Bøker av Roman Reynolds

Santa Fe, New Mexico, The Native Americans, U.S.A. The History and Culture, The Pueblos, Touristic Information and Guide. Santa Fe is a colorful, artistic city, bursting with a rich history and plenty of festivals that celebrate it all. With a culture based on a variety of unusual ingredients, including Gothic cathedrals, a love for the great outdoors, chile-infused cuisine and a profound emphasis on the arts, this truly is the "City Different." Santa Fe also preserves a historic feel with Spanish-influenced architecture and buildings that date back to the 16th century but one of the main reasons people visit is for its art. The works of artists like Georgia O' Keeffe, Peter Hurd, Miro Kenarov and Gustave Baumann fill the galleries, pieces that were largely inspired by the city's dramatic, vibrant and evolving landscape. Anytime you visit Santa Fe, you can find many of these renowned works along gallery-lined Canyon Road. For a taste of up-and-coming talent, swing by one of the artisan markets, check out The Railyard Arts District or stop in to see glass-blowing demonstrations at Liquid Light Glass. Santa Fe is home to several museums that celebrate its diverse art scene as well, including the Museum of International Folk Art and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Another part of Santa Fe's artistic side? Its music. The Santa Fe Opera welcomes talented acts to its venue amid the mountains. The same landscapes that spoke to O'Keeffe also call to adventurous types year-round. Active travelers hike the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, test the powder skiing at one of the nearby mountains and explore the 1.6 million acres of the Santa Fe National Forest. Need a way to round out your day? Santa Fe is also a great place to taste something different: Take your pick of one of the gourmet dining establishments scattered throughout the city.

Sea Islands Travel Guide, USA. Tourism. Guarding St. Simons to the east is Sea Island, a thin Holocene barrier island that serves as a resort and home for the rich. Founded in the Roaring Twenties by Sea Island Company owners Howard Coffin and Alfred (Bill) Jones Sr., the island boasts a world-famous resort, The Cloister Hotel, and a resident community of grand estates with carefully manicured lawns and gardens. The public is allowed to drive the public roads of the island and take a stroll through the hotel, but access to the beach is unfortunately limited to residents and guests. However, if you can afford to stay at The Cloister Hotel, the world is indeed your oyster, with 54 holes of golf, 17 tennis courts, a spa, two pools, four restaurants, horseback riding, shooting school, sailing, biking, nature tours, dance lessons, scuba lessons, surf and deep-sea fishing, and 4.5 miles of beach offered for your pleasure.

Shenzhen, China. Travel Guide for Tourism and Business Environment. Shenzhen is an ideal destination for active travelers. Thanks to the variety of amusement parks, shopping malls, wonderful gardens and park areas, each and every tourist can choose a suitable place to relax and have fun. Nature enthusiasts should not ignore Shenzhen Safari Park. This large-scale zoo inhabited by representatives of African fauna is well-equipped and really beautiful. You can travel around the park only by a special car; the situation in Safari Park is so realistic that it creates a feeling of a true trip through the African savannahs. The center of attraction for thousands of tourists is Happy Valley Amusement Park. Occupying the area of 86 hectares, the large park is conditionally divided into nine thematic zones. The choice of rides presented in the park is really huge. Here you can explore a large water park with well-maintained recreation areas, many slides, and pools. Travelers for whom local attractions and slides are not enough should think about visiting OCT East Shenzhen entertainment and resort complex. In addition to original rides and exciting viewing platforms, its territory is full of many natural attractions. Colorful fields with flowers, beautiful waterfalls, pavilions housing fountains and rare plants you can stroll around the park exploring its beauty all day long. Sports fans will not be bored either, as there is a decent choice of sports complexes in the city and its surroundings. Mission Hills Golf Club stands out among many local golf centers. It will pleasantly surprise customers not only with its high-quality playgrounds but also with well-kept recreation areas, as well as affordable prices. A worthy competitor of the sports club is Juhao Golf located in a very picturesque area. Getting back to amazing natural beauties of Shenzhen, we cannot fail to mention Xianhu Botanical Garden. This wonderful botanical garden occupying a vast area is divided into quite original thematic zones, which makes it particularly popular. Here you can find a beautiful park with walking paths, original pavilions decorated with sculptures and fountains, and even a small greenhouse with flowering cacti. The garden also has a specially-equipped picnic area, which is in great demand among visitors. Those preferring to spend time outdoors will be fascinating by Lychee Park. It wouldn't be easy to find more peaceful and beautiful place for leisurely walks in the city.

