1 comments about Paris Style (Icon (Taschen)).

1. The photos were nice but anyone expecting this to provide any kind of how-to experience will be disappointed. Anyone looking for the French photography experience will also be disappointed as the size of the photos (paperback size) are too small to fully enjoy.

2 comments about The Palgrave Concise Historical Atlas of the Balkans.

1. * * * Do NOT buy hardcover version! * * *

   Summary:
   Maps: **(*)
   Text: ***(*)
   To be used together with another atlas. (e.g. "Historical Atlas of East Central Europe, by P. R. Magocsi or Cartographia's "Történelmi Világatlasz" (in Hungarian))

   Just like when I first discovered the "Historical Atlas of Eastern Europe" I thought: "At last a specific work on the topic in English!".
   Well, despite the range of the maps - 50, listed at the end of the review - it was quite a disappointment.

   The maps... They can at best be described as of "average" quality, but words like "perfunctory" or "sloppy" could be used as well. There is no excuse for the roughness and distortion of state boundaries, the lack of rivers and cities/towns. And the actual errors to them have yet to be mentioned. Still, since these maps cover a smaller area than their counterparts in the
   "Historical Atlas of Eastern Europe", they are a bit more precise, but far from detailed.

   It must be noted as well that GEOGRAPHICALLY the Northern boundary of the Balkan Peninsula is defined by the Danube - Sava - Kulpa rivers. Thus Slovenia is entirely and Croatia and Romania is partly outside of it. However, while historically Ljubljana and Zagreb is rightly considered Central European, Bucharest is linked to the Balkans. Despite it's acquisition of Transylvania in 1918/20.

   It must be noted that the author makes an honest attempt to be objective in the history telling, by sometimes presenting several versions/views on the same event, BUT I am sure that even this won't satisfy everybody.
   However, the style of the text is sometimes "odd". "Nationalist", is one of the much preferred word used by the author, especially when dealing with newer history. The difference between "nationalism" and "patriotism" is apparently very subjective.

   All in all, the map part of this atlas is suitable for low-level studies of the area only, and the text for high-school studies.

   A last remark: This volume shares 14 - or 1/3 - out of it's 50 maps with the "Historical Atlas of Eastern Europe" from the same series. (Nos. (5), 8, 11, 13, 17, 19, 21, 25, 30, 32, 33, 37, 38, 49 and 50, as observed by the author of these lines.)
   So basically, the "Historical Atlas of the Balkans" - with it's 36 additional maps of the Balkans - is a complementary to the "Historical Atlas of Eastern Europe".

   The Maps:
   1: Physical
   2: Political, 2001
   3: Natural Resources
   4: Demographic
   5: Cultural
   6: The East Roman Balkans, Late 6th Century
   7: Avar, Slav, and Bulgarian Invasions, 7th Century
   8: Rise of the First Bulgarian Empire, 7th-10th Centuries
   9: Fall of the First Bulgarian Empire, Mid-10th-Early 11th Centuries
   10: Rise of Medieval Croatia, 19th-12th Centuries
   11: The Balkans, Late 12th Century
   12: Crusades in the Balkans, Late 11th-Early 13th Centuries
   13: The Balkans after the Fourth Crusade, 1204-1214
   14: Byzantium Resurrected, 1261-1328
   15: Rise of the Romanian Principalities, Mid-13th-14th Centuries
   16: Rise of Medieval Bosnia, 13th-14th Centuries
   17: Rise of Medieval Serbia, 13th-Mid-14th Centuries
   18: Political Fragmentation, Mid-14th Century
   19: Ottoman Expansion in the Balkans, Mid-14th-Early 16th Centuries
   20: Fall of Constantinople, 1453 (and Ottoman Istanbul)
   21: Apex of Ottoman Expansion, Mid-16th Century
   22: Ottoman Millet Organization, Mid-16th-17th Centuries
   23: Habsburg Croatian-Slavonian Military Border, 17th-18th Centuries
   24: The Ottoman Balkans, Late 17th-18th Centuries
   25: Emergence of Modern Balkan States, 1804-1862
   26: The Balkan Crisis of 1875-1876
   27: The "San-Stefano" Balkans, March 1878
   28: The "Berlin" Balkans, July 1878
   29: Balkan State Territorial Expansion, 1881-1886
   30: The Macedonian Question
   31: The Balkans, 1908
   32: Bosnia-Hercegovina, 1908-1914
   33: The Balkan Wars, 1912-1913
   34: World War I in the Balkans
   35: The Post-Versailles/Lausanne Balkans
   36: Yugoslavia, 1929-1941
   37: Post-Trianon Romania, 1920-1938
   38: The Transylvanian Question
   39: Bulgaria, 1919-1940
   40: Greece, 1923-1941
   41: Albania, 1921-1939
   42: The Balkans, 1939-1940
   43: World War II-The 1941 Balkan Campaign
   44: The Axis-Dominated Balkans, 1941-1944
   45: Balkan Cominform States 1945-1947
   46: The Greek Civil War, 1946-1949
   47: Splits in Communism, 1948-1960
   48: Collapse of Communism, 1989-1991
   49: Wars of Yugoslav Succession, 1991-1995
   50: The Kosovo Crisis, 1999

   Review based on First paperback September 2001 edition.




