Monday Mailbox - Birthday Showers

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. The host for November is: Kathy at http://bermudaonion.net/ where you can find other bloggers who are bragging about their new books too!

My wonderful family showered me with birthday presents this morning--yes, I am lucky enough to have a Guy Fawkes Day birthday!  So, I thought I would share with you what I received this beautiful Monday morning. Note - all blurbs below are lifted from Amazon.

Walking in the Dolomites:

This guide leads you through breathtaking alpine scenery flanked by well-graded paths and excellent mountain refuges that verge on hotels, which are easily accessible with the excellent network of public transport from major towns and travel hubs, such as Venice, Verona, Munich and Innsbruck.Any one of these fabulous multi-day walks make for a memorable holiday in Italy's breathtaking Dolomite mountains. This full colour revised edition has a wealth of inspiring photos, detailed maps, myriad new routes and heaps of practical help on travelling, sleeping and eating.

Walking in Britain:

From ancient trails in southern England and coastal paths in Wales, to windswept moors in northern England and mountain ascents in Scotland, your opportunities for walking in Britain are as varied as the landscapes, people and cultures of this island.

Seven Tips to Make the Most of the Camino de Santiago:

It is not a travelogue or a guide, but rather a preparation manual that gives practical advice on the different aspects of undertaking the spiritual journey of a lifetime. The Seven Tips cover everything from what to take to the history of the Camino to calculating the cost. Thought provoking questions are posed to help set realistic expectations in the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and logistical areas. In short, it is the organizational tool you need while planning your trip.

Do you see a trend emerging?  Although I'm hoping to do some serious walking in the Dolomites in 2014, and perhaps even sooner in Britain, the Camino de Santiago book is the one I started on first because I think it will be useful for walking/trekking anywhere.

My final book was from my mother, Bobby Flay's Bar Americain Cookbook.  I really enjoy visiting this restaurant in NYC, and just flipping through it I found several recipes that look great.  How about Fried Green Tomato Salad with smoked trout, fava beans, roasted beets, and sweet and sour dressing?

One last gift I want to mention is a set of postcards my daughter sent to me--they're all of posters from the Glasgow-based Anchor Line that provided transatlantic steamship passenger service starting in 1856.

I absolutely love travel posters so this is a real treat!