Synopses & Reviews
Bonjour and bienvenue to the City of Light. Illustrated by more than 300 color photographs, No Worries Paris takes readers on a visually luscious journey to the city’s striking monuments, as well as into the cobblestone crannies of its villages and along the glamorous fashion boulevards.
Virtually all of Paris is covered in 10 Walking Tours, each with its own map. Walks take from a half-day to a day to complete, starting at one Metro stop and ending at another. The tours are complemented by 10 Promenades, which are shorter in length, taking in the sights around a single attraction, mainly on the fringes of city's arrondissements. No Worries Paris is sure to meet expectations, delivering the famous sights of Paris, but it is also full of surprises at out-of-the-way places.
Of Midi-Pyrenees heritage, Janine Duchein Sprout started photographing Paris during her student days, beginning a lifelong passion that has sustained many subsequent visits. The images do far more than illustrate the text. She has captured the many nuances of Paris with portraits that tell stories sure to lure readers in a way that words cannot. Each walk is a photographic exhibit unto itself. About half the pages are devoted to photographs.
Writer Jerry Sprout adds a text that manages to be both concise and rich with facts and vignettes. The text offers enough detail to make the walks interesting while not getting bogged down in exposition. Key locales of French history are covered, spanning centuries and involving famous figures from the breadth of Europe. Walks also point out the former hangouts of artists, writers, actors, and performers. Particular attention is paid to the many well-known Americans who have made Paris a calling. Walks visit street markets, notorious restaurants, and many film locations. The world of shopping is well represented glamorous stores, chic boutiques and galleries, as well as vintage passageways.
No Worries Paris has enough content to cover several visits. Practical travel tips and get-around information are included. Newcomers will most likely want to begin with monumental strolls. Francophiles may choose something more edgy and out-of-the-way.
The common thread is that each walk is along a visually aesthetic pathway that has a story of its own to tell. Readers who want to get to know Paris by seeing it on foot, pausing occasionally for a gourmet taste or perfumed sniff along the way, have found the right guide.
Review
“Step into a postcard of Paris with this excellent guide to the City of Light. The Paris we all love is covered. Excellent of Paris newbies, the book covers the famous sights as well as including some surprises with out-of-the way places. This is the right guide.” Paris Voice
Review
“The glossy photos alone in this travel book will make you want to take a yearlong sabbatical in France. It also features many tips on shopping, hotels and museums, and suggests walking tours that take you off the beaten path.” Sacramento Bee
Review
“Getting around the City of Light should be a cinch. And it is on paper. Then reality gets in the way. There is so much to see, so much to eat. What to do? Jerry and Janine Sprout have made it trouble-free for visitors to Paris." Chicago Tribune
About the Author
Janine and Jerry Sprout have spent more than 20 years together exploring the trails, beaches, and attractions of the American West. Their adventure guides are trail-tested and designed for the independent traveler. Janine is a professional photographer and graphic designer. Jerry is a former newspaper reporter, award-winning athlete and novelist. Their skills result in outdoor guides that are organized, beautiful to look at, and fun to read.
Books in their Trailblazer Travel Book series: Kauai Trailblazer, Maui Trailblazer, Oahu Trailblazer, Hawaii the Big Island Trailblazer, No Worries Hawaii (a vacation planning guide), Alpine Sierra Trailblazer (Tahoe to Yosemite), Golden Gate Trailblazer (San Francisco and Marin), No Worries Paris, a photographic walking guide.