Books, movies, magazines, music, links and other great stuff related to all our trips.

Books

Eat Smart in Brazil Joan Peterson, David Peterson, S.V. Medaris. A field guide to myriad unique foods in Brazil.

Rio for Partiers
Cristiano Nogueira. Written by Cariocas for the young, heterosexual tourist. Lots of good information on food and how not to appear like a gringo.

Entry into Brazil requires a visa. We recommend using the services of
Brazil Fiesta. Visit them online, or call (800) 200-0582.

. . . to get you in the mood

Various artists. This is a four-disk compilation of many styles of popular music from the first half of the 20th Century.

Various artists. The Girl from Ipanema: the Antonio Carlos Jobim Songbook – The perfect introduction to one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century, this compilation CD has the classic rendition of the "Girl from Ipanema" and fantastic takes on other Jobim hits by such luminaries as Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald.

Films to rent before your trip:

(click for details . . .)

French wine and gastronomy

The gastronomical side of France is deliciously presented in several books by Patricia Wells, including The Food Lover's Guide to France, Patricia Wells at Home in Provence, and The Paris Cookbook. Patricia Wells has an extensive web site. Tasty reading is also provided by Peter Mayle's French Lessons:  Adventures with Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew; A. J. Liebling's Between Meals:  An Appetite for Paris; and M. F. K. Fisher's Two Towns in Provence.

Here's a file with French cuisine by region. Handy, all in a simple table.

Save Room for Dessert!

Chef David Lebovitz holds a special place in our hearts at Journey Out. Aside from being a masterful pastry chef, David plays an important role in our La France Gastronomique tour, by guiding us through Paris in search of fabulous pastry shops and off-the-beaten-path markets. This book is a sweet treat for anyone!

Traveller’s Wine Guide to France, by Christopher Fielden. A slim but very informative and lavishly-illustrated guide to the wines of France. The book is a vineyard-by-vineyard guide to each region; invaluable for the traveler looking for the best wines.

Films to rent before your trip:

(click for details . . .)

Georges Danton was a key figure in the French Revolution. This 1983 film (French, English subtitles) starring Gérard Depardieu brings history to life. As Danton mounted the scaffold, he proclaimed, "Show my head to the people; it is worth seeing."  

Real life experiences in France

A Year in Provence is a charming book by Peter Mayle, a British ex-advertising executive who lived out his fantasy to restore a 200-year-old farmhouse in Provence. It'll get you chuckling. Read an excerpt.

In Paris to the Moon, longtime writer for The New Yorker Adam Gopnik chronicles his family's move to Paris in a series of essays, many hysterically funny. "This collection truly has everything: sensuous detail, fine writing, lots of laughs, and stimulating, novel ideas. It's like the window of a patisserie, an array of tempting confections lovingly and artfully arranged."  Read Eileen Zimmerman Nicol's complete review on Bookreporter.com.

France Magazine is an English language quarterly review of la vie française with a world-wide following. In each 100-page issue crammed with colorful editorial, readers enjoy a host of authoritative, well-illustrated articles on all aspects of France. Their readers say it's the next best thing to being there.
 

Andy Herback offers us the "Ten Simple Rules of Dining in Paris." 76 of the 123 pages are menu translations, French to English, and then vice versa so you can ask for what you want or translate what they have; all this very helpful and in a light, compact easy to carry book that makes it worth taking on any trip to France.

Do you remember when you were learning French at school and looked in vain through your dictionary for all the dirty words? Have you thought you had a reasonable command of the language, then seen a French film or gone to France only to find that you could barely understand a word? Here, then, is "Merde!",  your guide to survival in understanding everyday French as it is really spoken.

Any French guide can teach you to say J'ai faim! ("I'm starving!"), but only Wicked French gives you the je ne sais quoi to hold your own with the natives-argue like a vrai existentialist. 

