1 comments about Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile: On the Road in Cuba.

1. This is a history of Cuba replete with fifty-two old photographs, called 'historic', with emphasis on its dependence on America's automobiles. "Following the Revolution, [when Castro took over], relations between the United States and Cuba went from bad to worse." America was the major exporter of the sugar, with U.S. based oil companies plentiful in Havana, only ninety miles from Key West Florida.
   
   In February, 1960, Cuba made a major mistake by agreeing to sell "five million tons of sugar over a five year period to the Soviet Union." This was during the Cold War. "In March, President Dwight Eisenhower responded...by drastically reducing American purchases of Cuban sugar. In June, when the first shipment of Soviet crude [oil] arrived, Shell, Standard, and Texaco refused to refine it at their Cuban installations. As a result, Castro's Revolutionary government took them over and 'nationalized' them. In 1959, the president of Airtex, a Chicago-based manufacturer of fuel and water pumps, wrote a Christmas letter to the company's Cuban dealers, "We really admire the work that is being done by your maximum leader, Fidel Castro." He was wrong. By that fall, Castro had put severe restrictions on the import and sale of North American cars.
   
   From 1950 to 1958, the number of cars on the island had jumped from 70,000 to 167,000. At the same time, a large majority of Cubans were illiterate and too poor to afford minimal health care. The tourist trade was booming, and "the island had the largest per capita sales of Cadillacs in the world." In Havana, Chevrolets dominated sales. Tourism was off dramaticallly during the first year of the Revolution. One shipment of 1960 Oldsmobiles left Detroit in 1959, and a few 1960 Chevrolets. Che claimed one of the latter, though he is shown driving a Studebaker on the day he married in 1953. Fords were also plentiful in 1956 with Plymouths and Valiants never reaching Cuban shores.
   
   The first car in Cuba arrived in 1902. The last trolley ran in 1952 replaced by buses. "By 1930, some were calling for the city to eliminate trolley service entirely." They used a type of trolley (pictured) with spoked wheels and "to make a trip in a trolley from one end of the capital to the other means to have to submit oneself to a truly distressing torture." The Astro bus station was a center of "community interaction, an urban hub where people come to eat, drink, or shop as well as to catch a bus to some other place to to wait for somebody arriving on one." I guess when the KAT transit center is built here, it will resemble the one they had in 1953. Some of our current buses are as torturous to ride as their old trolleys.
   
   During the Thirties, the Ford V-8 and Lincoln were popular in Cuba and, in the Forties, the Packard for the wealthy. The color photos don't add anything to the historic collection as they show history in the making. Written by a Nashville native (I wonder if he knew Bernie Schweid who I would see occasionally on Nashville local television shows?) who settled in Barcelona, Spain, he compares Cuban revelry to the nightlife in Spain where "everyone likes to go out and meet their friends for a drink in the evenings." I have a 1958 glossy 8x10 of my extremely handsome friend, Carlos Ubach, doing just that in Barcelona.
   
   Other books by Richard Schweid include BARCELONA: AN OLYMPIC SEASON, THE COCKROACH PAPERS and CONFEDERATE CATFISH FISHING IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA. He is senior editor of the city magazine, 'Barcelona Metropolitan' and produced an Oscar-nominated film 'Balseros,' about Cuba -- a place which clearly fascinates him, as this book shows.

1 comments about The Turks and Caicos Islands: Lands of Discovery (Macmillan Caribbean Guides).

1. I bought this book thinking it could be used as a travel guide for my trip. Unfortunately it doesn't give enough detail in the vein of "go here, go there", nor does it make any recommendations of locations/activities. Furthermore, it doesn't give enough detail of attractions that are listed in the book. For instance, the story behind the Tiki Huts is hilarious and had I not learned it I wouldn't have bothered going (it involves a French game show and some mermaids). As a small picture book or for general history of the islands it's good, but I'd suggest alternatives of you want a guide book.

5 comments about Jamaica (Country Guide).

1. While one can expect a guidebook to be somewhat out of date, this one is so out of date it is ridiculous. Published in January 2006, one would expect the information to at least be accurate as of mid-2005. However, that is far from the case.
   
   Here are few examples of errors:
   - The Blue Mountain Inn near Kingston, which receives an excellent review in the book, has been closed since mid-2004.
   - Portofino's Restaurant in Kingston closed in 2004, and is now Chez Maria.
   - The Fairy Glades Trail in the Blue Mountains closed in 2000 because of thefts of orchids, and can no longer be hiked.
   - Jade Garden restaurant in Kingston has not served dim sum since mid-2004.
   
   While there are some decent maps in the book, such out of date information makes me wonder when the author actually visited Jamaica.



