No comments about Cool Hotels London (Cool Hotels).

5 comments about Walking in Britain (Walking).

1. A good resource for both single and multi-day hikes in all areas of Great Britain. Text is divided into regional sub-sections, making it easy to match your reading to the areas you plan to visit. A fair number of the most popular or readily accessible hikes in each region are thoroughly described. A biblography at the end of each regional section recommends sources of more detailed information about walking in a given area. Detailed listing of "support services": food, lodging, transportation for each listed walk.

   The book is small sized, and easily packable, yet the print is easily legible and the pages sturdy enough to withstand traveling and frequent referencing.

   A good starting place for hikers not familiar with the area.




2. This book provides information on numerous walks, both long and short distance, in England, complete with maps, daily distance recommendations, accommodation. A great core guide to help plan your excursion and take with you.



3. Picture this. I have spent money and time in finding the right routes. I have just come in from a day walking in Snowdonia and I'm sitting down to eat in a YHA. The man next to me is from Romania. He has just arrived and is equipped with one book which he lets me read. In this book I find all of the best bits of my favourite walks. There is something for everybody and it is very informative. I would have saved loads of money and wasted hours on trips that were not really what I wanted - IF I HAD READ THIS BOOK. Buy it even if you are a resident of the UK and think you know it all already (like me!)



4. Gives good information on walking trails across Britain, some ancient, many modern, the most beckoning perhaps being the recently converted tow paths along nineteenth-century canals. Although for most visitors to Britain doing a walking tour for a vacation is probably more of a fantasy option to be pondered rather than undertaken, this guidebook is still a cool read and it is comprehensive and informative as far as its subject matter goes.



5. Lonely Planet's 2007 edition of "Walking in Britain" is a good place to start in planning a walking vacation in Britain. The three regions of England, Wales, and Scotland offer an astonishing variety of walking, hiking and trekking opportunities, ranging from seashore strolls to city walks to rambles over the moors to long distance hikes in Scotland, virtually all of them easily reached from the road, bus, and train networks.
   
   The guide is broken down by region: Southern England, Northern England, Wales, and Scotland. In turn, regional coverage breaks down into subsections on local opportunities. For example, Northern England includes information on the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, and the Lake District, among others. Fifty-two distinct walks get detailed descriptions and directions. The lucky 52 are meant to be representative; suggestions for additional walks in each subsection offer a range of additional possibiilities. The detailed descriptions include offerings on accomodation and food in the respective areas.
   
   The guide includes a collection of two color maps and a nice selection of photographs, along with some general information on traveling in Britain. The discussion about right of way on what is privately-owned land in "national parks" is essential reading for North American visitors used to the wide open public lands in the United States and Canada.
   
   As the guide recommends, travelers are highly encouraged to obtain more detailed maps such as the Ordnance Survey series, before actually setting out on trails that may be poorly marked and subject to variable weather conditions. The trail descriptions in the guide permit planning and some choices, but should be supplemented with local information once in Britain. Some of the graphics in the guide are all but unreadable without magnification.
   
   This guide is highly recommended as a good start for planning a walking vacation in Britain.

1 comments about Cycling the Rhine Route: Bicycle Touring Along the Historic Rhine River.

1. Of course I think this is a great book - I spent a number of years researching and writing "Cycling the Rhine Route". I had so much information that I had to edit out two-thirds of the original manuscript to fit in with the publisher's requirements and I still had to persuade him to make the book longer than originally planned. So I had to make informed choices about what to leave in and take out, and after having cycled the route quite a few times, in all seasons and weathers, I feel that I have done my best within the constraints placed upon me.
   The bibliography contains book titles that are either unobtainable nowadays, or out of print, and it seems that whoever built the Amazon web page has replaced those titles with others which are available. I don't think this is honest, and I have told Amazon this, but with no result. This shouldn't prevent you from owning a book which will give you the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful journey along one of the oldest routes in Europe. Best wishes and happy cycling.

No comments about Devon Cornwall & Southwest England (Regional Guide).

4 comments about Strolling through Venice: The Definitive Walking Guidebook to 'La Serenissima'.

1. I would encourage anyone planning a trip to Venice to try and get a copy of this book. Unlike the ordinary travel "dictionaries" which exhaustively catalog restaurants, hotels, and "must see" sites, but ultimately leave you on your own when it comes to making key decisions on how to best "attack" a place as overwhelming as Venice, this provides a strong point of view on how best to enjoy Venice. Additionally, the historical commentary and insite provide the necessary depth to understand this enchanting city, without becoming an academic tome. I am forever grateful to the companion who sent me their copy of this book.