Shanghai, China. Shanghai History, Tourism, Business Travel, and Vacation Guide. Shanghai is home to the world's second-tallest tower and a host of other neck-craning colossi. But it's not all sky-scraping razzmatazz. Beyond the crisply cool veneer of the modern city typified by Pudong, you can lift the lid to a treasure chest of architectural styles. The city's period of greatest cosmopolitan excess the 1920s and 1930s left the city with pristine examples of art deco buildings, most of which survived the 20th-century vicissitudes assailing Shanghai. And there's more: from Jesuit cathedrals, Jewish synagogues and Buddhist temples to home-grown longtang (laneway) and shíkùmén (stone gate) housing, Shanghai's architectural heritage is like none other. Cuisine: Thirty years ago Shanghai's dour restaurant scene was all tin trays and scowling waiting staff, with international food confined to the dining rooms of 'exclusive' hotels. Today the mouth-watering restaurant scene is varied, exciting and up to the minute and Shanghai has its own Michelin dining guide in 2017, proving just how far the city has come. Food is the hub of Chinese social life. It's over a meal that people catch up with friends, celebrate and clinch business deals, and spend hard-earned cash. Some of your best memories of the city could be culinary, so do as the Shanghainese do and make a meal of it. Shopping: Bearing in mind that Chinese shoppers constitute up to 47% of the global luxury-goods market, shopping is rarely done in half-measures in Shanghai. Retail therapy is one way of spending new money and the Shanghainese aren't called'little capitalists') by the rest of China for nothing, especially at the luxury end of things. But it's not all Prada, Gucci and Burberry. There are pop-up boutiques, bustling markets, cool vintage shops and young designer outlets. Beyond clothing you're also spoiled for choice, whether you're in the market for antiques, ceramics, art, Tibetan jewellery...whatever is on your shopping list. Entertainment & the Arts: Běijīng often hogs the limelight as China's cultural nexus but, for what is essentially a town of wheelers and dealers, Shanghai is surprisingly creative. Many art galleries are exciting, offering a window onto contemporary Chinese concerns, while nightlife options have exploded. Acrobatics shows are always a favourite and you might grab the chance to catch some Chinese opera. Shanghai's music and club scene is vibrant: from unpretentious jazz and indie venues to all-night hip-hop and electro dance parties, the city swings with the best of them.

Edinburgh Travel Guide, Scotland, United Kingdom. Discover Edinburgh. Scotland's capital is one of the most unique and memorable cities in Europe. Edinburgh has a rare charm with narrow and cobbled passageways, called closes in Scots. The town is also known for its dark corners where terrifying events have taken place, its majestic buildings and gardens, countless fascinating museums, which are free to visit and, especially, the city's kind and open locals. All the above-mentioned make this city a favourite among those who have visited it. Edinburgh is fondly known as "Auld Reekie", which means "Old Smokey" in Scots. This is because of all the smoke and chimneys the city had in the past creating smog over the city. The weather in Edinburgh is normally rainy and windy, but far from being an inconvenience, the bitter weather gives the city an extra charm, creating a mysterious and sombre atmosphere.