2. I bought this guide because is the only guide from Jamaica published in 2006. Not bad, I haven't gone to Jamaica yet but it has been useful for planning my tryp. I think that I will take some of the advices that I've read.



3. I have been a user of Lonely Planet for over 10 years. I would say that this one is fairly good but not as in depth as other ones on other countries. The hotel prices are not correct, (everything was more expensive than noted), and the reviews of the hotels themselves were not really that detailed to lead you to make a proper choice. This is of course in comparison to other authors for other countries and the level of detail there.



4. I am a longtime advocate of Lonely Planet guides, having first used them nearly 10 years ago on my travels through Africa and more recently in my Caribbean travels, as well as on jaunts to First World locales in Europe and the U.S. I have always found them to be well-researched and reasonably trustworthy guides for young(ish) adults. For some, they are even considered to be the "Bible" of intrepid travellers! However, I have recently detected a gradual but unmistakable decline in the quality of Lonely Planet guides, demonstrated nowhere as clearly as in the woefully inadequate pages of the LP guide to Jamaica (published 2006).
   My husband and I just got back from a week in Jamaica, where we rented a car to explore, using the LP as our sole guide. We found the LP's maps of Jamaica to be deplorable--and, in some cases, outright wrong! They are certainly not suitable for those wanting to drive themselves around the island. In fact, the LP's author did not seem to be too keen on the self-drive option, as he rarely even mentions this option, nor does he include helpful info such as driving times between major towns. I was very surprised to see this, as in the past I have found LP to be particularly good at providing this sort of information.
   I agree wholeheartedly with the other reviewer that says everything (especially prices) seems to be out of date. I do realize that using a 2006 book for a 2008 trip carries such a risk, but the disparity was so great as to render the info practically useless.
   The biggest problem with the LP Jamaica guide is indicative of the general downshift in quality of the LP series -- I have noticed it in all of the most recent LP guides I have purchased. The author's reviews (of accommodations, restaurants, attractions, etc.) alternate between blandly uninspired to blatantly biased. One the one hand, you wonder if the author has even visited half the establishments he includes, given the unhelpful generalities he uses (If I read the word "pleasant" one more time, I'm gonna scream!). Sometimes the descriptions clearly do not match the establishment and you're left feeling cheated (and sometimes angry, especially if you've driven a very long way to get there!!). On the other hand, some of his reviews are very obviously influenced by whatever perks he received from the establishment; glowing reviews that hype up this hotel or that restaurant, only to be shattered when the reader arrives and has a totally negative experience. This is what I expect from the "average" travel guides I typically try to avoid. In no way are these the "unbiased reviews" upon which LP has built its mighty reputation. The author should be ashamed of himself, and LP should really clean up its act by getting rid of writers like this and rebuilding the basic integrity that has made it a great travel guide series.
   There are a myriad of other small errors and omissions, although I probably could've overlooked some of these had the author gotten the big stuff right. Unfortunately, he (and, more critically, Lonely Planet) have *really* missed the mark on this book. For me, it represents money wasted and a lot of unnecessary frustration on my trip to boot. Think twice before purchasing this guide.



5. This book stood me in good stead when I visited Jamaica earlier this year. Typically of Lonely Planet's materials, however, I found this book to be of the most use in preparing for the trip. Whether I am different from other travelers or not, I like to come to a destination at least somewhat aware of the history, culture, geography, etc. There simply is no comparison between the background information you can quickly gain by perusing Lonely Planet's introductions to a country and that provided by other popular guidebooks. I felt well prepared to plan and understand my trip to Jamaica after reading this book. Indeed, I believe my trip would have been much less enjoyable had I not had a basic understanding of the people and sites I eventually saw on my trip.
   
   Though somewhat less importantly to me, a few inaccuracies in the specific destination entries mar this otherwise fine guidebook. I was quite pleased with the hotel I chose based in part on the recommendation of Lonely Planet (Country Country, by the way). Other entries seemed unexpectedly out-of-date for the relatively recent publication date. This may be out of Lonely Planet's hands, but it was a concern nonetheless. I certainly would have been uncomfortable had I been more off the beaten path, when I discovered an attraction or a place of lodging had been closed.
   
   All in all, I would not have changed any of my experiences in Jamaica. Similarly, I would change very little about this book. The relatively extensive history allowed me to choose attractions intelligently and understand the context. The chapters on wildlife, food and music allowed me to choose authentic Jamaican experiences over the generic. Typically well done.

4 comments about Rums of the eastern Caribbean.