2. If you're looking for maps of how the Balkan borders have been drawn and redrawn between 600-1999 AD, plus a brief textual overview on the facing page, this is the book for you. Several earlier maps also show the general dispersion of the various cultures that inhabited that portion of the Balkans (not always an easy task).
   
   Understanding the Balkans is difficult (well, at least it is for an American like me) ... but this book has helped me more than one time to grasp the often turbulent events that constantly reshaped Balkan countries. As kingdoms and empires grew and shrank, the borders often changed ... and new countries were created and old countries disappeared.
   
   It's nice to have this brief progression through time in the form of the changing geography. It's a reference book that anyone who is interested in Balkan history will find useful over and over. And it's never out of date, since 600 AD will never occur again.

5 comments about Rick Steves' Prague and the Czech Republic 2007 (Rick Steves).

1. I was turned on to Rick when I checked out his Paris book from the library for a trip a year ago. When I lived abroad in Prague this summer, I took this book with me. Rick is my husband-away-from-home -- he's always going to take good care of you. His lodging and restaurant recs are really good, and I love the historical background he gives you on notable sights. I trust him completely, but his maps are lacking. Grab LP's Prague as a supplement.



2. My husband Tom and I have toted our Rick Steves all around Europe. We love him. His pages are dog-eared and scribbled on and reread. One time, in a moment teetering on tragic, we nearly left Rick on a German bus. Luckily Tom accelerates under pressure and although the incident left us pale and shaken, we were reunited with our trusty friend. I can't say enough about German/Austrian Rick, London Rick, Paris Rick, or Italy Rick.
   
   But in Prague, we got a little hitch in our giddyup. I find it hard to say out loud, but we had a squabble, Rick, Tom and I.
   
   First he left us hanging on his orientation tour on the tram. We didn't realize the route wasn't circular and we ended up in the suburbs. It's ok, we travel low to the ground, we figured out that the trams don't pick up where they let out and managed to get back into town. It's just that Rick is usually so thoughtful and careful with his directions. Unfortunately, not so much in the Czech Republic.
   
   There are only shadows of his signature walking tours in Prague, only a few of his snappy one-liners that make you snicker inappropriately in national monuments and his historical write-ups are uninspired, virtually odorless.
   
   Cataclysmically, in a decision about as user-friendly as a wet cat, Rick chose to feature the English place names on his maps and write-ups; yet all signage and other city maps (even the "English" ones) show Czech place names. I think we earned a degree in cross-referencing.
   
   
   All I can say is that I hope Rick rewrites Prague 2007 so the rest of you can manage to hurl his 2008 book over the very high bar that he has set for himself.
   
   (Let it be noted for the record that as Rick-devotees, we did not purchase any other guides for Prague. It is very possible Rick's is a shining gem amongst the muzzy rest of them.)
   
   [...] for our Prague recommendations.



3. I had only three days in Prague...But with this books infor I made good use of my time. Detail and points of interest in Prague were presented through Maps and grafics



4. This book is really handy! Worth the money - gives lots of great advice and information on tourist things (and what not to do while being a tourist!)



5. The Prague book continues in the great Rick Steves tradition. We recently used this book as a guide throughout the Czech Republic and found everything up-to-date and bang-on; the insider information was invaluable. We ate at his recommendations in Cesky Krumlov as well as Prague and had great meals. I only wish Steves would provide a few more shopping tips, but overall this is a great, up-to-date book!

1 comments about The Tour of Mont Blanc (Mountain Walking).

1. Although you can comfortably carry this book in a larger pocket, it contains almost every information you need while doing the Tour de Mont Blanc. This comprehensive guidebook describes the tour in the both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions. The suggested itineraries would suit most hikers. Since the book focuses on the Tour of Mont Blanc itself, it includes only few side trips. If you have time for more side trips, you should complement this book with either a local guidebook in French or a good topographic map.
   
   Maps in the book are simple, but useful. I have found them sufficient for most parts of the tour, but they did not help much in few rather confusing places. That is why I sometimes used a real topographic map along with the ones included in the guidebook. Description of trails could be more detailed, but there is an obvious trade-off between the amount of information and the weight of a book. I think the author chose the most practical solution of this trade-off.
   