Seville, Spain The History, Travel and Tourism. The city of Seville is famous worldwide for its culture, monuments, traditions and artistic heritage. This is the birthplace of Flamenco and the city where the most amazing Easter processions take place. But Seville is also the neuralgic centre of the South of Spain, a city full of life and possibilities. Welcome to one of the most charming cities of Spain. Seville's rich history has left the city stuffed with innumerable monuments like the awesome cathedral, the third largest in the world, the Giralda tower, the wonderful palace of the Reales Alcázares, the magical Barrio of Santa Cruz with its narrow streets, the Maestranza bullfighting ring and the passion for Flamenco an the perfume of orange blossoms on every corner. Sevilla is well connected to Madrid by the Spanish high speed train AVE. The city also has an international airport and you can hire cars at Seville airport to visit other cities

Shikoku Island Travel Guide, Japan. Discover Hidden Tourist Destination. It has beautiful scenery, a laidback atmosphere, friendly people and several notable sights, yet SHIKOKU, Japan's fourth main island, is usually at the bottom of most visitors' itineraries if it appears at all. This is a shame, since this tranquil island, nestling in the crook between Honshū and Kyūshū, offers elements of traditional Japan that are often hard to find elsewhere. An ancient Buddhist pilgrimage, original castles and distinctive arts and crafts are some of Shikoku's attractions but equally appealing are the island's rural pace of life and little-visited villages and smaller surrounding islands. Set aside a week or so to get around all Shikoku's four prefectures. If you only have a day or two, though, head straight for Matsuyama's splendid castle and the hot springs at nearby Dōgo; or pay a visit to the landscape gardens of Ritsurin-kōen in Takamatsu, before hopping on a ferry over to the idyllic, contemporary art-filled island of Naoshima. According to legend, Shikoku was the second island (after Awaji-shima) born to Izanagi and Izanami, the gods who are considered to be Japan's parents. Its ancient name was Iyo-no-futana and it was divided into four main prefectures: Awa (now Tokushima-ken), Iyo (Ehime-ken), Sanuki (Kagawa-ken) and Tosa (Kōchi-ken). These epithets are still used today when referring to the different prefectures' cuisines and traditional arts. Apart from being the scene of a decisive battle between the Taira and Minamoto clans in the twelfth century (see The Kamakura era), Shikoku has had a relatively peaceful history, due in part to its isolation from the rest of Japan. The physical separation ended with the opening of the Seto Ōhashi in 1989, a series of six bridges that leapfrog the islands of the Inland Sea, carrying both trains and cars. It has since been joined by the Akashi Kaikyō Ōhashi suspension bridge, connecting Shikoku to Honshū via Awaji-shima, the island to the west of Tokushima, and the Nishi Seto Expressway, running along ten bridges spanning nine islands on Shikoku's northern coast. Most of Shikoku's population of just over four million lives in one of the island's four prefectural capitals: Takamatsu, Tokushima, Kōchi and Matsuyama. The island is split by a vast mountain range that runs from Tsurugi-san in the east to Ishizuchi-san, Shikoku's tallest peak, in the west. The northern coast, facing the Inland Sea, is heavily developed, in contrast to the predominantly rural south, where the unimpeded kuroshio (black current) of the Pacific Ocean has carved a rugged coastline of sheer cliffs and outsized boulders. The climate throughout the island is generally mild, although the coasts can be lashed by typhoons and the mountains see snow in the winter. Apart from the highlights listed, other places to consider building into a trip to this part of Japan include the lovely Inland Sea island of Shōdo-shima, the whirlpools at Naruto, and Hiwasa, where turtles come to lay their eggs each summer. With more time you could hit Shikoku's southern coast for the dramatically rocky capes at Ashizuri and Muroto, and explore the Shimantogawa, one of Japan's most beautiful rivers. In the prefectural capitals you'll find a wide range of hotels, restaurants and bars, as well as international centres and tourist information offices, while the island's famous 88-temple pilgrimage means that even in the countryside you're unlikely to be stuck for accommodation.