1. Mr. Hamilton's in-depth research is evident as he takes the reader by the hand to visit rum distilleries, both large and small, throughout the islands. Details on the methods, contents, and history of each rum is finely detailed. One of the finest touches this book has is an almost complete visual listing of most of the rum bottle labels used. For the serious rum collector/taster, I found this guidebook to be indespensible when shopping for pedigreed rums in the Indies. I collect and display the artful bottle labels of these glorious and hisotical spirits and wouldn't dream of rum-shopping in the Caribbean without this valuable reference!



2. A great resource for the rum lover planning a trip to the Caribbean. The brief introduction to the history of rum and its distillation process can serve rum enthusiasts and neophytes alike to better understand and appreciate this wonderful spirit.

   The book is divided into sections, each one dedicated to one of the Eastern Caribbean Islands. Within each section, readers will find a complete listing of the local distilleries, along with pictures of the labels produced and a brief descriptions of what makes the particular rums unique.

   While some rum connoisseurs may be disappointed by the lack of detailed tasting notes for each rum, they will certainly be delighted by the otherwise generous amount of rum-related information for each island, such as distillery tours and rum shop locations.




3. . . . visit ministryofrum.com (Edward Hamilton's website). Or travel to Culebra, Puerto Rico (a beautiful, sleepy, non-commercialized island off PR's east coast) and pick up a copy. Life's an adventure - this book will help ease you along the way!



4. My wife and I spent 6 years sailing our Bristol 45.5 in and around the Eastern Caribbean between 1996-2001. We bought the 1995 copyright edition at a boatyard in Trinidad and went to most of the distilleries between there and Guadaloupe. Most of the small distilleries had never heard of the book and were surprised to see it. It was a wonderful adventure for us and we still use the guide as a reference. Jim and Kathi Hancock, Oakland CA.

2 comments about Havana Map by ITMB (Travel Reference Map).

1. I recommend this map, along with the map of Cuba published by the same company.



2. just be aware that this map doesn't include all of the greater Havana area. Not that they ran out of space or anything, in fact, the entire back side is blank......

5 comments about Walk Good: Travels to Negril, Jamaica.

1. Negril is a special place, and Reimer's book takes you there. It brings back lots of sweet memories. If you want a great novel set in this magical place, take a look at "JAMAICA GIRL." Jon Michael Miller's novel shows you the real Jamaica, far behind the walls of the famous all-inclusive resorts. You will see the struggles and the joys of a wonderful people, as well as meet Rosalind Juliet Mitchell, a fabulously brave and resourceful protagonist, on her search for love and freedom. It is by far the best book about Jamaica I have ever read. A wonderful story, suspenseful, sexy, funny, disturbing, and quite moving. Wonderful characters. And a great message about the power of love to transform one's existence. A great read for a vacation, or, even, a vacation in itself.



2. I read Walk Good, written by fellow Negril-aholic Roland Thomas Reimer, on two successive trips to Negril. On the first trip I read it cover to cover, and on the second I went straight for the dog-eared highlights trying to decipher the code of names changed to protect the not-so-innocent.
   
   Walk Good is a two-hundred and sixty-two page vacation. You go to the airport, you take a trip on "The Road to Negril," and you meet myriad unique characters all along the beach in Negril. Roland uses the literary device of an extended Negril vacation with many vivid flashbacks, and a few interludes into Jamaican history to tell his story.
   
   I loved how the book spoke my language; the language of a guy who loves Negril. The book's dedication lists my friend Rob Graves, and all the boardies of Negril.com. Hey, I'm one of them! And Roland was one of us, although I was yet to discover the Negril.com Message Board when the book came out.
   
   The Jamaicans are described realistically, but if you haven't been to Negril you may think some things are over stated. I assure you he's spot on. Roland treats the Jamaicans with respect, an important commodity for people who "get it," and something Jamaicans can smell as soon as they meet you.
   
   When I talk to my Negril-nut friends, the subject is often a question our friends and families constantly ask: "Why do you keep going back there?" Walk Good, in giving the reader an "in your bones" feel for that little strip of land on the tip of Jamaica, answers that question.
   
   So I recommend buying the book, taking a flight to Negril Jamaica, and reading Walk Good on the beach.



3. Great book for anyone who is interested in visiting Negril or has been



4. This is a good adjunct travel book for folks traveling to Jamaica. The author shares anecdotal stories of his experiences on the island, many of which uncover the many mysteries of this fascinating culture. Book focuses primarily on the Negril area, on the west side of the island. Interesting and revealing travel reading, yeah, mon!



