2 comments about Anguilla: Tranquil Isle of the Caribbean (Macmillan Caribbean Guides).

1. not many travel books out there for Anguilla....this one was worth the purchase...provides some historical info



2. This book is informative and charming contaning lots of inside knowledge going beyond a standard guidebook. It also has so many beautiful and relevant pictures. It is small and sweet - like the island itself!

5 comments about This Is Cuba: An Outlaw Culture Survives.

1. I am a 32 years old cuban who left Cuba in 1999. I was born into the "revolution" and was able to witness most of the stories told on this book. However, this book goes deep into the real heart of Cuba discovering things that even me as a Cuban, I was unaware of. Great Job!!!!



2. If you have an agenda and want to write a negative book about anything then this chap shows you how to do it.Not too much information yielded about real Cuban life which differed greatly to my experiences.Interviews people ,specifically hand picked(all disgruntled) and gets them to tell you how repressed and downtrodden they are.Really,can you take the word of a prostitute to be the gospel truth?
   Perfect for capitalists and the unifnformed but really offers nothing in the way of culture,education,history,geography or indeed anything else you may be looking for about real Cuban life.



3. This book greatly details the lives of an outlaw culture. However, Ben Corbett isn't entirely objective. He is very pro-American capitalism, he has yet to see that globalization and capitalism leaves alot of countries in dire poverty, the poor in capitalistic Latin American countries are worse off than the average Cuban. My only criticism of the book is that he never interviews doctors, lawyers, or government officials, only pimps, hoes, tatoo artists, and drug dealers. What would you expect them to say about their government and lifestyle? Would you ask homeless Americans and/or prostitutes about the American dream, our government, or opportunties here? Hell no!! Besides, the American dream is a lie and the USA does have a class system!!!! We live in a dictatorship and we dont have complete freedom, we just think we do. So to all those who criticize Cuba, eat it! VIVA FIDEL-who provides medical care to the poor throughout the world and cares about his people, unlike Bush the elitist. Bolivia thanks you for those shots! Fidel-History will absolve you when they see how evil the US really was and IS today in MODERN TIMES!!! VIVA FIDEL-a HERO!!!!!!



4. I would like to say that reading this man's encounter of Cuba has changed my view on American reporters. Coming from a family who left Cuba in the early 60's, I have heard much about the poverty and I know how sad it was for my family to remember the way it was pre-Castro. Since I am first generation American I have only had the experience of my family to go on. The read was bittersweet for me. I am happy to know that someone is corageous enough to tell the truth even if it hurts to know what my people must go through everyday to survive.



5. 
   
   This is a great book. Not just a great Cuba book, or travel book...it's an excellent piece of writing with a objective, surefooted point of view that cuts through a controversial, incredibly complex subject with precision, heart, humor, and an unflinching sense of witness. One of the great things about it is illustrated by the fact that although the author is a fan of socialism and Castro, he frames one of the most devastating descriptions ever written of the bankruptcy of the economic, political, social, and philosophical situation in Cuba today. There might be those who take umbrage at what Corbett has done here, but no visitor to contemporary Cuba will fail to recognize the unvarnished validity of what he says or admire the lapidary, congenial way he says it.
   
   Unlike many writers who pop into Cuba and pop out with the answer--not to mention the legions who make up their minds on sheer ideology--Corbett has visited the island many times over a period of years, and has considerable experience living there for long periods of time. He lived somewhat underground: in illegal circumstances, which brought him into easy contact with mass opinions not quickly offered to strangers. And he was lucky enough to have been there during several very revealing periods, including crackdowns and crises.
   
   Corbett organizes his experiences into twenty-odd chapters in a way that seems effortless, but is actually an ingenious method of arranging the multi-leveled task of describing a society. Chapters discuss a day in school, black market, prostitution and hustling, the effects of "Buena Vista Social Club", the incessant marches, the crush for tourist dollars, diet, and the attempts to escape--either legally or otherwise. And each spins out into an embrace of the whole nutty economy and culture. The subtitle of the book, "An Outlaw Culture Survives" is extremely indicative: throughout it we see a constant struggle for survival in a system of parallel cultures that operate beneath the laws and oppression. And throughout we are apalled and impressed by the dogged ability of Cuban ingenuity to pull through, to rig things up, to balance necessity, law, doctrine, and black humor.
   
