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Medieval Wanders and Wonders: Understanding Northern Spain and the Camino de Santiago
Those who have walked the Camino will know just how compelling is the magic to be found along this way. In Medieval Wanders and Wonders Kate Simons delves into the drama that can be sensed in glorious cathedrals and mysterious religious houses, the thrills shared by fellow walkers and the triumph of arriving in Santiago de Compostela. But, having gazed upon magnificent art and experienced the vast Spanish skies, do pilgrims question the significance of James' holy bones, the influence the saints wrought on western civilization or the peculiarity of medieval pilgrimage? By examining the mysteries, sometimes grisly, sometimes delightful, of witches, heresy, obsolete religious practices and knights Kate attempts to answer these questions. She also provides personal reflections and anecdotes from her own Camino walk and subsequent trips to northern Spain undertaken with her husband. As well as asking deep questions, Medieval Wanders and Wonders offers insight into the nature of pilgrimage and the curiosities and marvels of medieval Spain.
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Working at the End of the World: An Antarctic Diary
This honest, terrifying as well as humorous account of travelling and working in the magnificence of Antarctica will allow the reader to visualize and feel the harshness and beauty of the great white continent.The main body of the book is the diary account of a two-person deep field research trip. This is about being out in the remote mountains and glaciers facing up to extreme adversity in the coldest place on the planet while retaining one’s sense of humour; the psychology of spending time tent-bound in extreme isolation with just one other person and an honest reflection at the sad moments while being in a storm-bound tent, dwelling on life back in England. There is humour throughout, and the real and honest fear that one feels when in truly dire situations hundreds of miles from safety. The opening chapters look at the author's six-week ocean journey from England to Antarctica on the research ship ‘The RRS John Biscoe’.
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The Holy Lands of the Bible
We are currently witnessing yet another war in the Middle East. Conflicts in this region between various groups have been ongoing for thousands of years. At one time there was even a Mongol army here. At various times the same groups have been fighting each other for centuries. With this background, how can this land be called “holy”?
The people of Israel were chosen by God to prepare the way for the coming of the world’s redeemer, Jesus, and it is Jesus who makes the land holy. This also includes other lands associated with the Bible: Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and Greece – and indeed extends to the whole world. I was privileged to have spent a significant amount of time in these lands, but realised that this involved an obligation to share.
This book is a record of my time in these countries in an attempt to share some insights and help in making these lands of the Bible stories come alive, thus enhancing our understanding of the Bible and Jesus. It may also be useful for those who are planning to make a pilgrimage to these lands.
Maybe it is no accident that these holy lands attract so much evil. Yet Jesus came to bring healing, forgiveness and peace.
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75 Men, A Shipwreck and Me
Seventy-Five Men, A Shipwreck and Me is the true story of a daring race to recover a treasure trove of silver from a torpedoed wreck lying one-and-a-half miles beneath the Indian Ocean. The quest unites seventy-five seasoned seafarers, each skilled in navigating the ocean’s mysteries. However, they face an unexpected challenge: adapting to Catherine, an English woman aboard their converted drill ship.
“Catherine Bailey’s true story of a salvage expedition to the Indian Ocean is a vivid account of her own experience aboard a salvage vessel, the only woman in a large crew of hard men hungry to locate a vast fortune of sunken treasure. Told with energy, wit and unflappable composure, Bailey’s account of the voyage is by turns exhilarating, comic and fraught with tension. A marvellous account of an extraordinary adventure.”
– Patrick McGrath, author of Asylum and Martha Peake.
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Portraits of Travel
Laugh, cry, and feel wonder alongside 26 real-life wanderers in Portraits of Travel.
In 2015, Caroline Bouron embarked on a journey across the Pacific to discover what drives people to forsake comfort for life on the move. She ended up interviewing 26 globetrotting voyagers from 12 countries and all walks of life - cyclists, sailors, nomads traveling for weeks or years at a time. Though their reasons for roaming varied widely, the travellers shared one thing: encounters that profoundly shaped their trips and their selves.
With raw candour recalling both breathtaking vistas and bumpy roads, the voyagers recount outstanding memories from chance romantic trysts to brushes with death that forever altered their worldviews. And interspersed with travel tips and hidden gems worth visiting across the protagonists’ homelands, their stories may just provide the inspiration for your next adventure.
From lifelong nomad to novice wanderer, anyone with a flicker of wanderlust will see themselves reflected in these pages. So, grab your backpack and traverse the world through the eyes of these intrepid souls.
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Half Longing Scotland
Prepare to embark on a captivating journey through the heart of Scotland in this thought-provoking and enlightening book. Join Richard Gault as he recounts his month-long walk from the southernmost tip of Scotland to Inverness, covering half the length of the country. More than just a travelogue, this book will inspire you to see the familiar in new ways, from the tiniest midge to the most majestic mountain.
As Richard traverses the Scottish landscape, he uncovers a rich tapestry of history spanning two thousand years. He reveals Scotland as a land of saints, myths, and monsters; a land of heroes and villains; a land with surprising connections to distant countries. Through his journey, you’ll discover how Scotland played a pivotal role in shaping the modern world, even paving the way (quite literally, in one instance) for progress.
By the end of this book, you’ll find yourself filled with a deeper appreciation for the past and a renewed sense of wonder for Scotland’s nature, people, and landscapes. But the journey doesn’t end there. Richard’s experiences will leave you pondering profound questions about the present and future, inviting you to reflect on your own relationship with the world around you.
Informative, thought-provoking, and utterly engaging, this book is one you’ll find yourself recommending to friends time and time again. Step into Richard’s shoes and embark on an unforgettable journey through Scotland’s history, beauty, and soul.
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A Suitcase Full of Wildflowers
There were possibly twenty reasons why I hung the sign on my study door reading, ‘Gone to Scotland... back in a month.’
Reason number one: I was compelled to languish on a stone bench in the rocky high grounds of Edinburgh Castle, eyes closed, savoring the sweet sound of bagpipes echoing through the centuries-old stillness. The only thrill that could possibly surpass the bagpipes would be the sensory awakening at the Edinburgh Tattoo. Beyond that, my list included a longing to revisit the lochs in hopes of glimpsing the elusive Nessie, a craving for the earthy taste of haggis, a penchant for a lively Scottish reel and jig, and a need to purchase genuine Scottish shortbread. I also yearned for an authentic Scottish coat, gloves, and matching tam-o-shanter, the sight of a man in a kilt (preferably bending over to tie his shoelaces), and the desire to potter around a certain famous viaduct crossing.
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Cape to Cairo
Starting out from Cape Town in South Africa, there is plenty to see as the journey heads north. The scenery changes from green fields and vineyards such as Stellenbosch to the deserts and giant sand dunes of Namibia. It is only further north that the desert changes to savannah. There are numerous safaris to see wild animals in their natural habitat including hippopotamus, the most dangerous animal on the continent and walking with cheetahs.
There are close encounters with elephants in the Okavango and views of thousands of zebras before crossing the border in Zimbabwe. There are the magnificent Victoria Falls and a railway journey across the Zimbabwe countryside to Bulawayo with its great industrial centre and railway heritage.
On safari through the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, there is the opportunity for visitors to see all of the Big Five Game animals, the five most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. There are the Spice Islands, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where there is an opportunity to walk with gorillas and there were plenty more countries and experiences to enjoy and this was still only halfway up the continent to Cairo.
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