A Meal Observed is a seductive account of a long, luxurious dinner at the venerable Paris restaurant Taillevent. Andrew Todhunter is both the American abroad sharing a rare gastronomic adventure with his wife and the apprentice-cum-reporter who has spent several months working in the restaurant’s celebrated kitchen, learning what goes on behind the scenes.

World Food France
This book’s tag line is "for people who live to eat, drink and travel."  That's us! 

Savoir-Flair, by Polly Platt, who bills herself as the "American who knows the French." This book comes highly recommended by a couple of women who've traveled on our La France Gastronomique trip.

The Chartres Labyrinth

The Chartres Cathedral, an hour south of Paris, houses what is perhaps the world's best-known labyrinth. The most elaborate of labyrinth patterns, with eleven circuits, dates back to the twelfth century.

This amazing labyrinth, set in the floor of floor of the cathedral, has been a place of pilgrimage and spiritual renewal. It is walked in contemplative meditation. Tracing the pattern brings inner peace. The labyrinth, its stones worn smooth by countless feet of pilgrims, connects us with the many who have come before.

Northwest Bears member
Alan Mathews.

munichbears Online

Films to rent before your trip:

(click for details . . .)

Books

This opening fold-out map-book contains a general map of Munich to help you visualize the 6 large districts discussed in this guide, and 4 pages of valuable information, handy tips and useful addresses. The last fold-out consists of a transportation map and four pages of practical information.

Ludwig II, the so-called Mad King of Bavaria, was one of the most enigmatic figures of the 19th century. At the age of 40, declared insane in a plot to depose him, Ludwig died in circumstances that remain a mystery to this day. This book sheds new light on many puzzling aspect of Ludwig's private life: his homosexuality, his supposed madness, and the riddle of his death.

The Beer Drinker's Guide to Munich, by Larry Hawthorne. Travelers can drink in all the atmosphere, history, and beer that Munich has to offer with this entertaining guide to the best watering holes in the beer-drinking capital of the world. More than 70 of Munich's best beer gardens, beer halls, pubs, and late-night hot spots are listed in detail. Included are the colorful histories behind them all, with detailed maps and instructions on how to find each place. Information on Oktoberfest and other beer festivals make this guide as practical as it is entertaining. This revised edition pays for itself twice over through a special free beer offer from a list of Munich's most prized beer gardens.

When in Germany, Do as the Germans Do, by Hyde Flippo. On entering a restaurant, should you find your own table or wait to be seated? What is a suitable topic for small-talk with a stranger? In what circumstances might you ask to borrow ein Handy? All these answers and more can be found in this fun and intriguing book that teaches you about Germany's culture, language, and people.

Livres

James Baldwin's classic novel set in 1950s Paris. Swarming with expatriates and characterized by dangerous liaisons and hidden violence, an American finds himself confronting secret desires that jeopardize the conventional life he envisions for himself.

Billy Strayhorn was a black, gay genius who wrote and arranged much of the music played by the most famous band in jazz history: the Duke Ellington Orchestra. This moving and sensitive biography gives an irreplaceable picture of a vanished culture, and is a fitting tribute to a gifted and gentle man.

An insightful and sometimes humorous collection of stories of days gone by in the world of jazz by Leslie Gourse, a well-known jazz historian, critic and biographer.

Alex Karmel's loving portrait of the history and architecture of Paris from the vantage of his own apartment in the Marais. It evokes the character and long history of the City of Light.

(clique for more information)

(clique for more information)

"I love Paris in the summer, when it sizzles." - Cole Porter

For those searching for gay nightlife on the cruise, you need look no further than our group. At our ports of call, however, it's a different story. While there aren't any gay bars or pubs that we know of, there are a few cafés and shops welcoming gays and lesbians. You can download a page from the Damron guide for our ports if you'd like to see just what's out there.

Birds of Prey, J. A. Jance. This mystery novel has been described by some reviewers as stereotypical, but one of our guests thought it a delightful light read. It is set first in Seattle and then aboard a cruise ship sailing to Alaska. Give it a read when you're looking for something light and entertaining, and let us know what you think.