5. If you have ever been to Negril, you will find a lot familiar stories in this book. The ride from Montego Bay to Negril was identical to several I have taken. I enjoyed most the parts of the book that talked about the history of Jamaica and Negril. The stories of encounters with locals and vendors were also amusing and very familiar to my own experiences. Beyond that, this was a very tedious book to read. There were portions that were a blow by blow, (no pun intended regarding Hedo II) account of some very boring events. Some of it read like a "dear diary" entry. "Today I saw so and so, we talked, we said goodbye" Okay, not that bad but close in spots. If you can get past those spots, I found myself skipping portions, there is a lot of good information about Jamaica and Negril.

2 comments about To Hell With Paradise: A History Of The Jamaican Tourist Industry (Pitt Latin American Studies).

1. Very good. There should be more books written like this. People need to see the real effects of mass tourism. They really need to understand that their tourism dollars DO NOT "trickle down" to the poor people in countries like Jamaica. If you do go to Jamaica, do the right thing, stay out of the all-inclusives, go green, go to small "ma and pa" style accomodations, help the Jamaican people get out of the debt and extreme poverty that the World Trade Organization and the USA have forced them into.



2. This book is a real eye opener for the Jamaica tourist who cares at all about Jamaica. The history of tourism described in this book has many, many parallels to modern Jamaican tourism (white tourists were complaining about hustlers in the 1800s...prostitutes popped up almost immediately upon tourism's start).
   
   However, it sometimes has the feel of a dissertation, and can be a bit dry at times. I also wished it had gone a little further with modern tourism and spent a little less time with the beginnings.
   
   Overall, for the "Jamaicaholic", this is well worth reading.

5 comments about Explore Puerto Rico Fifth Edition.

1. 
   Puerto Rico means "rich port" and this guide will introduce the reader to all of the riches that the island has to offer including the only tropical National Forest in the U.S. Detailed visitor information is provided for the major cities, small towns and the outer regions of the main island but this guide also dedicates several pages to each of the two other islands just off of Puerto Rico: Vieques and Culebra. There is even information about the least known of the offshore islands, Mona Island. Readers will find descriptive accounts of music, festivals, foods, sports & sporting events, hiking tours, accommodations and entertainment. Learn how to spot migrating humpback whales between December and May, search the skies for the Puerto Rican parrot that is nearly extinct and explore the diminishing Mangroves that dampen waves and winds. Other interesting information is provided about native arts and crafts, locally produced beer and rum, sugar and coffee plantations, vanilla production and exportation. I visited Puerto Rico twice before reading Explore Puerto Rico and it helped me see that I discovered only a small fraction of what the island has to offer. I'll definitely use this guide on my next visit. Review by JoAnna Carey, Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life



2. Explore Puerto Rico is a guide and travel overview for the island of Puerto Rico. This book includes a wide range of information, everything from background knowledge on the island's natural and cultural environment through places to stay while on the island to interesting things to do at every stop along the way.
   
   There are nine sections in Explore Puerto Rico: Introduction; Practicalities; San Juan & Environs; Northeastern Puerto Rico; Vieques; Culebra; Southeastern Puerto Rico; Southwestern Puerto Rico; and Northwestern Puerto Rico. The introduction section contains an overview about Puerto Rico. This detailed information includes land, climate, flora, fauna, history, government, economy, culture, and religion of this area. This section also includes general information on transportation, accommodation, dining, and entertainment while enjoying Puerto Rico.
   
   The next chapter, Practicalities, contains contacts and general information on visas, codes of conduct, and health during travel to this island. Each entry contains a short paragraph about each of these general topics including contacts.
   
   The rest of the sections in Explore Puerto Rico focus on particular parts or regions of the island. The first portion of each section describes a little about the particular region including the history. After this overview, specific examples of transportation, accommodation, restaurants, shopping, tourist information, services, and sights are depicted in detail. Each entry contains a short paragraph about the establishment including contacts and potential costs. Also provided in each of these sections is ample information, complete with contacts, on what activities are available in each island region. Several black and white and colour maps and photographs accompany each section.
   
   Explore Puerto Rico is a valuable guide for anyone planning on traveling to Puerto Rico. This key information is provided for easy reference while planning or while traveling. However, this book will also be just as interesting for the armchair traveler as this book contains ample information about the natural environment, history, and culture on this amazing island as well as some extremely stunning colour photographs.



3. I enjoyed reading this book, which clearly approaches Puerto Rico as someone who loves it, not just as a tourist. (I knew I'd found a good book when it referred to Dubya as "Shrub.")
   
   But the phone numbers are just appallingly out of date. I called probably twenty or thirty and only one picked up. The book offers free online updates, which is very generous, but not very practical. I bought a guidebook because I'd left my laptop at home. I hope they'll update the book itself soon, as it's a great book, but accurate information is really vital.