   The book also offers useful information on accommodation. Both brief descriptions of the "refuges" and the phone numbers (or e-mail addresses whenever available) are up to date. Prices are missing, but you will need to call those places in advance anyway because booking is strongly advised on this popular trek.
   
   Finally, the book also covers various interesting topics, from weather to ATMs. My only criticism here is that the author had mostly the British readers in mind while writing about flights and health insurance. Since the book has become the most popular guidebook among the English-speaking hikers, I hope the next edition will be slightly more international.
   
   I gave this book five stars because it is the most helpful and comprehensive guidebook about the Tour of Mont Blanc I have ever seen. If you try this trek for the first time, "The Tour of Mont Blanc (Mountain Walking)" will make it much easier and more enjoyable. Given that, the price is ridiculously small.

4 comments about Travel Italia: The Golden Age of Italian Travel Posters.

1. This is one of the best collection of period posters I have seen in years. It helps the fact that the subject is Italy, with its beautiful sites, but the selection clearly shows the impeccable taste of its author, who is, not by accident, a designer himself. What's really interesting also is that you'll learn about places you probably never heard of before, so it works as a travel guide as well! A great gift for for art and travel enthusiasts.



2. Champagne corks. Ski slopes. Sailboats. Delicious coffee. Scenic vistas. Iconic monuments. Historical sites. Bucolic countrysides. Rivers and oceans. Warm bed and breakfasts. Italian culinary delights.
   
   They're all here and reproduced in gorgeous color in this luscious collection of Italian travel posters. Ottaviani's inspired design sets this book apart from other poster "collections" by virtue of his romantic heart. With each page, the design sweeps you away as if you are being whispered to by an Italian lover--in Firenze, in Capri, in Milano, and more.
   
   "Travel Italia" would make a perfect gift for the Italiophile (is that a word?) in your life. Or, it would be a great way to introduce Italy to someone you care about. It's a very romantic book (without being sexual) and makes you want to take a journey to this beautiful country--with every turn of the page.
   
   So why did I give "Travel Italia" four stars? Because I don't believe in perfection. But "Travel Italia" comes close. This book has sensuality coursing through its veins. Take this journey. You won't look back.



3. A really gorgeous, beautiful book full of wonderful romantic images.It is also very informative with information about the various artists and techniques used.Every page reveals yet another enticing invitation and the colours are rich and vibrant.The book really surpassed my expectations.



4. If you enjoy vintage travel posters and Italy - this book will be perfect. NIce layout - most of the posters are a nice size on each page, not postage stamp size - good color.

2 comments about City Walks: London: 50 Adventures on Foot (City Walks).

1. I bought these because I live in London and sometimes I just want to go for a walk. But you do get in a rut: same places, same views.
   
   These short walks take you into some of the most lovely areas of London, places outside the tourist attractions. One of our favorites was Holland Park, such a lovely surprise with the gorgeous Kyoto Garden koi pond and the treed lanes. We were often in Notting Hill, but hadn't ever stumbled into this area. This park is SO different from Hyde Park, so much more intimate.
   
   If you are coming to London for the first or, especially, for the third or fourth time, pick these up and see parts of London you never dreamed of.



2. Taylor uses the tube lines as launching points for these journeys--very smart--and the cards are small enough to so you won't stick out too much as a tourist as you stare at them trying to find your destination. The maps are very specific and though my wife and I didn't try all of the walks, we found the West End walks insightful.

4 comments about Fodor's Essential Italy, 1st Edition: Rome, Florence, Venice & the Top Spots In Between (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. I've been looking at a bunch of guides for planning an Italy trip this summer, and this is the best so far. It's not as big as other guides, but it's got as much information about the places I'm going as the other guides do, and it also manages to throw in little things that are unique, like an interview with a winebar owner in Venice, explaining the local winebar customs and no-nos.



2. I used Fodor's to map out my itinerary to ensure I saw everything I wanted to see and experienced Italy in all its glory. It explained the "must sees" very well and concisely.
   
   The map was handy but not as good as other maps purchased in a book store which had more detail right on the map of the places to see so we did not have to carry the book around.
   
   Tips on how to avoid the long lines were very accurate.



3. I just graduated college and decided to go on a backpacking trip through Europe. We spend about a week in Italy, and this book was somewhat helpful, but not ideal.
   
   The food suggestions were generally for slightly higher budget travelers, and the organization didn't really fit our travel style.
   
   If you are backpacking or just a young person looking for a good travel book, our group had a good experience with the MTV Europe (MTV Guides)book. It was kind of bulky, but we used it nearly everyday.
   
