true adventure and medical narrative, Stephen learns the value of listening to lives—not just solving diagnostic puzzles. Signs of Life challenges us to see care for the sick as a duty born of our compassion and our humanity.
Signs of Life, Love, and Other Miracles
by Stephanie Ager Kirz"Signs of Life, Love and other Miracles" by author Stephanie Kirz is a moving tale of Lost Love that is found in special moments throughout the world
Signs & Shrines: Spiritual Journeys Across New Mexico
by Sharon NiedermanMake your next vacation a pilgrimage… Signs & Shrines: Spiritual Journeys Across New Mexico takes readers along the ancient pilgrimage trails that crisscross this enchanted state, a place where a rich multiplicity of cultures continue to thrive. From the winding High Road between Santa Fe and Taos to Warriors’ Spirit Way across the Black Range; through ghost towns and on to Silver City; to the Old Spanish Trail that originates in Abiquiu, you’ll find the pathways that spiritual seekers have followed for centuries. The mysteries of sacred sites, natural wonders, power spots, feast days, and festivals are here explained by one of the state’s most prolific and knowledgeable authors. In addition to providing cultural context that answers visitors’ questions about history and practices found only in New Mexico, the author provides clear directions, maps, and guidance on the best places to stay, dine, shop, and recreate on your route. Signs & Shrines is an innovative guide that will enrich the experience not only of spiritual seekers but of every visitor drawn to tour the Land of Enchantment.
Signspotting 4
by Doug LanskyFor intrepid travelers and armchair dreamers-the fourth collection of amazingly odd and simply hilarious signs found the world over. Want to take a tour of the "Elephant Dung Factory and Souvenir Shop"? How about visiting the towns of Bastardo and Moronville, and doing some shopping at Sad Décor or the Mayan Treasures Factory Outlet? Whether unsettling ("One Way Tours"), unfortunate ("Evil Poo Lookout"), or simply baffling ("Eels May Be Slippery"), the signs in this all-new collection will change the way you look at the printed world around you.
Signspotting III
by Doug LanskyA full-color illustrated collection of humorous, confusing, and amusing signs from around the globe. From ?UFO University? to ?Speedo Check Ahead? to ?Fecal Face Dot Gallery,? Signspotting III: Lost and Loster in Translation takes the reader on a pictorial worldwide tour of the bizarre and hysterical street signs and advertisements that provide way more laughs than information. .
Sigrid Rides: The Story of an Extraordinary Friendship and An Adventure on Two Wheels
by Travis NelsonFeaturing SIGRID SPEAKS - find out what those hisses, miaows and purrs really mean! When Travis Nelson arrived in London, he expected to embark on a new life and a new job. Coming from California, he'd uprooted his wife and his cat, Sigrid, and planned to be here for the long haul. Then Covid-19 struck. Travis's new job vanished as the company cut staff. For two years, and through successive lockdowns, he was stuck in limbo in an unfamiliar city, trying to find his way.To keep himself occupied, Travis set out to discover his adoptive home. He bought a bike and began cycling through London's streets and parks with his unusual travelling companion, Sigrid - his deaf, Norwegian Forest cat - who came along for the ride. But what started as a way of injecting routine and purpose into Travis's life in stressful times, created an internet sensation. When Travis began posting videos of the pair's rides on social media, he drew in another community of people looking for moments of joy in an anxious world.In this charming memoir, Travis charts his adventures with Sigrid. He unlocks a hidden London seen only from cyclist's viewpoint, as well as finding friendship and hope. Most of all, it is the story of one man's relationship with his feline companion - one that has given him direction and a sense of belonging at a time when he felt lost.(p) 2023 Octopus Publishing Group