Connecting communities from Corolla in the north to Ocracoke Island in the south, scenic North Carolina Highway 12 binds together the fragile barrier islands that make up the Outer Banks. Throughout its lifetime, however, NC 12 has faced many challenges-from recurring storms and shifting sands to legal and political disputes-that have threatened this remarkable highway's very existence. Through the unique lens of the road's rich history, Dawson Carr tells the story of the Outer Banks as it has unfolded since a time when locals used oxcarts to pull provisions from harbors to their homes and the Wright Brothers struggled over mountainous dunes. Throughout, Carr captures the personal stories of those who have loved and lived on the Outer Banks. As Carr relates the importance of NC 12 and its transformation from a string of beach roads to a scenic byway joining miles of islands, he also chronicles the history of a region over the last eighty-five years, showing how the highway and the residents of the Outer Banks came to rely on each other.

This comprehensive planning guide to 4x4 travel through eastern Africa (Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia) is based on first-hand travel experience. Introductory chapters give detailed general information and guidance on itineraries, what to take, potential costs, fuel availability, road conditions, security issues, requisite documentation, medical precautions, check lists, bush recipes and more. This is followed by descriptions of the routes traversed by the author and her party through six countries. Route maps and detailed, sensible advice equip future travellers with all the necessary information required to plan and carry out out a trouble-free trip through the region. Originally self-published under the title Beware of Falling Mangoes, this handy companion has easy, bulleted text and contains numerous photographs. An invaluable guide for 4x4 explorers to these less-travelled – but hugely rewarding – parts of our continent.

This book takes you on a journey around the world through the eyes of photographer Mario Dirks. In the fall of 2011, camera and lens manufacturer Sigma sent Mario on a yearlong adventure to photograph the most beautiful places on earth. As Sigma's World Scout, he spent 50 weeks visiting a total of 77 cities, 48 countries, and 5 continents. He took 101 flights and traveled 2,500 miles by foot. The result of his tour is a collection of extraordinary photographs showcasing fascinating destinations and scenic locations from around the globe. With this wealth of images and experiences, Mario Dirks has created a diversified snapshot of our earth. The images in this book show global sights like the Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu, Petra, the Grand Canyon, and Ayers Rock, as well as architectural masterpieces, unique natural landscapes, and portraits of people and animals. Mario's photographs are accompanied by anecdotes from his travels as well as photographic tips and tricks, making this book a visual delicacy and treasure trove for every photographer. Come on a journey with the author to America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia; immerse yourself in the colorful and exciting variety of our world; and experience what great photography is made of.

"Amazing & Extraordinary Facts: London" is a unique collection of strange laws, heroic deeds, surprising revelations and other quirky stories that have shaped the unique history of Britain's capital. London's long history is an extraordinarily rich source of amazing facts, whether your interest is political, social, architectural or historical, you will find a variety of topics in this alternative guide to London. Brief, accessible and entertaining pieces on a wide variety of subjects makes it the perfect book to dip in to. The amazing and extraordinary facts series presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure.

'My name is Mike and I am a map addict. There, it's said '

Mike Parker, presenter of Radio 4 s On the Map, celebrates the richness of all things maps in this fantastic, critically-acclaimed read.

Have you ever got through an entire day without referring to some kind of navigational aide, be it checking the A-Z, touring the globe on Google Earth, planning a walk or navigating a shopping centre? Maps are everywhere and they are, according to self proclaimed map-addict Mike Parker, the unsung heroes of life. Here he sings their song, celebrating everything cartographic.

With a mix of wry observation and hard fact, the offbeat and the completely pedantic, Parker wages a one-man war against the moronic blandishments of the Sat Nav age. He combines cartographic history and trivia with memoir and oblique observation to create a highly readable expose of the world of maps. Only here can you find out which area has officially been named by the OS as the most boring square kilometre in the land and whether Milton Keynes was really built to pagan alignment.

Confessing that his own impressive map collection was founded on a virulent teenage shoplifting habit Parker ponders how a good leftie can be so gung-ho about British cartographic imperialism and establishes himself as defender and saviour of British cartography in the internet age."

