2 comments about Insight Fleximap Rome.

1. When visiting Rome you will find that the city is a maze of narrow winding streets surrounded by high buildings. It is impossible to see more than one or two blocks in most places. Furthermore the names of the streets are not on signs but carved into stones on the sides of buildings, and not at regular intervals. Turn one or two corners and you will find yourself completly lost.
   Furthermore many of the prime spots are in places that are best accessed on foot. The streets are too narrow for tour busses or cabs. If you plan on seeing Rome you will eventually find youself on foot, and you had better be prepared with a good map.
   This map is well laid out with the streets printed in an easily readable fashion, despite the twists and turns of the streets themselves. It also has the major landmarks and the churches that are open to the public in seperate colors so they are easily found.
   Finally after a week of carrying the map in my back pocket, and several unexpected rain showers, it was still as good as when I first purchased it, do to the lamination. In all this is a durible, well laid out map that is essential to the Roman visitor. Trust me, every street corner had at least one tourist checking their map to figure where they had been, where they were, and how would they get to their destination.



2. Rome is a very good city to walk around in. Most of the sights are within walking distance of each other and you can't walk more than a few blocks without coming across some ancient ruin or historic church. A map like this is a necessity because, as another reviewer noted, Rome is an easy city to get lost in. The streets often wind and curve, and it is easy to lose your bearings.
   
   The Insight Map of Rome provides a very detailed map of a large area of the city within which you will find virtually all of the city's tourist sites. It also includes a map of the Rome subway system which is very easy to use: It is hard to get confused about it as there are just two subway lines.
   
   I used this map on my recent visit to Rome and found it indispensable.

No comments about Lonely Planet Dublin Encounter (Lonely Planet Encounter Dublin) (Best Of).

5 comments about Austria (Country Guide).

1. As usual Lonely Planet shows the best. I especially liked the KunstHausWien in Vienna!!



2. I have used Lonely Planet Guides in the past and have been pleased with the information they provided. This iteration, however, leaves much to be desired. I use the guides to point out the "obvious" places that should not be missed, and "secret" places that are off the beaten path that the writers share with their readers. I found this book lacking in both instances. Vacations are never long enough, and as such, they require research and a seasoned guide to separate the worthwhile sights from the rest. After reading this guide, I was not much better off than before I started. Further, I found the guide is written for a backpacker mentality; fine for them, but not for me. Way too much time and space was devoted to finding one's way via public transport, and where to find the next hostel. I am well beyond that. I recently received the latest Fodor's and Frommer guides for Austria, and in one chapter, I was miles ahead with either guide over where LP left me. LP was extremely helpful for my travels to Australia and Belgium. This edition was rather disappointing.



3. I just returned from a brief trip to Austria. Lonely Planet is a reliable guide, but it has many problems some of which have been discussed already. I agree that it is a bit too oriented towards backpackers, wanderers, and poor students. This is not bad, because some guides such as the Guide Vert don't even acknowledge hostels it seems.
   
   The LP notably missed the number of organized tours that were available, in English, from Salzburg. I was able to go to Berchtesgaden/Eagles Nest on a guided tour. There are also the Ice Caves. These tours significantly reduced my level of effort and organization required.
   
   The other problem is that with few pictures (not a terrible thing given limited space) it is hard to have a good sense of where you want to go and what you should prioritize. For example, how does an Alpine castle in Austria compare to one in Germany or France? "Best in Europe" is a useful description you don't find; "Best in Austria" is not especially useful given that Austria is not the largest country in Europe, and one is more likely than not to be passing through Austria between Italy, Germany, and France rather than spending weeks there.
   
   In the case of Vienna, I found that there were some significant museums and sites that were missing; such as the arsenal or the German flak towers. However, they did have most of the important sites and if you only have a day or two that's fine.
   
   The LP books consistently have more descriptions and destinations for any mainstream books. If you want that "hidden treasure" you need to get a regional/local book, usually in the local language.



4. A great book in preparation for your trip to Austria. Several smaller, yet interesting, areas are discussed.



5. Printed in 2005, some of the factual material is out-of-date (e.g., banks that change currency or traveller's checks), but the arrrangement by geographical areas works and the city maps--and the variety of things given on them--are clear and useful, as usual.

1 comments about Fodor's Rome's 25 Best, 7th Edition (25 Best).

1. My husband and I used the the Fodor's 25 Best for Rome, Venice, and Florence on a recent trip to Italy, and we found them extremely valuable. The compact size makes them light and easy to stick in a purse or pocket, and yet they have all of the information that a traveler needs, from tips on beating the crowds to recommendations for excellent restaurants. Also contains a pull-out map. Features like a two-day itinerary and suggestions for certain types of of activities are very helpful.

No comments about Michelin Alsace, Lorraine, France (Michelin Maps).

5 comments about Tuscan Echoes: A Season in Italy.

1. Tuscan Echoes: A Season In Italy by Mark Gordon Smith brings together a blend of memoir and philosophy in the author's varied, sometimes eccentric, yet always engaging ruminations upon Italy. Memories of Italian childhood are combined with a modern-day revisit and a dedicated quest to perceive and understand what is the essence of Italian life and culture. An articulate and attention engaging addition to any library biography collection, Tuscan Echoes is a superb and original extended meditation on nationality and identity.



2. "What is it, travelers have asked for ages, about Italy? For those whose ancestors came from these valleys, from this country, the answer probably lies in their lineage. For the rest of us, the answer simply lies in the timeless view of verdant abundance below room twenty four. "
   P 72. Tuscan Echoes, A Season in Italy

   In Tuscan Echoes, A Season in Italy, Mark G. Smith has managed an amazing feat. He has written an exceptional travel book without any pictures.

