Good Night and God Bless: A Guide to Convent and Monastery Accommodation in Europe. Volume One: Austria, Czech Republic, Italy: 1 - Softcover

Trish Clark

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0646485202 ISBN 13: 9780646485201

Publisher: Paratus Press, 2008

Synopsis

This is the modern traveller's bible. Travellers and pilgrims seeking a unique experience can now uncover the ancient secrets of convents and monasteries around Europe. We reveal these atmospheric and affordable places that accommodate tourists or those pursuing a pilgrimage or spiritual retreat. Convents, monasteries and abbeys have always been places which generously welcome weary travellers. That tradition continues today and "Goodnight & God Bless" takes you on a tour of religious hideaways offering tourist and pilgrimage accommodation throughout Europe. Suitable for the traveller, the pious and the curious alike, this user-friendly travel guide provides invaluable information, travel tit-bits and anecdotes against a fascinating backdrop of history and religion.

About this title

Review

Sydney writer Trish Clark has completed the perfect book for those with a passion for travel and matters ecclesiastic. Her guide to monasteries and convents in Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic makes fascinating reading, with cassocks full of interesting snippets as the cloisters and their secrets open as accommodation. Clark lists open houses of religious orders (some with fine food); spiritual retreats (quieter establishments) and pilgrimages, as well as details of places of interest nearby. In lieu of 5-star amenities, think curfews - but the hospitality is A1. -- The Australian Financial Review - April 18-20 2008

Billed as volume one, and covering Italy, the Czech Republic and Austria, this is a well-ordered handbook to convent and monastery accommodation by Australian traveller Trish Clark. She has a second volume planned (France, Ireland and England), which proves there must be little shortage of blessed beds. The author describes her chosen places as "unique, safe, comfortable and friendly", and they seem budget-friendly too. Don't be put off by the thought of serious seminary-style lodgings: many of the inclusions sound divine (in a much more secular sense), such as Villa Helios on the isle of Capri with views of the Bay of Naples, lush gardens, an orchard and a historic chapel.

Alexandra James, Weekend Australian -- Alexandra James, Weekend Australian - April 26-27 2008

Have you ever slept in a bishop's bedchamber or a nun's cell (where's Dick Emery when you need him?) or sipped wine in an abbey's dining room? Travel writer Trish Clark reports on an unusual way to holiday in a paperback book which is described as a modern traveller's bible. Good Night & God Bless is a guide to convent and monastery accommodation in Austria, Czech Republic and Italy. The book came to Clark about 20 years ago when, as a young traveller, she couldn't find a bed in a youth hostel in Rome and was directed to a convent `up the road'. Suitable for the tourist, the pious and the curious, the user-friendly travel guide has accommodation details, local tourist information, places of pilgrimage, travel titbits and anecdotes against a fascinating backdrop of history and religion.
-- The Sunday Telegraph Escape - May 18 2008

The flood of travel books continues and one of the best recent arrivals is Queensland writer Trish Clark's guide to tourism accommodation in convents, monasteries and abbeys in Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic.
Called Good Night and God Bless, it is the first of a series, with the next one to cover France, Ireland and the UK.
The guide is full of treasures and Clark backs the listings with good local information on things to see and do. -- Mike Bingham - Sunday Tasmanian - 4 May 2008

When she was a 20 something backpacker, Trish Clark had what you could call an epiphany. Turned away from a backpackers' hostel in Rome, she was told to try the convent for accommodation. Staying there was a happy experience and a revelation that led her to discover a whole new world for travellers of all ages. Suitable for the tourist, the pious and the curious alike, her user-friendly guide gives details on accommodation, tourist information, places of pilgrimage and history. Staying at a convent may not to be everyone's idea of a good time, but many Australians head overseas to famous pilgrimage trails such as El Camino de Santiago in Spain. If that appeals, so might the idea of staying in a medieval monastery - with the monks. The settings are fascinating, the accommodation ranges from basic to luxurious, and the proprietors are always friendly and welcoming. The author says this form of accommodation has been a well kept secret. This first volume features Austria, Czech Republic and Italy and volume two, due out in 2009, will cover France, Ireland and the UK. -- Phil Brown - Brisbane News - 7 May 2008

Edition details

• Publisher: Paratus Press
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0646485202
• ISBN 13: 9780646485201
• Binding: Perfect Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 264