For more information about our ports of call,
visit their Convention and Visitors Bureaus online

Juneau   ●   Ketchikan   ●   Sitka

Gay links:

• Gay Ft. Lauderdale

• Cupecoy Beach
  (Gay Nude Beach
  in St. Maarten)

• Find a great gay link? Send us your suggestion
  to add here

Michael Connors, a West Indian decorative arts scholar, presents a comprehensive guide to the development of West Indian furniture and its makers during the colonial era.

With wit and candor, Vanderhoof, who's worked as a magazine and book editor, recounts her sometimes complicated but always enlightening two-year voyage from Toronto to the West Indies and beyond with her husband in their 42-foot sailboat.

From drinks and appetizers to entrees and desserts, here are irresistible recipes that take you through the islands, from Jamaica to Guadaloupe, to Martinique, to Barbados, to Cuba, and beyond.

A sweeping, compulsively readable
saga of the Caribbean islands.

The author writes, "We wrote this book with the traveler in mind -- not for the world of academia. It is tightly written at a reasonable reading level in an easy-to-read format -- and it's light-weight."

Once you have your booking number, consider booking your shore excursions online. You can view the schedule and excursions online or download the shore excursion booklet. We recommend you book early for any excursion you really have your heart set on. Not to worry, you can also book on board the ship.

For more information about our ports of call,
visit them online:

Ft. Lauderdale   ●   Nassau, Bahamas   ●   Philipsburg, St. Maarten

Road Town, Tortola   ●   Half Moon Cay (Holland America's private island)

Films to rent before your trip:

(click for details . . .)

Mediterranean Cruise

Books

In his travels through Croatia, Tony Fabijancic saw a world of peasants, shepherds and fishermen irrevocably giving way to the new reality of a modern European state. With a deft and sure touch, he captures the lingering spirit of the old world even as the former fabric of this place is unraveling forever. His profound familiarity with the "extraordinary regionality" of Croatia leads to memorable images of the country, and to sketches and unhurried ruminations on its people, its landscapes, kitchens, cities, and coastlines.

Josip Novakovich records his journey to find his roots Some to his native Croatia, some no farther than Cleveland, where he searches for the grave of his grandmother, who refused to return to Croatia with the rest of her family. This moving collection reflects the joys and the difficulties in returning to a homeland left behind.

Widely regarded as the world's first modern novel, and one of the funniest and most tragic books ever written, Don Quixote chronicles the famous picaresque adventures of the noble knight-errant Don Quixote of La Mancha and his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, as they travel through sixteenth-century Spain.

This is a gloriously photographed book full of traditional and contemporary home-cooking style recipes from France, illustrated with lavish scenic photography from all the regions of France. Throughout the book are boxed features that explore such topics as the importance of cheese, oyster lore, and gathering herbes de Provence.

Savoring France is a culinary tour in search of the true French table. An intriguing tapestry of local specialties and national dishes. Bon appetit!  

For more information on your Mediterranean Cruise ports of call,
visit them online:

Venice, Italy   ●   Dubrovnik, Croatia   ●   Santorini, Greece

Villefranche, France   ●   Barcelona, Spain

Films and Music to enjoy before your trip:

(click for details)

An unmarried, 30-year-old woman finds herself falling for a non-Greek man, much to the dismay of her traditional Greek family. The joy of this movie is in the details, which are specific and authentic to the Greek experience -- the foods, the personalities, the customs. For example, as the bride walks up the aisle, the older relatives make as if they're spitting at her. (The spitting is to make the bride unappealing, so the devil will stay away!)

Italian Hill Towns explores the multi-towered town of San Gimignano.Watch grapes being harvested at a winery and drop in on the cheese festival in Pienza. Then head south to the haunted hill towns of Pitigliano and Sovana. In Umbria discover Etruscan tombs, visit the home of St. Francis of Assisi and the quaint town of Gubbio.