   My only regret, as I now live in and am avidly exploring Italy, that Mr. Freely has apparently devoted the bulk of his writing to Istanbul and not provided readers the opportunity to view other Italian cities through his eyes.




2. This is an appalling book - worth recommending primarily as a strange kind of scholastic conceit and not without its attraction. But it can feel like a computer data dump.
   
   Imagine you had a guide to the Metropolitan Museum that just reprinted the wall tags. It told you where the pictures were, who painted them, what the titles were, when they were done, and possibly included a note about something else - usually like who the patron was. But it didn't show you the pictures or often tell you why they were interesting or important. And didn't put anything in historical or social or any other kind of perspective. And had no narrative/story-telling abilities. That's what this book does for Venice.
   
   Here is a representative paragraph, in its entirety, from chapter 3, The
   Basilica of San Marco:
   
   "In the lunette above above the door at the end of the transept there is a 13C mosaic portrait of St Mark. The tympanum wall has a superb Gothic rose window of the 15C. The soffit of the arch that springs from double columns on either side of the niche has mosaics of Sts Anthony, Bernadino, Vincent and Paul the Hermit, all mid 15C."
   
   That is the tone of the book, although there is usually more Italian. (The default position on naming is Italian. For instance, the raised well-heads that are part of Venice are all noted as "vera da pozzo," and it seems like each one encountered as part of the strolling must have its attributes documented, rather like it was a church.) A huge amount of work went into this book - the dates for all the well-heads seem to be provided - and it probably killed off a proofreader or two.
   
   The concept of the book is to provide a walking guide to Venice. It's a walking guide made up primarily of historical footnotes.
   
   Even here, the book as a physical object fails the idea.
   
   It is entirely b&w save the cover. In the ca. 400 page guidebook, there are 16 pages of grayish photos - the sort associated with books of the 1930's maybe. Elaborate descriptions in the book aren't connected to a photo.
   
   The idea of this book - although in my mind the practicalities are not made sufficiently clear from the outset - is that you use it to take various guided walks through the city. The walks are numbered, and there is a series of maps in the back of the book which provide dotted lines and arrows to follow. Problem is: the walks are chopped up into different maps. The maps are small - there are 20 sections in the overview - broken up to fit the book which is a slightly undersized trade paperback. Meaning you'd likely need to carry a magnifying glass. The walks overlap, the whole mess is done in variations on gray, and heaven help you if you actually want to follow the dotted line in the Castello, for instance. There should have been separate maps for each walk, and they should have appeared either in front of or behind the description of the walk.
   
   Look at this book in a library before buying it. If you want a guide, buy a guidebook (this isn't one). If you have 4+ histories on Venice already, take the plunge.



3. I am planning my holidays to Venice and I found the book very interesting.
   In a city were you can do all your visits on foot is very usefull a guide so detailed and easy to read. I am sure that following it I will not miss anything!!



4. I am only about a third of the way through this book. It is packed with details and is a little dense for me - I like more photos! The section on the Grand Canal was more architectural and less anecdotal - in addition to photos I like stories. When Mr. Freely tells stories they are good ones so I wish he had told more. I love Venice and can't wait to go back. This won't be the book I take to walk around with but I will definitely be quoting it to my friends - they like good stories too.

5 comments about Paris Cafe: The Select Crowd.

1. Worth buying for the elegant b/w drawings alone. Tulka's caricatures magnificently capture the essence of every individual depicted... as you look at each page you feel that you are actually sitting with him observing the staff and patrons. A great book for artists, people-watchers and Francophiles.



2. Fitch's etched words and Tulka's loving illustrations provide a no-hassle jet to Paris and one of its treasures. This is an account to be sipped, savored and saved. Le Select's bracing aroma and eye-pleasing sights permeate every page of the francophiles' extended love letter.
   
   Those who've roosted there over a cup of coffee or tingled after a wine will re-experience their warm pleasure; those who've yet to make it to Le Select will find a delicious foretaste of Paris at its best.
   
   A votre sante!



3. When I learned my cousin had illustrated a book written on a Paris Cafe, Le Select, I thought, "How nice. I'll have to get a couple copies to take with me so I can get his autograph!" I really didn't intend, necessarily, to read it...
   Well I got the book and started flipping through and then was just lured right in and read the whole thing in a rather brief period and enjoyed every minute! What a pleasant and illuminating book! And the illustrations are out of this world! To be expected from this seasoned MAD caricaturist.
   Whether or not you are going to Paris, this is a must read if you, not only love Paris and, but also want to get a true understanding of the significance of the Paris Cafe!