   One phenomenon he descibes is a good example of the multi-level impact of his calm observation: derrumbes. From time to time buildings in Havana just collapse--failure due to age, poverty and lack of safety codes. Sometimes people have enough warning to run outside, often several families die. And the neighbors cannibalize the collapsed houses to repair their own homes. The first reaction of a NorthAmerican to the idea that urban buildings fall down and people are used to it is one of horror and disbelief. It goes against everything we think a city and society should stand for. Then we think about an economy in which some homes survive by using debris from those that collapse--not a bad analogy for the Cuban economy that has degenerated to a flea market selling off the last old stuff in the attic. Then maybe we start to admire the hunker down courage of people who live like that, who accept a system so different from the one their parents knew. And we marvel at the many who move to Havana from the country--even with possible penalties of jail and fines equal to five years pay for doing so--because the small towns and countryside offer much less opportunity for survival. The real genius and miracle of Cuba is in its people. By the way, appoximately a quarter of Havana's buildings are officially unsafe, a moderate earthquake would probably topple 75% of them. It is illegal to photograph or report derrumbes.
   
   Corbett (and his Cuban friends) have a fine eye for ironic contradiction and the bitter laughs it provides. Cubans love to camp on beaches but under the current regime are not allowed to--beaches are reserved for tourists with dollars. In the workers' paradise, labor unions are illegal. Castro proclaims socialism and trumpets against U.S. capitalism yet whores for American capital. Foreign companies pay well for construction and oil workers, but the government keeps the money and pays the workers the usual $7 a month stipend for their work--in a system supposedly built on rebelling against exploitation of labor. Prostitution, supposedly impossible under Marxist principles, is tolerated because it brings in foreign dollars. Those who are lucky enough to win the visa "lottery" and leave Cuba end up having everything they owned taken from them by their government--and have to pay for exit visas. It just goes on and on. For the reader--for Cubans it's been going on and on for fifty years.
   
   Though basically a fan of Cuba, Castro, and leftism, Corbett doesn't flinch away from realities that most starry-eyed chroniclers gloss over or ignore: that Cuba is a fascist state. The government controls everything, including where you live, police are numerous and everywhere, a block-by-block citizen spy network reports everything that happens, goods are seized by the state on any pretext...and above all, the prime characteristic of slave states that makes their apologists uncomfortable--the people are not free to leave. What better definition of imprisonment, oppression or slavery could there be than that: you can't leave if you want to.
   
   It's as much a tribute to Corbett as to the Cuban people that this exhibition of socioeconomic malpractice is basically upbeat. And that's the way Cuba is: you see all this atrocity going on around you, but you leave happy and singing the lyrics. The last chapter of "This Is Cuba" is the most quizical of all: what happens next? If Castro died tomorrow and Cuba burst out into the real world after a half-century of being kidnapped away from the world economy, what would happen? They have nothing to sell but the usual Third World inventory: their labor, soil products, beaches and willing women. They have nobody who has a clue how to market goods, run a factory, design competitively, distribute products, organize labor. On the other hand, they have become a country of survivors: tinkerers, corner-cutters, jury-riggers, co-operators. If they have a chance to avoid being Haiti, it will be because of Cuban resilience. Corbett ends his book like this:
   "(the will to survive, to live, to endure, and even to resist)...are the ingredients of focused human determination. Today, Castro only stands in the way of the people. They are now prepared to define Cuba's destiny. And in this preparedness, perhaps Castro acheived the greatest victory of all." Whether that is a ringing cheer for Castroism or analagous to saying that men come out of penitentiaries better prepared to live on the street remains to be seen.

4 comments about Let's Go Puerto Rico 3rd Edition (Let's Go Puerto Rico).

1. This book has great information for visiting Puerto Rico. We had bought a map but it turned out to not always be reliable, so this book saved the day! It has great details on finding hotels and it's very informative regarding the different regions of the island.



2. Written by undergrad students at Harvard (my alma mater), this travel guide lacks the clarity and ease-of-use of other more professionally written and edited guides. Information is laid out with a single purpose in mind: to confuse you, the reader. Maps are scattered all over the guide, making it necessary to dogear many different pages -- which then defeats the purpose of dogearing since you don't know which marks what. Also, the font is *tiny*, making the book very difficult to read for anyone over the age 30.
   