St. Simons Island Travel Guide, USA. The History, and Touristic Information. The largest barrier island in the Golden Isles, St. Simons Island lies across the immortalized Marshes of Glynn, made famous by poet Sidney Lanier. Moss-draped oaks line the winding island streets, creating a picture-perfect image worthy of a Faulkner tale. The island's villages offer a charming and unique selection of shops, breathtaking beaches, fascinating museums, and challenging golf courses. St. Simons Island also hosts unforgettable events and is home to a variety of arenas for outdoor adventure, with plenty of things to do like kayaking, fishing, biking, and tours. You'll also find exceptional restaurants throughout the island that will give you a true taste of St. Simons. A variety of accommodations from friendly inns to luxurious resorts round out the island's warm welcome, giving it the claims to fame that have attracted vacationers and groups for generations. Explore the variety of hotels and lodging options and view current specials and packages before booking your St. Simons Island getaway

Shikoku Pilgrimage, Japan. Travel Guide. This is a Buddhist pilgrimage around the circumference of the Japanese island of Shikoku. Of the several hundred thousand people who do it each year, only a few thousand walk; the vast majority travel in organized bus tours. If you only walk to the main 88 temples, the trail is about 1,100 km ( 670 mi.). If you also walk to the 20 bangai temples (of secondary importance, but still visited by some), the distance increases to about 1,400 km ( 860 mi.). Visiting all 108 temples takes about 50-55 days. Visiting only the main 88 temples takes about 40-45 days. How long it takes for each henro (pilgrim) depends on their fitness level and their seeming need to hurry. There are several legends related to the beginnings of the pilgrimage on Shikoku Island. The most popular legend, of course, is that Kūkai walked to all of the sacred places on the island, founded many of the temples, and established the pilgrimage itself. While we don't know everything about his early life, we do know enough about what he did, where he lived, and where he traveled, that it is fairly easy to refute this and say that it can't be true. Documents do show that Kūkai did travel to several of the mountains where temples are currently located. He did not, however walk around the island or perform the first pilgrimage. As will be described below, those first pilgrims were the hijiri, or wandering ascetics, that came from Mt. Kōya to visit the religious centers on the island.

Singapore. The History and Culture, Information Tourism. A little red dot in the center of Southeast Asia, Singapore is a cosmopolitan city built on the backs of immigrants from across Asia and the four corners of the world. The nation's cultural mix continues to expand, thanks to continuing migrations of foreign talent almost one in three people in Singapore today has come from elsewhere to live and/or work here. This cultural diversity is refreshing, but not nearly as refreshing as the sense of openness and harmony that exists among races and religions. Singapore Inc. runs like clockwork. Over 40 years of political stability have seen the seeds of development take hold and grow at an impressive rate. The government is a well-oiled machine that operates like the executive board of a massive company, carefully plotting deliberate steps for economic growth and building a safe and orderly country. Even its detractors concede: Singapore works. I'll confess, many travelers complain to me about how Westernized Singapore is. For some, a vacation in Asia should be filled with culture shock and bizarre sights. Today's travel philosophy seems to be that the more underdeveloped and obscure a country is, the more "authentic" the travel experience will be. But with all its shopping malls, imported fashion, and steel skyscrapers, Singapore looks like any other contemporary city in any other part of the world. But to peel through the layers is to understand that life here is more complex. While the outer layers are startlingly Western, just underneath lies a curious area where East blends with West in language, cuisine, attitude, and style. At the core, you'll find a sensibility rooted in the cultural heritage of values, religion, superstition, and memory.