4. The moment you open PARIS CAFES, you're transported to one of the most prestigious and traditional cafes in all Paris. Le Select is unchanged and unadulterated, still serving the same food by the same waiters and run by the same owner.
   Turning the pages generates that special "je ne sait quoi" ambience that we all think of as Paris.
   And Rick Tulka's drawings capture the subtle Parisien look, the Parisien style and humor impossible to experience in any other city in the world. Cafes exist everywhere, but none of them feels quite like sitting in a cafe in Paris. That's the special fun of reading PARIS CAFES.



5. Author of a number of histories of literary Paris, as well as a study of Europe's "literary cafés," Noël Riley Fitch now does the trend of Americans writing about their favorite Parisian neighborhood one better by giving us a warm and charming portrait of her favorite Parisian café, Montparnasse's Le Sélect. Accompanied by wonderful illustrations (or, as the cover says, just "drawings") by Rick Tulka, this short book is an experience to savor, much like a trip to the café itself would be.
   
   I've read a number of books over the last few months about Paris cafés, as my vicarious substitute for actually being in one. There's a great variety of such books, all trying in their own way to capture some of the ineffable (and perhaps exaggerated?) romantic charm of Parisian café-dom. Some are glossy photo albums, portraying cafés, brasseries, and restaurants in all their visual diversity. Others focus on the history of various cafés and their neighborhoods, while still others give us recipes designed to recreate café flavors and smells in our own homes. But "Paris Café: The Sélect Crowd" is the first such book I've seen that really takes a close, personal look at an author's own chosen café (in this case, one she shares with her illustrator). I found it a remarkably successful effort, and I feel like were I to visit Le Sélect someday, it wouldn't feel entirely foreign to me.
   
   If I could improve anything, I might wish for more discussion of the people depicted in Tulka's evocative portraits, though there may not have been a way to do that while still respecting their privacy -- Le Sélect is, after all, a neighborhood institution. I also didn't particularly care for the odd covers and binding Soft Skull Press chose to clad this thing in: the cover is uniformly a quarter-inch wider than the pages inside, which made this somewhat awkward to hold. Besides that one wish and one complaint, however, this short book was a fine way to spend a few hours. I hope other authors rise to the challenge and produce similar looks at their own chosen café haunts.

2 comments about Time Out Copenhagen (Time Out Guides).

1. The "TimeOut Copenhagen" guide was very useful for us both before and during our stay in Copenhagen. Recommended.



2. I've used a number of Time Out guides but I was rather disappointed by this one. I felt the information was thin, the restaurant reviews not helpful, and the hotel reviews totally off-the-mark. The maps are very confusing and hard to use. The design of the series is also getting pretty stale. I would use something else, maybe the Rough Guide?

2 comments about Hedonist's Guide To Milan 1st Edition (Hedonist's Guide to..., A).

1. This is a marvellous book, The only guide you'll ever need.
   Everywhere in Milan worth going to, staying at or seeing is in here and anywhere that isn't, isn't.
   The photography is excellent, the writing is sublime.
   You don't have to bother going to Milan anymore, just get this book instead.



2. I was sent this guidebook by a friend before visiting Milan for a long weekend. It is an excellent guide to the city. Milan is not the place to be seen gawping like a tourist. This discrete little black guidebook is just the ticket to getting to know the attractions and the nightlife as a local. It is a must for all who enjoy travelling without the aid of a backpack and enjoy getting to know the more subtle side to this fantastic city.

5 comments about Emerald Gems:The Links of Ireland.

1. This large pictorial covers every major links course in Ireland with beautiful pictures and course commentary by Irish writers and architects.This is by far the best book to help plan an Irish golf trip or to relive a past trip.It is well worth the cost and will be your reference for Ireland's links for years to come



2. I have seen Larry Lambrecht's work before in the annual "Emerald Gems" calendar and notecard series. Lambrecht is a world class photographer with a particular specialty in shooting Irish Golf Courses (as well as many others across the globe). Not only does Lambrecht capture a view of a spectacular golf hole through his camera lens, he also has an incredible eye for catching a moment in nature using golf landscape as a backdrop. (see page 18, 98, 114, etc.)
   
   Ireland's "Links" courses are built along the coast, and as such in Emerald Gems, the connection between land and sea is apparent in many of the images.
   