   Plus, the lodging and dining recommendations in this guide are horrible. Too few are listed, and they don't tell you what the area code is -- they just give you the 7-digit phone number!
   
   Fodor's PR guide seems better, plus if you are an AAA member, you should get their free Carribean tour guide.



3. Loved this guide! We used it during our whole trip. The Old San Juan part is really detailed, with great maps and other listings. The restaurant listing is not as good--asking the locals may help there. The other sections of the guide are solid as well, but one thing to note--the guide book doesn't say much about the bioluminescent bay at Fajardo (maybe a word or two) but that was the best part of our trip. Don't miss it!



4. I travel to PR frequently for my job. I like to always have a guidebook with me in case I have a new person with me or venture somewhere new. I bought the Let's Go because my most recent Lonely Planet guide was 4 years old (too old for a guidebook) and the new one wasn't coming out until mid-summer. The Let's Go book was a disappointment. The information is insufficient, poorly organized, etc. For example, in the sections about Culebra and Vieques (places I love to visit), it fails to mention how to get to the ferry dock in Fajardo from San Juan - you either need to drive there and park (and finding the dock is NOT easy in Fajardo as putting up helpful signs is not something PR does well), or you can take a publico (they do tell you where the station is in SJ) but this takes all day and maybe won't get you to the dock at all. They mention flying but with no instructions or map for finding the airport in Fajardo. Anyway, this is just an example of where just reading Let's Go could lead to a very frustrating experience for a traveller. Being an independent traveller is great and implies some tolerance for "adventure" but it is the guidebook's responsibility to help independent travellers be prepared for what they are going to have to deal with so they can have fun! Buy Lonely Planet. It's a better PR guide. I have also read Fodor's pocket guide to PR. Skip that one too. And when you get to PR if you rent a car, buy a real road map at a gas station or drugstore.

No comments about D & S Cayman Islands (Diving & Snorkeling).

2 comments about Insight Guide: The Dominican Republic & Haiti (1st Ed).

1. If you are looking for backgrounder on the people, geography, and history of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, this book may fit your needs. As a general travel guide, it misses the mark badly.

   First, the positives. The book provides 150 pages of concise overview. The history section is particularly successful. With an investment of about 90 minutes of reading, you come away with a reasonable understanding of how these two nations arrived at their modern condition, and in particular why they are quite different from one another. The photography in this section and throughout the book is superb and inspirational.

   Now, the bad news. As a practical travel guide, information is consistently lacking or just plain wrong. A few examples (there are many more)...

   1. Want to know what time it is when you arrive in the DR? This book will tell you you're in the Eastern Time zone. (False - you are one hour ahead).

   2. Want to know how much cash you'll need at the airport? This book correctly informs you of the $10 tourist card you must purchase on arrival but utterly fails to mention the $10 departure tax.

   3. Want to do a little exploring on the Costa del Coco north of Punta Cana? This book will treat you to purple passages like "the charter meccas are left behind glinting like shiny oyster pearls in the sun...", then toss out the names of a few beaches you could have located on the map, and provide absolutley no additional information.

   In short, you might find this book useful for some inspiration in planning your trip, but don't expect to rely on it for practical information once you're on site.




2. I bought this book, not as a travel guide, but as a "coffee-table book" about the country of Haiti. As such, it is FANTASTIC! Sure, there are some typos in this first edition, but the publisher specifically invites readers' contributions & corrections (p. 2) for future editions. The photos in this book are vivid, stunning depictions of life in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. There is an introductory section full of photos & illustrations that covers the history of both nations that comprise Hispaniola, followed by colorful, photo-filled sections on people, language, art, religion, cuisine, sports, flora & fauna, architecture, economy & agriculture, geography & demography by regions of each country (including a wide variety of detailed maps), sites to visit and sights to see. All this comprises the first 344 pages of this marvelous book! Only the last 48 pages are devoted to "Travel Tips" -- trip planning, transportation, places to stay, places to eat, tourist sites, shopping, festivals, excursions, and so forth. Indeed, this is NOT A TRAVEL GUIDE! BUT A MARVELOUS AND DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE RICH CULTURE, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, AND INTRIGUING HISTORY OF THE ISLAND OF HISPANIOLA it is!!