When Markku Henriksson was growing up in Finland, the song ""(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66"" was one of only two he could recognize in English or Finnish. It was not until 1989 that Henriksson would catch his first glimpse of the legendary highway. It was enough to lure Henriksson four years later to the second international Route 66 festival in Flagstaff. There he realized that Route 66 was the perfect basis for a multidisciplinary American Studies course, one that he has been teaching at the University of Helsinki ever since. Forming the soul of this work and yielding a more holistic and complex picture than any previous study are Henriksson's 1996 (east to west) and 2002 (west to east) journeys along the full length of the Route and his mastery of the literature and film that illuminate the Route's place in Americana. Not a history of the road itself and the towns along the way, Henriksson's perspective offers insight into America and its culture as revealed in its peoples, their histories, cultures, and music as displayed along the Mother Road.

Presents a voyage undertaken by twelve people on a North Sea trawler in 1959, from England to New Zealand with adventures along the way.

As a young photographer in London having completed his post-graduate studies, Marcelo Bendahan had the opportunity of working with the British photo agency, Performing Arts Library. They specialized in photography of music, dance, opera, and festivals. Coming to this exciting work without having been a musician or performer meant that he brought a fresh eye and after a few years he developed an understanding of movement, rhythm, action and the possibilities all these offer us to produce beautiful photography.Wanting to explore other fields of performing arts beyond the limited space of a theatre or an auditorium, he started an exploration of the arts spectacle that is the Carnival. In 1999 he went to Venice-Italy to photograph its Carnival there. He found what he wanted: an enormous display of imagination and fantasy, combined with a strong desire of people to express their traditions, culture and passions through costume, masks, dances, and music.Each year since, he has traveled to one pre-Lenten Carnival. This project has taken him to Basel, Switzerland, Binche, Belgium, Dunkerque and Nice in France, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Barranquilla in Colombia, Oruro in Bolivia, Mazatlan in Mexico, Jacmel in Haiti, Port of Spain, Trinidad, Cadiz in Spain, Cologne in Germany and Mardi Grass in New Orleans, USA. After 14 Carnivals, the time to present this book has come.Along with the strong visuals of Carnival, essays by a collection of writers will explain the significance of Carnival universally and the particulars of each local celebration. "Carnivals of the World" is also a study of color; it explores how people express their emotions through colorful dresses and movement and invites the reader to think on how important it is to live with a touch of imagination and fantasy.What is Carnival?Carnival is a festival season that occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February or March. It typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of dancing, music and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations. The derivation of the word is uncertain, though it possibly can be traced to the Medieval Latin carne vale or carnelevarium, which means to take away or remove meat. This coincides with the fact that carnival is the final festivity before the commencement of the austere 40 days of Lent, during which Roman Catholics, in earlier times, fasted, abstained from eating meat, and followed other ascetic practices. Yet another translation depicts carne vale as "a farewell to the flesh," a phrase embraced by certain carnival celebrations that encourage letting go of your former self and embracing the carefree nature of the festival.The historical origin of carnival is also obscure. In its broadest sense, carnival refers to a pageant, festival, or public celebration found all over the world. It originates in prehistoric times, varying in content, form, function, and significance from one culture to another. Many local carnival customs are also based on local pre-Christian rituals, for example the elaborate rites involving masked figures. The general consensus is that it began during the middle Ages, evolving from the burlesque celebrations associated with Easter, Christmas, and other European festivities such as Maypole, Quadrille Ball, Entrudo, and Halloween.The most famous traditions, including parades and masquerading, are first attested from medieval Italy. The carnival of Venice was for a long time the most famous carnival. From Italy, carnival traditions spread to Spain, Portugal, and France. From France, they spread to the Rhineland of Germany, and to New Orleans. From Spain and Portugal, they spread to Latin America. Many other areas have developed their own traditions. Masking, disguising, cross-dressing - the essential gestures of carnival are intimately related to the idea of becoming an other, of entertaining fantasies, of travelling to other worlds, old and new. Sometimes carnival masquerading is aimed at subverting established social, political or racial hierarchies. Costuming, dancing, and all of the rituals are acts of cultural preservation. Thus, carnival is a vehicle for a range of social expressions and differences. The main feature of carnival is not as a spectacle but as an event to join in."