   Emerald Gems sits on a table in our home and is admired by guests and friends for the simple beauty of the Irish Countryside. Be warned though, If you have an affection for the game of golf and have never been to Ireland, the images of Waterville, Old Head and Lahinch alone will have you calling a travel agent. If you don't play golf, and have never seen the coast of Ireland, you may suffer the same impulse.



3. In "Emerald Gems", Larry Lambrecht has been able to capture the feel and distinct nuances of the Irish links. The stunning photographs and accompanying stories provide the reader with an incredible sense of how golf was and is meant to be played and enjoyed. David Owen said, "The thing I like best about golf is the sense of infinite possibility..." Emerald Gems presents a real glimpse at that possibility and is a must read for those fortunate to have visited and played, and those who dream of doing so.
   
   Albert B. Antonez



4. This book has incredible beautiful photographs of ALL of the great courses in Ireland and a wonderful written talk about each course. The book is big. It will have to go on the coffee table and not in the bookcase, but it is truly beautiful. Very highly recommended.



5. Emerald Gems is a terrific compilation of golf landscape photographs in a large coffee table type of format (11x12?). Many if not all of the very best courses of Ireland are reviewed.
   
   One key element I'd like to point out up front is this book is very strong about landscape photograhy, but not so about the golf and how to play the game in Ireland. Thus I would say you need to be prepared to just enjoy the pictures for what they are: fantastic and breathtaking landscapes. The golfing is secondary.
   
   Some may think my last comment is crazy, but I think if you take a closer look you will realize the photographs do nothing to prepare the golfer for what to expect golfing wise. Laurence's vantage point for 90% of the photographs consists in seeking the highest dune (usually behind or beside the green) and then frame for the landscape and make sure to include the green. Given this, you simply will not be able to figure out if the hole is a par 3, 4, or even 5. You will also have no idea how it's played. You simply do not get the golfer vantage point from the fairways and bunkers. The only exception to this is on par 3's where you guess the vantage point is from the tee. Unfortunately, the captions to the photos do nothing either to tell you if it's a par 3, 4, or 5. But then again, maybe this is by design because it wouldn't matter. Case in point: page/slide 200 illustrates a wonderful rock outcroping from some cliffs with a tiny green on a shelf. The caption reads "4th at Kilkee". Great landscape picture, but what does it tell you about the hole? Does it matter or help the photograph to even know this?
   
   Instead, it's best to just admire the quality of the photographs. You start to appreciate the framing of the photos, the colors, the foreground and background and how it all works together seemlessly, the elements of wind/sun/clouds/shadows and how they contribute. It makes the golf part of a whole. One thing you will notice is the tremendous ruggedness of the regions and their dunes. This book is broken down into regions like the Scottish Golf Links book, and again here you'll grow to appreciate the differences from region to region. I still keep coming back to the print on page 182 of Royal County Down with a surreal set of colors and an almost mystical background. Just an unbelievable print. Simply beautiful in conveying what the landscape has to offer. I find myself gravating over and over again towards that region of northern Ireland.
   
   The text is fairly simplistic with nice historical notes about the course being reviewed and is at times amusing, but don't look for grand explanations about a given course and it's holes. Granted there are a few highlighted holes here and there, but it's usually to express how difficult they are. Little is imparted on how to approach them. There's also very little if any correlation between the text and the holes being photographed. That aside, I think the best thing the text does is reinforce your desire to go over and visit Ireland for yourself. Some of the charming Irish culture comes through in areas of the text and it makes you want to appreciate the whole package in person.
   
   In the end, I think this is a wonderful effort from Laurence. Beautiful rugged dune landscapes with intriguing surroundings in a perfect format convey the grandeur of Ireland. Tremendous colours and textures breath life into the prints. The regional variety expresses the richness the links have to offer. As for the golf, I think it acts more as a complement to the tremendous scenery being displayed.

3 comments about Rome Laminated Pocket Map by Pocket-Pilot.

1. I now have several of these maps and they are GRRREAT!!! Rome, Venice, London, New York, Florence to name a few.
   
   Hardy tough and well thought out with good detail. One side is all map and the other is brief highlights of the city and some facts, listings, top sights and break out of the "quarters" of the city.
   
   Small and compact perfect for traveling. And it includes rail lines and bus routs in great detail.
   
   If you want a good travel map of a city, don't hesitate, get it, you won't be disappointed!



2. I was looking for a more detailed map of Rome with more streets. This map is just like the ones that some of the Rome hotels have for distribution in their lobbies.



3. After going over many options for maps in my local bookstore, and several chain bookstores I choose pocket pilot. It is made from a tear resistant/water resistant material, its the perfect size, very readable and easy to fold.