History of Edinburgh, Scotland. Tourism Information. Edinburgh is a city that begs to be discovered, filled with quirky, come-hither nooks that tempt you to explore just that little bit further. Edinburgh is one of Europe's most beautiful cities, draped across a series of rocky hills overlooking the sea. It's a town intimately entwined with its landscape, with buildings and monuments perched atop crags and overshadowed by cliffs. From the Old Town's picturesque jumble of medieval tenements piled high along the Royal Mile, its turreted skyline strung between the black, bull-nosed Castle Rock and the russet palisade of Salisbury Crags, to the New Town's neat grid of neoclassical respectability, the city offers a constantly changing perspective. The Athens of the North, an 18th-century Edinburgh nickname dreamed up by the great thinkers of the Scottish Enlightenment, is a city of high culture and lofty ideals, of art and literature, philosophy and science. It is here that each summer the world's biggest arts festival rises, phoenix-like, from the ashes of last year's rave reviews and broken box-office records to produce yet another string of superlatives. And it is here, beneath the Greek temples of Calton Hill Edinburgh's acropolis that the Scottish parliament sits again after a 300-year absence. Edinburgh is also known as Auld Reekie, a down-to-earth place that flicks an impudent finger at the pretensions of the literati. Auld Reekie is a city of loud, crowded pubs and decadent restaurants, late-night drinking and all-night parties, beer-fuelled poets and foul-mouthed comedians. It's the city that tempted Robert Louis Stevenson from his law lectures to explore the drinking dens and lurid street life of the 19th-century Old Town. And it's the city of Beltane, the resurrected pagan May Day festival, where half-naked revellers dance in the flickering firelight of bonfires beneath the stony indifference of Calton Hill's pillared monuments. Variety. Like a favourite book, Edinburgh is a city you'll want to dip into again and again, savouring each time a different experience the castle silhouetted against a blue spring sky with a yellow haze of daffodils misting the slopes below the esplanade; stumbling out of a late-night club into a summer dawn, with only the yawp of seagulls to break the unexpected silence; heading for a cafe on a chill December morning with the fog snagging the spires of the Old Town; and festival fireworks crackling in the night sky as you stand, transfixed, amid the crowds in Princes Street Gardens

Sedona Travel, Arizona, USA. The History, Vacation Guide, Sedona Tour Book. Sedona is regularly described as one of America's most beautiful places. Nowhere else will you find a landscape as dramatically colorful. The towering red rocks and jagged sandstone buttes matched against an almost always blue sky have beckoned to professional and budding artists for years. And filmmakers have chosen these fiery rock formations in north-central Arizona as the backdrop for such box-office hits as "3:10 to Yuma," "Broken Arrow" and "Midnight Run. "But there's more to Sedona than red rocks and good looks. Over the past few decades, spiritualists have flocked to the region to take advantage of the numerous New Age "vortexes" with supposed spirit-balancing powers found here. Still searching for a way to satisfy your yen? Book an afternoon at one of Sedona's many spas. Traditional treatments with a local twist such as red clay wraps and blue corn body scrubs followed by a glass of local wine are great ways to relax after a long day spent on the trails. Oh yeah, did we mention that the area is home to more than 100 hiking trails? Don't forget to bring your boots!

Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The Cathedral, The Camino de Santiago, Travel Guide. With its beautiful historic centre, atmospheric granite streets, and a fabulous Romanesque-baroque cathedral at its heart, Santiago de Compostela is so much more than Europe's most famous pilgrimage site. Ever since medieval times, Santiago has been a holy city, and its central place of worship, the imposing Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, was allegedly built over the tomb of the apostle James. True or not, the story is enough to encourage thousands of folk from all nations and all creeds to walk, bike or ride horses hundreds of kilometres along the Way of Saint James, aka El Camino de Santiago. Each year, the goal and ambition for over 250,000 trudging pilgrims is to reach the Plaza do Obradoiro. The city's main square is surrounded by magnificent buildings, including the elegant 18th century Pazo de Raxoi (Raxoi Palace, now the town hall), and the Hostal dos Reis Católicos founded in 1492 as a pilgrims' hospice, it is now a 5 star parador (luxury hotel in a converted historic building). Pride of place, however, goes to the majestic twin towers of the magical cathedral, a jaw-dropping masterpiece of baroque architecture. But while the city's delights may begin with this inspiring building, they certainly don't end there. The old town is filled with narrow winding streets lined with historic buildings that are a delight to wander through. Having been the site of the University of Santiago de Compostela since the early 16th century, the city has a large student population and a vibrant nightlife that often continues into the early hours. The Galicia region is also famed for its seafood, and there are some excellent places to eat in Santiago, from select marisquerías to no-frills pulperías literally, octopus bars. It's all delicious, but don't leave without trying zamburiñas (mini-scallops), navajas (razor clams) and percebes (goose barnacles). Wash everything down with an excellent Galician dry white wine. Whether you're here as a pilgrim or merely as a casual observer, stunning Santiago offers everyone plenty of reasons to linger.

