Living and working in Australia

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edited and introduced by Hugh Thomas

"Founded by the Moors, the Spanish capital only rose to prominence in the 16th century, when Philip II chose it as a place from which to manage his empire - and it took a further two centuries to become the grandly aristocratic city we see today." "Hugh Thomas, best known for his authoritative history of the Spanish Civil War, The Conquest of Mexico and Rivers of Gold, has chosen from diaries, letters, memoirs and novels ranging across five centuries of Madrid's history. The anthology brilliantly evokes the drama and personalities of the past with eye-witness accounts and commentaries from both visitors and inhabitants. These include Beaumarchais, Beckford, Luis Bunuel, Alexandre Dumas, Goya, Victor Hugo, Hemingway, Napoleon, and scores of others. Bullfights are viewed in the 17th century by the great historian the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke of Wellington walks in the shady Paseo del Prado in 1812, in more recent times Salvador Dali plays a surrealist joke on a staid barman at the Ritz. There are glimpses of Rubens in the Alcazar, Manet at the Prado, generals and anarchists in the Puerta del Sol, and Casanova and Trotsky in prison. A richly satisfying mixture that provides both an introduction to the city and an essence of the spirit of place. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET.

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Sandy Guedes de Queiroz

Culture Smart! Portugal will help you to navigate this multifaceted society. It gives insights into different aspects of life, from sleepy seaside towns to modern, trendy cities, so that you can experience at first hand how this society, which protects family and privacy so fiercely, is eager and proud to show visitors everything the country has to offer. Portugal is a small country that has had a huge cultural and political impact on the modern world. Portuguese explorers were the first to sail round the Cape of Good Hope and open up the sea route to East. At its peak its vast maritime empire embraced colonies in South America, Africa, and Asia, and the Portuguese language is the fifth-most-spoken language in the world. Portugal is now on the radar of world travelers and multinational corporations alike, and this has made its people more receptive to change and more modern in their outlook. The 1974 Peaceful Revolution, which liberated Portugal from dictatorship, also launched it into decades of political and social instability, giving rise to a mood of inertia and pessimism. Today, it is once again living up to its legacy of discovery and invention. This adventurous spirit is evident in the urban and cultural renewal that has swept the country, in harmonious contrast with its historic and traditional backdrop. Portuguese idiosyncrasies can be both confusing and enchanting. The people are famous for saudade, a yearning for the past, a soulful trait that is at once charming and fatalistic. They are collectively proud and personally self-deprecating. They can be romantic, impulsive, set in their ways, resourceful, and loyal. While rising to the challenges of the times, they have managed to maintain their values intact, preserving the history and traditions that give their country its flavor. --Publisher

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Erin Van Rheenen

This guide contains essential information on setting up your daily life, including visas, finances, employment, education, and health care; practical advice on how to rent or buy a home that fits your needs and budget; a thorough survey of the best places to live; firsthand insight into navigating the language and culture; how to plan a fact-finding trip before the move; special tips for those with children or pets.

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main contributors, Susan Burke and Alice L. Powers

A visual travel guide to Washington D.C., providing descriptions and illustrations of significant sights in Old Downtown, Capitol Hill, the Mall, Georgetown, the White House and Foggy Bottom, and surrounding areas; and includes advice on where to stay, eat, and shop.