4. The book is thorough with a good bit of detail (although some reviewers said some was inaccurate) but this is a travel guide and not a political book. He is aparantly against the military, people with conservative leanings, the Coors family and probably the European explorers. I think if he writes another travel book he needs to leave out the little quips and inuendos.



5. "Explore Puerto Rico" gives you the feeling you are there, even when you are at home. This book is not just a travel guide, it's also a history lesson, a lesson in basic Spanish and an incredible insight into the culture of Puerto Rico.
   
   Broken into sections, Mr. Pariser takes you to all the things there are to do and see on the island. The well known, like El Yunke, the Observatory in Arecibo, Old San Juan and the Condado. But then he takes you on a trip off the beaten path to places like the Museo Cemi in Jayuya, the Tibes Ceremonial Center just north of Ponce and the towns of Aibonito and Cayey just to name a few.
   
   You also get to visit Vieques and Culebra, part of Puerto Rico that is also known as the Spanish Virgins. Learn about the bioluminescent bay in Vieques and the nightly turtle watches in Culebra.
   
   One of the unique things in this guide is the food section. Not only is the Spanish name given but also a description of the food. Do you like aguacate (avocado), chillo (red snapper) or lechosa (papaya)? Or how about asopao or pastelillos? You can find out what they are on pages 64-65. There are maps and web sites to learn even more about "La Isla del Encanto" as Puerto Rico is known.
   
   With this book in tow, you will get to see Puerto Rico from the inside out. Pack it in your bag and go on a trip to this beautiful lush island that's just waiting to greet you.

1 comments about Footprint St. Lucia (Footprint St. Lucia Pocket Guide).

1. I just picked this up and am headed to St Lucia next week (will update after I return). After getting this book, the Insight guide, and the Rough guide (which is anything but rough) I like this best. It's throw-in-your pocket small, chock full of info, and every page I open, I find things I want to do, and enough instruction on how to go about doing it. It has nice maps, and things seem well organized by topic (nice notable for parents- kids section). The top 10 list of things to do peaked my interest: every one of the items sound GREAT. I think this book is more tumed to the active traveller that really wants to get out and see their destination. I gave this 5 stars because it's the best guide I have for getting around, but it is lacking pictures, of which it only has a few. No big deal, I'll take my own :)

3 comments about Adventure Guide to Grenada, St. Vincent & the Grenadines (Adventure Guides Series) (Adventure Guides Series).

1. This guide is immediate and thorough; it give a host of places and activities that could fulfill even the most bored tourist's desires. The book is salted with the kind of personal experience that makes visiting these islands so special. They take us away from palm beaches, island vistas and rugged emerald mountains and put us in touch with the people who inhabit these beautiful places. From fishermen in Barrouallie to Rastas in the Port Elizabeth market and a botanist in St. George's, we get a sense of the lives that entwine to make up the fabric of these islands. Also, each section begins with a history of the place at hand, so important to understanding the southern Windwards. The authors have produced a journeyman labor, a product of discernment and enterprise tempered with warmth and humor. Those of us who have seen the southern Windwards as a special place for so long have reason to be thankful and relieved.
   Paul Tyler, Caribbean Compass



2. My wife and I took this book with us on a recent "Yankee Clipper" cruise from Windjammer. The book was quite useful with good descriptions (usually a paragraph or two) of the accomodations and restaurants on the islands we visited (Grenada, Mayreau, Bequia, Carricou, Tobago Cays). The authors were very up front about the experiences they DIDN'T like which helped us to avoid frustration. The book also had a nicely organized table of contents which helped navigate the book quickly.

   Three small strikes against the book... First is the prices given were in ranges. Thus a hotel has its rating of 1 to 4 dollar signs. However, you don't know if the hotel you're staying at with the $$ sign is on the low end ($110-$115) or on the high end ($190-$195). Some people may not mind this, but I found Lonely Planet's "Eastern Caribbean" to be a bit more specific on what kinds of prices you can expect.

   Second, most of the maps were for the whole island, with the only city specific maps being Kingstown, SVG and St. George's Grenada. The Lonely Planet book had several "city-scale" maps which proved to be helpful.

   Finally, the book is rather large physically, about one inch thick and almost 6" by 9". This made it somewhat of a hinderence to carry around; we just left it in our cabin and read it on the way to our next island.

   However, don't let my negative comments discourage you. This is an excellent guidebook for the area and is highly recommended.




3. Grenada, St Vincent & the Grenadines Adventure Guide has been selected by the Caribbean Tourism Organization as "Best Guidebook to the Caribbean in 2004."