Siena, Italy. The History of the City, a Travel Guide for Tourism Does any country boast as many holiday destinations as Italy? The majesty of Rome, the beauty of Naples, the romance of Venice; all must-visit cities at some point in one's life. But even beyond the more storied names, Italy offers much to stir the soul. The small city of Siena, with a population of barely 50,000, is a classic hidden gem. Siena is most famous for its biannual horse race, the Palio. A forthcoming documentary on the Palio should heighten British interest in a truly unique event. If possible, time your visit around either the July or August races. However, even if you can't make the Palio, you'll find much to treasure. Siena is a truly beautiful city, all cobbled streets and tall, ancient buildings. The city is split into 17 districts all with their own names and colours and, as you walk the streets, you'll notice the flags change depending on which district you travel through. Unlike certain global megacities, Siena has a strong sense of identity. It will stay with you long after you depart. Siena is a city where the architecture soars, as do the souls of many of its visitors. Effectively a giant, open-air museum celebrating the Gothic, Siena has spiritual and secular monuments that have retained both their medieval forms and their extraordinary art collections, providing the visitor with plenty to marvel at. The city's historic contrade (districts) are marvellous too, being as close-knit and colourful today as they were in the 17th century, when their world-famous horse race, the Palio, was inaugurated. And within each contrada lie vibrant streets populated with artisanal boutiques, sweet-smelling pasticcerie (pastry shops) and tempting restaurants. It's a feast for the senses and an essential stop on every Tuscan itinerary.

Siem Reap Travel guide, Cambodia. Tourism Information. Siem Reap is one of those places that caters to every taste. It's difficult to get bored in this ever-evolving city. The variety of cuisine, accommodation, shopping, modes of transport, and daily activities is quite astonishing for what is actually a relatively small and new city on the edge of the Tonle Sap lake. The central highlight is of course the Temples of Angkor most of which are just a short trip from the center of town. However, it would be a mistake to see Siem Reap as merely a bed for the night to allow for days at Angkor Wat. Whether it's enjoy sipping a coffee and people-watching in the town, taking a quad bike out into the countryside, or bargaining for silks and silver in the burgeoning markets, there are plenty of reasons to extend a stay after becoming "templed out". Beautiful desert-island beaches, jungle trekking in protected reserves, café-culture in a capital city full of complex historyand, of course, 1000-year old temples from one of the most impressive empires in world history: Cambodia certainly is the Kingdom of Wonder. Cambodia has blossomed into one of the key Asian destinations for luxury holiday-makers, backpackers and everyone in between. Nestled in between Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, this "watery Kingdom", as it was first described during the inception of the Khmer empire thousands of years ago, is well-connected on transport routes, has a wealth of attractions and is particularly easy to travel due to the relatively high level of English spoken in comparison to neighboring countries

Golden Isles Travel Guide, Georgia, USA. Travel Destination, St. Simons Island, Sea Islands, Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island. Nestled on the Georgia coast, midway between Savannah, GA, and Jacksonville, FL, lies four beautiful barrier islands. St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island and the mainland city of Brunswick. Pristine stretches of marshland, punctuated by small islands known as hammocks, define the breathtaking landscape and create the appearance of a continuous stretch of land reaching out to the barrier islands. Beautiful marshlands surrounded the area. Sandy beaches stretch on for miles. World-class golf is everywhere, with hundreds of holes ensconced within the Golden Isles' breathtaking views. Historic landmarks, museums, and art galleries present the legacies of the area, while quaint bed-and-breakfast inns to five-star resorts showcase unrivaled southern hospitality.