4 comments about Moon Handbooks Buenos Aires (Moon Handbooks : Buenos Aires).

1. South American guidebooks aren't as plentiful as those from other parts of the world, so I often have to buy several to get complete information. This Buenos Aires edition from Moon Handbooks was surprising because it not only included some great information on the city, but had better information on surrounding areas like Montevideo than my other Uruguay book. Also included up-to-date hotel information that was simply missing from the others.



2. I just spent six weeks in Buenos Aires and used this book as a guide to my daily activities. Useful for more than just getting around, the book gives a careful, balanced view of many aspects of life in BsAs. The list of suggested readings in the back of the book shows the author's good taste. Instead of a book filled with hyperboles and hasty suggestions, you have a volume of reliable, thoughtful observations. An excellent companion to the beautiful city.



3. Of the five Argentina guides I brought with me (3/2006) this guide is the least useful and, the most out of date. Do not let the publishing date fool you; the information in this guide comes from research done in 2001/2002.
   
   In the past four years much has changed in Buenos Aires. None of the hotel rates given in this guide are anywhere near what is being charged today. There are hotels that charge triple what this guide quotes.
   
   The writing is uninspired and reads like something that you would read a government office of tourism. There is little information to helps you connect with the unique culture and characteristics of Buenos Aires. The maps in this guide are very difficult to use. The publisher has crammed everything on one map: hotels, restaurants, sights to see, etc. There are much better maps in other guides. The guide's recommendations for restaurants is sub-par in comparison to other guides.
   
   For Buenos Aires, one of the best guides out is Fodor's `Argentina'. Fodor's has excellent maps of the city and it has great recommendations for both restaurants and accommodations. Caveat: only use Fodor's `Argentina' (3rd edition) for Buenos Aires, outside of the capitol Fodor's is dismal as a guide. For a great all around Argentina guide consider either Lonely Planet Argentina 2005 or Rough Guide Argentina 2005. This guide is not recommended.



4. I have traveled to most all "corners" of the world and purchased many guidebooks. This one is without a doubt the best yet. The prices quoted are about 2/3 of actual but the economy in Argentina changes quickly at times and all are in relation to inflated costs per vendor. My congratulations to the writer and thank you for making my trip so much better!

No comments about Touring Argentina: Jujuy.

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No comments about Three Years Slavery Among the Patagonians (Travellers, Explorers & Pioneers).

No comments about Argentina Travel Map.

No comments about Argentina Insight Fleximap (Insight Flexi Map).

No comments about Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina, Map ACA.

1 comments about Todos Los Mapas De La Republica Argentina.

1. I had high hopes for this book of maps. The book has a very small map of the whole country and very small maps of the states. The maps resemble a map you might see in a bad encyclopedia, no detail but a couple of cities and a few major highways

4 comments about Attending Marvels: A Patagonian Journal.

1. This is an odd book. It is hard to find, even for an experienced haunter of used book stores, and not many people have read it. But once you vicariously join the Scarrit Expedition hunting fossils in the Patagonian wilderness in the early 1930s, you may never completely recover. "Attending Marvels" is a trip into several lost worlds at once: most obviously that of the "whole lot of other ---ontotheres" that dominated South American fauna before the Isthmus of Panama rose, but also into the almost incredibly isolated and harsh lives of the Patagonians. But the trip that takes the reader furthest is into Simpson's outlook. He is endlessly curious, delighted with everything in the natural world, and able to appreciate and communicate with people who are as culturally different from him as a fellow human could be. This wide-eyed gusto for the world shows in his lyrical descriptions of such unpromising subjects as hedgehogs, yerba mate, and of course, bits of fossilised bone. True, there are also national politics, academic politics, martial law and a homicidal maniac but none of these are as important to Simpson or as vivid to the reader as the fossil snake. It is a prime example of the scientist/naturalist world view at its best. "Atending Marvels" is also great fun to read. It is full of wonderful anecdotes and some very funny passages; some lines ("You can't possibly kill anyone before the 15th of the month"; "This is your Patagonia--keep it beautiful", "Es triste, non?") have become code phrases among my friends and family. So take the effort to find this book; the trip is worth the trouble.



2. The book is well done overall. But I thought Dr. Simpsons attitudes toward Patagonian poeple and culture were through a myoptic pair of American/European glasses.

   It is fun to read this book as the second in a trilogy. The first is Darwin's "Voyage of the Beagle", the third is Bruce Chatwin's "In Patagonia". Chatwin's appreciation of Patagonian people and culture is much more to my liking.

   Don Bailey jeep1104@yahoo.com




3. I first read this book many years ago, and it is one of the best books I have ever read. I started reading not knowing anything about Patagonia, or the subject of the book, but was quickly swept into a real life adventure. I have taken several trips with a vague destination and purpose in mind, but found the journey was far more interesting than the goal. This is one of those adventures. The book is about a constant unfolding landscape of people, places, and things, where each new discovery is a suprise to the reader. Too bad it is out of print, but my copy is not for sale.



4. I bought this books years ago at an estate sale of a anthro. prof. at a local college. Estate and garage sales are a fantastic source of cheap books.

   I agree with the criticism of the Eurocentric attitudes, but hey Bernal Diaz had even harsher attitudes in his Conquest of New Spain - and that book is still worth reading.

   I often recommend this book to friends . If I had only been aware that it was out of print I would have held on to it.

   Time to look for another copy...........

No comments about Argentina, Chile, Sur de Brasil, Paraguay, Uruguay: Estaciones de Gnc, Peajes, 6500 Ciudades, 2300 Distancias, Escala Aprox. 2.750.000 [Sic].