'A fizzingly entertaining and enlightening book' Daily Telegraph 'Mesmerising' Geographical Magazine 'A fascinating delve into uncharted, forgotten lost places. But it's not just a trivia-tastic anthology of remote destinations but a nifty piece of psycho-geography, explaining our human need for these cartographical conundrums.' Wanderlust In a world of Google Earth, in which it is easy to believe that every discovery has been made and every adventure already had, Off the Map is a stunning testament to how mysterious our planet still is. From forgotten enclaves to floating islands, from hidden villages to New York gutter spaces, Off the Map charts the hidden corners of our planet. And while these are not necessarily places you would choose to visit on holiday - Hobyo, the pirate capital of Somalia, or Zheleznogorsk, a secret military town in Russia - they each carry a story about the strangeness of place and our need for a geography that understands our hunger for the fantastic and the unexpected. But it also shows us that topophilia, the love of place, is a fundamental part of what it is to be human. Whether you are an urban explorer or an armchair traveller, Off the Map will inspire and enchant. You'll never look at a map in quite the same way again.

Accompanying the immense success of the Hebridean diaries and address books, Birlinn has added a birthday book to its attractive range of Hebridean stationery. Illustrated throughout with Mairi Hedderwick's beautiful sketches of the Hebrides, this hardback book is the perfect way to remember birthdays of friends and family. It also makes an excellent gift.

'Your mother is dead and in a box with a lid on. You're not wanted,' shouted the woman, stripping her of her clothes. Not quite four years old, Gloria was forcibly separated from baby brother Kevin, and entered the often brutal, but sometimes caring world of Rothwell Children's Home. Via the fostering process, Gloria spends weekends with a couple and, through them, meets two maiden 'aunts' who would remain true friends. Childhood years are filled with amazing twists and turns in her search for Kevin, ending with her mental breakdown. Incarcerated in an old Victorian-style institution, she is visited by two unfamiliar relatives, with whom she is forced to live. Aged twenty-one, Gloria starts independent living. Re-establishing her friendship with the two 'aunts', they reveal her father's identity. True love enters her life as she marries Robert Urquhart who continues to support her in her quest to find Kevin. This powerful memoir sheds light on what life was like in a 1950s children's home and follows the author in her compelling journey.

As the home of Britain's one and only national coastal park, Pembrokeshire is rightly famed for its marine wildlife, unspoilt beaches, towering cliffs and charming harbours. Inland, however, you will also find ancient woodlands and rolling hills, as well as archaeological mysteries and crumbling castles which suggest that this peaceful part of Wales has a far more turbulent past.The 40 moderate walks in this volume from award winning publisher Pocket Mountains, explore the stunning coastline as well as the heartland of the county, with several routes making use of sections of established long-distance walking trails.

With their breathtaking range of flora and fauna, rain forests are veritable treasures in the world of wildlife. Photographed by the award-winning photojournalist and conservationist, Christian Ziegler, Jungle Spirits is an ode to the tropical splendor of the planet's most diverse ecosystems, while also a call to action to protect tropical rain forests worldwide. Images captured across 20 countries and on four continents present a fascinating look at the globe's most celebrated jungles in all their lush glory. Through Ziegler's vibrant photography, readers journey through pristine landscapes, discover captivating creatures-including bonobos, chameleons, bats, and more-and forge an appreciation for rare plants. Informative texts penned by Ziegler's partner and fellow conservationist, Daisy Dent, complete the book.

During World War One members of the Forces would send their loved ones postcards from the front and loved ones would send postcards in return with heartfelt messages. Till We Meet Again contains a selection of some of these postcards depicting poignant images and sentiments.