Holiday Gifts for Travelers: a “Visual Voyage” Through Europe
Are you looking for original, sophisticated holiday gifts for travelers? Look no further! Last month, I had the pleasure of visiting Taschen’s store in Berlin. I’ve been drooling over Taschen books for as long as I can remember. When I lived in Los Angeles, I would make a biannual pilgrimage to the Taschen store in Beverly Hills- I emerged each time having completely blown my budget. As I strolled through the small and effortlessly stylish boutique on Unter den Linden (Berlin’s main boulevard), I fell in love with Taschen all over again.
Was it the tantalizing glossy photos laid out thoughtfully next to trilingual descriptions (in French, German and English) that made my heart race? Or perhaps the lovely cloth bindings and heavy pages that begged me to turn them? As I continued to peruse their collection, it came to me. Yes, Taschen had seduced me with its large collection of, well….”eye candy” seems too simplistic an expression. Each volume is more like a skillfully executed meal, a robust combination of visual flavors that complimented one another and left me wanting more- yes, that’s more like it. However, what has kept me in love with Taschen is the wide variety of international subject matter covered in these lovely volumes and the way they present each location, artist, writer and member of the global community with respect, dignity and beauty.
Taschen is truly a global publishing house, with stores throughout Asia, Europe and the U.S. The company began as an art book publisher founded in 1980 by Benedikt Taschen in Cologne, Germany. The current Editor-in-Chief is Angelika Taschen, who studied art history and German literature in Heidelberg and earned her doctorate in 1986. Working for Taschen since 1987, she has published numerous titles on art, architecture, photography, design, travel, and lifestyle. She conceived the Taschen’s Interiors series in 1993 and many of Taschen’s European-themed books are also Angelika’s brainchildren.
Here are my suggestions of Taschen books that are gifts for travelers on your holiday gift list (they also make great treats for yourself and can scratch the European travel itch):
Taschen’s Paris by Angelika Taschen (2008) – This beautiful hardcover volume is full of Dr. Angelika Taschen’s personal Parisian favorites- hotels, boutiques, restaurants, bars, cafés, and more.
Berlin by Hans Christian Adams (2007) – This 672-page photographic journey into the city’s history does not disappoint. I purchased it as a remembrance of my incredible time in Berlin.
New Paris Interiors by Angelika Taschen (2008) – Do you ever wish you could peek inside those fashionable Parisian apartments you pass on the street? This book brings you some of the most eclectic, daring and modern interiors in Paris.
Great Escapes Mediterranean by Christiane Reiter and Angelika Taschen
Part of Angelika Taschen’s Great Escapes series, this book brings you the very best images of hotels and beaches in Greece, France and Italy.
Win Cool Travel Prizes!
Today’s stop on the Travel Bloggers’ Caravan is: EllenBarone.com. Visit the blog on December 12, 2009 and enter to win a day pack from First Ascent, a new extreme adventure line of gear and clothing by Eddie Bauer and partners (a $79 value). In addition, ExOfficio will be providing the ultimate travel ensemble! You could be trekking the globe in the latest ExOfficio outfit including; 1 Shirt, 1 Pair of Pants and 1 Pair of ExOfficio Underwear. (approximately $200 value)
lovely books – thanks for the great suggestions!