Bathhouses (hamams) play a prominent role in Turkish culture, because of their architectural value and social function as places of hygiene, relaxation and interaction. Continuously shaped by social and historical change, the life story of Mimar Sinan's Cemberlitas HamamA in Istanbul provides an important example: established in 1583/4, it was modernized during the Turkish Republic (since 1923) and is now a tourist attraction. As a social space shared by tourists and Turks, it is a critical site through which to investigate how global tourism affects local traditions and how places provide a nucleus of cultural belonging in a globalized world. This original study, taking a biographical approach to tell the story of a Turkish bathhouse, contributes to the fields of Islamic, Ottoman and modern Turkish cultural, architectural, social and economic history.

Women’s travel is a thriving niche, as our first book by travel expert Marybeth Bond amply showed. To continue serving that eager market of traveling women, National Geographic presents Best Girlfriends Getaways Worldwide. Each chapter takes off with stories of women who traveled with girlfriends to celebrate, grow, challenge themselves, or simply enjoy every moment to its fullest. They ran marathons to support favorite causes, cycled through Ireland, volunteered in Montana, overnighted at a French chateau. One woman recounts how she broke through her culinary comfort zone, telling behind-the-scenes stories of a weeklong cooking class in Tuscany. An altruistic adventurer describes her life-affirming volunteer vacation with a close friend, delivering books to schools in rural Nepal. The information-packed chapters suggest once-in-a-lifetime exotic escapes, trips to the world’s best cities, cultural hot spots, places to learn and stretch your mind, canal and river trips, and great culinary getaways. Each concludes with a targeted how-to section featuring websites and contact information to help readers set off on their own adventures. Female baby boomers are not going quietly over the hill—they are roaring along the roads, waterways, and paths with style and humor. This is the book to guide them.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend Christmas in Bethlehem? Follow Teresa the Traveler as she goes on a 2-month solo journey from Berlin to Bethlehem

Newly revised, updated, and redesigned for 2016. True to its name, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Top 10 Istanbul covers all the city's major sights and attractions in easy-to-use "top 10" lists that help you plan the vacation that's right for you. This newly updated pocket travel guide for Istanbul will lead you straight to the best attractions the city has to offer, whether you want to explore fascinating museums and historic mosques and churches or the best bazaars and shopping areas. Expert travel writers have fully revised this edition of DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Top 10 Istanbul. + Brand-new itineraries help you plan your trip to Istanbul. + Maps of walking routes show you the best ways to maximize your time. + New Top 10 lists feature off-the-beaten-track ideas, along with standbys like the top attractions, shopping, dining options, and more. + New typography and fresh layout throughout. You'll still find DK's famous full-color photography and museum floor plans, along with just the right amount of coverage of the city's history and culture. The perfect pocket-size travel companion: DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Top 10 Istanbul.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Turkey will lead you straight to the best attractions this beautiful part of the world has to offer. Visit Hagia Sophia, experience the hot springs of Pamukkale, and explore the country region-by-region - from local festivals and markets to day trips around the countryside. Discover DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Turkey. + Detailed itineraries and "don't-miss" destination highlights at a glance. + Illustrated cutaway 3-D drawings of important sights. + Floor plans and guided visitor information for major museums. + Guided walking tours, local drink and dining specialties to try, things to do, and places to eat, drink, and shop by area. + Area maps marked with sights. + Detailed city maps include street finder indexes for easy navigation. + Insights into history and culture to help you understand the stories behind the sights. + Hotel and restaurant listings highlight DK Choice special recommendations. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Turkey truly shows you this country as no one else can.

An expert on cruises gives his advice. Packed with statistics, histories, lists, prices, and photographs, this guide delves into the details of more than 280 cruise ships. The pros and cons of voyages and ports of call are summarized with star evaluations and every detail is scrutinized. From shipboard menus and daily activity programs to physical details and recreation opportunities, every aspect of cruise vacations is weighed.

This valuable guide assists you in selecting the ship best suited to your taste, advises you on how to prepare for your cruise, and explains what toexpect once you are onboard. Stern discusses every major port of call worldwide, listing details on attractions, beaches, hotels, restaurants, shopping, sports, and other recreation. He also includes guidelines on howto make the most of an eight-hour stay in port.

“The extent of detail given . . . is good not only for the novice cruiser finding their way around . . . but also for the veteran cruiser who wants to know the latest about the newest ships.” “This is the book with which to gain a full and thorough understanding of the wonderful world of cruising. Repeat cruisers and novices alike will gain from the volume of features, menus, daily schedules, photos, as well as details on every cruise ship and port of call throughout the world. This should be the encyclopedia for any cruise aficionado” (World of Cruising). “People who’ve never cruised before or those who have but find themselves faced with a confusing onslaught of new ships need to know a great deal, and this book goes a long way in providing it” (Chicago Tribune). “Stern’s Guide to the Cruise Vacation is one of the most comprehensive authorities and a must-have for both the novice and the seasoned cruiser” (Porthole Cruise Magazine).

This valuable guide assists you in selecting the ship best suited to your taste, advises you on how to prepare for your cruise, and explains what to expect once you are onboard. Stern discusses every major port of call worldwide, listing details on attractions, beaches, hotels, restaurants, shopping, sports, and other recreation. He also includes guidelines on how to make the most of an eight-hour stay in port.