   If you are considering this book or something from the Eyewitness series, I would definitely go with the Eyewitness book. It may be more expensive, but it will be vastly more useful. In Rome I ended up purchasing Rome (Eyewitness Travel Guides) from a bookstore, and wishing I would have just bought the whole Italy book off Amazon in the first place.
   
   Bottom line, if you are cheap or on a budget, I would look at other books, but this will get the job done if you are looking for some nice places to eat and stay.



4. I've never been disappointed with a Fodor's guide until now. Although the information is very good, as usual for Fodor's, the maps are terrible. In particular, the pullout map is almost useless; many streets are shown, but not marked with a name -- and why does a guide for Rome, Florence and Venice not have a pullout map for Florence? Even the maps within the guide itself are disappointing -- names are printed in black, but the maps themselves are in orange ink, making them hard to read, and once again they lack enough detail to find your way in a strange city. Fodor's should check Rick Steves' Italy guide to see how to do a map. If you choose this as your only guide for an Italian trip, make sure your first action in any of the three cities is to buy a good map! (I particularly recommend the Berendtson map of Venice, and the Editricelozzi map of Rome.)

5 comments about Time Out Cheap Eats in London (Time Out Guides).

1. I recently visited London for the first time and beforehand I went through half a dozen London guides. This one, Lonely Planet's England Guide, and London for Dummies are the ones I recommend.
   
   London is an expensive city, including food, and "Time Out Cheap Eats in London" will provide you with great leads on lower-priced restaurants listed neighborhood by neighborhood. It's useful to remember that central London is relatively small and very walkable so be sure to check out the sections on neighborhoods outside of the one where you are staying. The book has longer reviews of recommended restaurants and short notes about recommended chain restaurants (no, not American chains!) in the neighborhood. Also take a look at Time Out's website for updates.



2. I bought this book in planning for a trip to London. With today's exchange rate, I really need to get the most for my money and this book is a great help. The reviews are clear, well-organized and have been invaluable in helping me plan my trip!



3. We took this book on a trip to London (obviously), and went to several of the restaurants in the guide. All of the restaurants that we visited were fabulous. We would look up a restaurant and then go to that part of town to eat, which really helped in getting us out to other parts of London that we might not have normally visited. Highly recommended. Also went to eat a couple of times at "Wasabi", a Japanese fast food chain. It wasn't in the book, but I really enjoyed it. The sushi was very fresh and super reasonably priced.



4. Cheap eats is a complete waste of money, the places listed tended to be fast food knock offs and the info un-updated. Yet, the most frustrating thing was that the vast majority of food choices in this book tended to be very non-British. If your going to London, England you want to eat foods that are English, yet page after page of Time Out consists of pizza, chinese, thai, indian, chinese, russian, middle eastern, chinese again. And the page listing a few pie and mash shops or Fish and Chip shops could have been updated it is very frustrating making a trek to a location only to find it has been closed down for some time. And the final complaint here is the huge number of pages that are dedicated to advertisements for surprise surprise places they chose as a Cheap eat.
   This book was so frustrating and worthless that after, three different closures I tossed it out with the rest of the garabage. No if you wish to find Cheap Eats that are truly worth eating save your money talk to a bus driver, cabbie or my favorite a policeman who'll walk you to the location and introduce you to his buddies at the pub and maybe buy you a pint.



5. Although, originally we felt that its origanization into different areas would be helpful, we ended up paging around the book a lot to figure out where we wanted to eat. I'm not sure exactly how to fix the problem, but it seemed like there might be a better way to group the maps and the reviews closer together.
   
   Being Americans traveling in London with the weak dollar these days, we were always looking for just the cheapest places. It would have been very helpful to have lists like the Top 50 Single Pound Sign Restaurants rather than having to page around looking for them.
   
   In the end, it saved us money and had us eating at a few interesting places, but it was just a bit harder to use than we initially thought.

No comments about The Rough Guide to Venice and the Veneto 7 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1 comments about One Hundred and One Beautiful Towns in France: Food & Wine (101 Towns).

1. Un beau livre!!
   This is a great addition to the coffee table book lover's collection and a great gift for the Foodie/Gourmand. You can't help but have an appreciation for France's time-honored traditions of enjoying good food and good wine. The regions of France are mapped out for you with a guide to which towns are highlighted in the book. Used as a quick reference book, you can quickly find out which epicurean delight any of the regions are best known for. Address, telephone and website information is also provided for a variety of stores, hotels and restaurants for each town featured. You can easily lose yourself in this book with stunning photography and well written descriptions. If you've been to France - you'll want to go back. If you've never been to France, you will want to go for sure. This could be the foodie's travel guide to France.