   Author Mark G. Smith writes with such intimacy and intensely personal imagery that the reader can only imagine he/she is traveling side by side with the author. This comprehensive, dramatic and spiritual journey through some of Italy's most spectacular landscapes and historical landmarks is presented in masterful literary style.

   Tuscan Echoes, A Season in Italy is the perfect length at 170 pages, for a quick intellectual get away. As the pages turn, you as the reader will be transported to Florence, Venice, Assisi, Umbria and Tuscany. Images of the landscape so vivid you will imagine you can smell the dark richness of the espresso and feel the heartbeat of the cobblestones in the piazza through the soles of your feet. You will be immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the Italian culture. Quaint cafes will tantalize your senses. Friendly, out going people will welcome you and majestic churches will provide soulful inspiration. By the last page you will feel as if you truly hear the Tuscan Echoes.

   Author Mark G. Smith's personal experience with Italy has been life long. He lived near Florence as a child and as an adult, spent more than thirty years traveling this fascinating country .His passion for the Tuscan region is evident in his intimate descriptions, which evoke a deep longing in the readers to experience Italy for themselves. This memoir represents one season. If your average day is just plain hectic, then this book will allow you to escape for a few hours to the land of serenity, beauty and passion. Give yourself a truly enjoyable journey of discovery. This book would also make an excellent gift for your favorite armchair traveler or as a take along guide for the serious traveler.

   Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Reviews




3. What makes Tuscany so dazzling to so many? Its art, terrain, art, history, art, cuisine, art, people? Yep, all of the above. But you'll learn next to nothing about any of them by reading this book. It's little more than the author's love letter - he does love Tuscany - written with a grammar school vocabulary and expository style. I finished reading it solely because it turned out to be the only book I had on a long flight.
   
   You want literary tributes to Tuscany, read the real thing: Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Robert Browning, Lord Byron, E. M. Forster, Henry James, Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mark Twain, and Edith Wharton.



4. I found that most of the book was about the churches, gardens, and museums of Florence. The book moved slowly and I would not recommend reading this book. You could find this knowledge in any guide book.



5. As a writer, I was greatly impressed with Mark Gordon Smith's ability to transport readers to this fascinating country with simple, evocative descriptions. As a lover of everything Tuscan, I felt I was walking alongside Smith on his journey. And as the son of Italian immigrants (also from Tuscany), I felt my ties renewed and strengthened by this beautiful love song.

1 comments about The Xenophobe's Guide to the French.

1. The French are an unpleasant lot, eaters of slugs and gooey bits of horse, tormentors of small animals, chewers of garlic, and the bane of personal hygene salesmen.

   This book shows them at their worst, and although intended as humour, demonstrates that many a true word is said in jest.

No comments about MTV Spain (MTV Guides).

1 comments about Paris, Shops & More.

1. I love this book. Can't believe you get so much for the great price. The shops are grouped into arrondissements and a map is drawn with the shops noted. There's vital information such as hours of operation, website address, & perfect description. The photos are superb. I didn't need to take photos of the stores myself as the book did it perfectly for me... and on matte paper! I can't stress how great the photos are in this book. All the Taschen books are fabulous. This book is really packed with everything you need. As they say, a photo is worth a thousand words and this book is packed! This book's vibe is today's Paris; It really makes you feel like you're there. If you like verbiage, than this book is not for you.

5 comments about CIAO BAMBINO!: A Child's Tour of Italy.

1. What a refreshing idea in children's books! Parents of small children now have a resource to prepare their child for travel, which will help the little vacationer better connect with and understand where they are headed. The beautifull watercolor illustrations add to this highly engaging story as the child learns about the Italian language recognizing, colors, numbers and common speach. Included at the end of the book is a glossary of all the new words for both child and parent reference. If you are headed out on a family vacation, or have friends taking off, this little book is a great traveller. I still read it to my three year old at bedtime. Hopefully there will be more books from Danna Troncatty Leahy in the future.



2. We were so disappointed with this book that we returned it. For the price, it's a very thin book - only 30 pages. For preparing a child for a trip to Italy, the illustrations were especially disppointing. Only a few offered images of what might be seen in Italy. Most of the others were generic illustrations that could have been set anywhere, such as a child and his stuffed bear eating a pizza, the circle of a flashlight beam on the pavement.



3. I am an American of Italian descent and proud of my heritage. I purchased Ciao Bambino! to read to my grandchildren, Gianna and Dante. It's an excellent introduction to simple Italian words. Nicki"
   Date: 7/21/2005 Rated by Buyer: nicki_filipponi



4. What a wonderful introduction for young children to the Italian culture and language -- not to mention the notion of international travel in general! My daughter (4 yrs old at the time of purchase) loved it - particularly the opportunity to learn the Italian words. For a fairly short book (which I think is a good thing for young children) there are actually quite a few Italian vocabulary words presented in a fun, engaging way. The illustrations are charming and sweet.



5. I don't know if I was more disappointed or angered at this little insignificant but dangerous book. The contents has very little to do with what children, who travel to Italy, will ever encounter. What I find it does is continue the negative strereotyping of the Italians. Really! No one stomps on grapes and a child who will visit a farm in Italy will hardly see such outdated stereotypical occurrences. Can food be the only thing one would like of Italy? Of course, since the book failed to explain what other things of wonder a child might see. I bought this for my grandchildren, as sadly there are very few book on Italy with some italian words. I returned the book because I would NEVER introduce Italy to my grandchildren this way. A very expensive book that perpatuates outdated images. Poor job.