5 comments about Cozumel: The Complete Guide.

1. I have been coming to Cozumel for 12 years and this year I purchased this island directory. My wife and I had a great time trying out all the new and out of the way restaurants we didnt even know existed. This book is well worth the money and I recommend it to everyone visiting Cozumel even if you have been there before.



2. I have been a Cozumel resident for five years. I had the opportunity to view this guide book last week for the first time. While it appears to those who are unfamiliar with the island as a wonderful resource, buyer beware. There are numerous errors in the book which include but are not limited to: incorrect phone numbers, website addresses, e-mail addresses, improper spellings of establishments, and establishments that no longer exist...one in particular has not existed in over five years!
   
   The author has good intentions, but she did not do her homework and did not do a thorough fact check before publishing this book.



3. I tend to disagree with the most recent review of this book. I have been a LONG TIME part time resident of the Island, since 1987. I purchased this book for use by my guests, and have actually used it myself. I agree there are a few editorial errors, and some just barely out of date information, but 95%% of this book is valuable information, with out of the way dining options, that would seldom be found on the internet, and small shops who also do not find their way to the internet or printed guidebooks. Guidebooks are a difficult thing to keep current to the minute, as by the time it prints there are already changes. Used in conjuction with the Cozumel Can Do map, this is a terriffic resource.



4. Great reference for the island of Cozumel with a lot of detailed hints (reads like someone's diary). And as far as we've found, the author is right: Cozumel is usually a small blip in books dedicated almost solely to Cancun (or the entire Yucatan Peninsula). If you're spending more than one day on the island, definitely worth it.



5. I bought this book because I have a trip planned to Cozumel in a few months. And as others have found, you cannot find a book dedicated solely to Cozumel, just a chapter or two, so this book has great info. However, I was disappointed that there were no color pictures or more of them! Pictures would be much more helpful, especially when listing beaches. All-around good buy, though.

3 comments about Knopf MapGuide: Venice (Knopf Mapguides).

1. I am a big fan of the Knopf MapGuides and usually get one for each place I visit, but this was one of the more disappointing in the series. Venice is difficult to navigate and it would be nearly impossible to create a completely accurate map of the city. That said, many streets on these maps are not labeled. There are also a large number of streets, bridges, and landmarks in Venice that do not appear on the maps. I spent a lot of time trying to match the maps against what I saw in person, and found the smaller maps in my guidebook were much more accurate.
   
   There are also several areas of Venice that simply are not covered on the maps, including all of the islands. We found some delightful streets in the western part of Santa Croce that do not appear on any of the maps, and no coverage of the area near the train station or the Piazzale Roma, which are important points of entry into the city. Overall, the maps were just average for what they do cover, and the coverage of Venice needs to be improved.



2. Unlike many maps, the street IDs in this guide are big enough for a user to actually read. That said, I still got lost walking from the Accademia bridge to San Marco. (Following crowds and stopping in to ask store clerks helped me out here.) I found myself flipping back and forth on the two San Marco maps freqently, when it would have been more convenient to have all the info on a single map.



3. Best travel guide bar none. Fits your pocket or small purse.. Visually great looking.There are actual pictures .... All high recommended hotels different prices..Great maps.. hard to get lost even in Venice. Great recommends for food I am a shopper.. Absolutely great & unusual shops ..None of the bad tourist gear only the styling gear.. .I had three guides to Venice this is the one we used every day...Do not go anywhere without this guide if there is one available for the destination Im will be traveling to....

1 comments about Rum & Reggae's Puerto Rico, Including Culebra & Vieques (Rum & Reggae series).

1. I will be going to Puerto Rico in May and although it doesn't have much information in the way of visiting Fajardo which is where I am going, it will do just fine. I am very much a traveler of off the beaten path. So this is perfect for me, it's informative, entertaining and without sounding rude at some points anti-tourist. Which is fine with me. :) So I would say if you're going to Puerto Rico pick up a book that's maybe a little more detailed for the part you're going and GET THIS ONE TOO!!

No comments about Cayman Islands, 3rd (Bradt Travel Guide).

No comments about How to Buy and Sell Real Estate in the Bahamas: Insider's Guide.