This international quartet of (foxy!) young male vocalists come to us from all over the world.
Il Divo, or "male divine performer," is an international operatic pop group comprised of renowned Spanish opera baritone, Carlos Marín, French pop singer, Sébastien Izambard, and two classically trained tenors, Swiss Urs Bühler and American David Miller. Reflecting the multi-national character of the group, the songs are not all sung in English but drift between Spanish, English and Italian. However worded, all use the emotional Esperanto of love.

Our cruises usually include two formal nights. On those evenings, gentlemen wear tuxedos. It's also okay to wear a dark suit. Ladies usually wear an evening gown or cocktail dress. 

Formal wear for ladies and gentlemen can be pre-ordered for your use for the duration of your cruise.

CruiseLine Formalwear offers a convenient way to have elegant formal wear delivered directly to your stateroom. You can Contact CruiseLine Formalwear at (800) 551-5091 to reserve your tux or gown and it will be ready in your stateroom when you board. For more information, please visit them online.

You may also see more information about individual shipboard dress codes here:

Films to rent before your trip:

(click for details . . .)

Okay, maybe you should watch these after your cruise . . .

For your reading pleasure . . .

For centuries Italy has been many things to many people. In this brilliant anthology and traveler's companion, 28 first-rate women writers reveal why the land that is the heart and soul of European civilization is so seductive to women.
 

The Slow Food movement, founded in Italy, is dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional food ways -- to protecting artisanal food producers and the pleasures of eating well.

Did you know that a walnut-sized truffle sells for $200 or that white truffles are the most valuable and extremely rare? The Italian Truffle Guide takes the reader on a journey from Piedmont's Langhe hills, following the Apennines down to Central Italy.

                                                                                              

The wines of Italy are a delightful part of any visit to the Bel Paese, and The Italian Wine Guide is the ultimate guide to the world of these wines.

Essays full of history, philosophical ruminations, humorous anecdotes, cultural musings, and useful travel information - in short the best of The New York Times talent - will make you want to drop everything and fly to this land that continues to inspire writes, artists, and casual visitors alike.

Films to rent before your trip:

Fantastico!

(click for details . . .)

Slow Food

Gay Friendly Italy

Italian Wines

Books

Live Better Longer, by author Joseph Dispenza draws out simple steps for getting well, staying well and gaining vitality for a long and healthy life based on the teachings of legendary holistic healer and pioneering nutritionist Hazel Parcells. In this practical and motivating guide, Dr. Parcells’ longtime student, Dispenza distills more than sixty-five years of her groundbreaking research on natural health and the chemistry of foods into seven practices that are remarkably easy to integrate into daily routines.

On Silence, by author Joseph Dispenza brings us practical information on the practice of silence and realistic suggestions for making it a part of your life. The book is set out as a thirty-day program, designed to create a habit for practicing silence in your daily living. Most of the book is a journal of your time in silence—an opportunity for you to participate directly in the first-hand experience of this splendid practice.

In the mid-1980s, author Tony Cohan and his wife decided they had had enough of the hectic pace and inherent insecurities of life in Los Angeles and made tracks for the historic town of San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico. Almost inevitably, they eventually found themselves buying a 250-year-old hacienda on the verge of collapse, with wonderfully elegant Spanish colonial architecture and a garden brimming with papayas, avocados, and custard apples. What followed was a love affair with a country and its people that has endured. On Mexican Time is a lyrical attempt to capture the Mexican magic that bewitched the two of them.

With Marc Ian Barasch's insightful book Healing Dreams, the author reaches far beyond the typical dream analysis into the more ambitious realms of spiritual turning points, personal relationships, and mystical opportunities. For many readers this will be a life-altering book, one that forever shifts the dreamer's approach to dreams as well as the conscious world.

Films to rent before your trip: