No comments about Paris (Eyewitness Travel Guide).

1 comments about Picture History of the French Line.

1. Once again, William Miller has put together an excellent volume regarding the history of ocean liners, this time those of the CGT. This latest release contains extraordinary b&w photographs and text thoroughly covering the history of every magor CGT liner and most secondary ships from the Washington to the France (1961). Each article includes the specifications of each ship, construction locations, and major birth dates. Where available the current status of each ship is also included.

   This book makes excellent reading material, and is perfect for referencing. The photographs included, unlike those in many "typical" compilations, are rather rare- I don't believe I saw any of them until I read this work. In future, I hope Mr. Miller will continue writing these types of books, for their value to the ocean liner wnthusiast far exceeds that of the paper on which they are printed. What's next? Only he knows. (But I would like to see "Picture History of Norddeutscher Lloyd" or "Picture History of HAPAG" soon)

4 comments about The Riches of France.

1. A warm and wonderful book that quickly takes you to the very heart of France. Not just a shopping guide, but a beautifully written resource that provides genuine insight into the essence of the provinces. The book's format adds to the joy of reading with the author's noteworthy recommendations appearing throughout.



2. This turned out to be the best guide I cold ever take with me to France. Comprehensive and easy to use. The author seems to know what is most relevant to visitors and shoppers of France. I wish she would write guides to all major shopping capitals of the world. Highly recommended!



3. I recently traveled to the Normandy and Loire Valley regions in France. I am a passionate shopper and love to find unusual items, simple or extravagant. The book sounded perfect for my adventurous shopping stamina. I have to say that unusual is becoming more and more difficult to find. In the states we are saturated with foreign items that used to seem novel. I guess I have become jaded. I traveled to the suggested village where the basketry industry has thrived for 150 years. Although it was charming to drive through the country, the trip was not worth the while. Not that the baskets were not beautiful, they were very expensive and not worth spending 10 times more because it was made in this charming town. Baskets sold are the varieties available at Cost Plus or Pier One Imports. I must admit I did buy one. Again, I traveled to the town where copper is made. They have all the copper pots that we have in the US and really not that much cheaper if you shipped it overseas. I was disappointed with the suggestions offered in this book. It was not worth my vacation time to hunt these areas down and find what we have in the states. This experience makes me want to write my own book on the subject. It was a wild goose chase which I wouldn't have minded if we had found a golden egg.



4. I have used The Riches of France countless times on tours that I conduct through France and have found it to enhance my travels immensely! What I like is that from the beginning and throughout the whole book, it is clear that Maribeth's main objective is to report on the history and tradition behind France's most celebrated goods. It is not necessarily a book for die-hard shoppers in search of outstanding bargains at every destinations. ( Although I am certain many shopaholics have rejoiced in using it!!) The Riches of France is , however, a book for curious aspects of French culture, savoir faire, and craftsmanship.)

   For me, many of the suggested visits in this book provided unique experiences that I would never have found on my own. Maribeth offers visitors a rare glimpse of fine French craftsmanship and tradition so different from anything here at home. Amd, unlike many other guidebooks, The Riches of France will never go out of date as most of the places featured here have been around for hundreds of years!!... Carol Bonow , Milford, N.H.

2 comments about Bell Towers of Paris: A Stroll through the City of Light.

1. The 'romance of Paris' is all thoughout the pages of this beautiful book! Highly recommended for anyone who wants to be taken away without having to leave home!!



2. Beautiful images. The author's descriptions are confusing and poorly organized but you can get information on the churches in other books.

3 comments about Frommer's Paris 2007 (Frommer's Complete).

1. All you need to know and more...This is the definitive guide to Paris. Easy, clear and concise.



2. I have been using the Lonely Plant guide books in my last few years of traveling. I bought Frommer's for a change, just to see what other guide books have to offer. I was completely disappointed. Here is why.
   
   - Terrible maps
   1) The maps are scant in details: it does not have a lot of the smaller rues (streets) in Paris and the small and winding rues on the left bank are (in)famous. Consequently, you will frequently be unable to figure out where you are or where you are going to as there is no cross road as a reference point.
   
   2) The fold-out map only include the areas closest to the Sein on the left and the right bank. If you want to find out about the other Arrondisements, good luck. For example, the 14e and 15e are almost entirely missed out.
   
   3) The major landmarks are not clearly marked on the map. I believe most of us would love to have some graphical representation (icon) of the major attractions on the map. It makes it easy to figure out a lot of things, i.e. how much area are you covering, where you are relative to the Louvre, etc. The fold-out maps chose to use words, instead of icons, to tell you where the major attractions are. You have to read, among the street names, the arrondisement names etc. to find the attractions - a waste of time.
   
   4) There are SEPARATE maps for attractions, restaurants, markets and metro/RER stations etc. It is very time consuming to figure out where to eat after seeing the attractions. I understand that it may be too much details on one map with all this information. But with Frommer's maps with scant details, I don't see why this cannot be done. By the way, the Lonely Planet guides seem to be able to do this very well, and with more details.
   
   5) There is not enough map. There should be a detailed map for each of the major arrondissement. For example, the book mentions that one should take a walk in Montparnasse. But where is the map?? How do I get there??
   
   After 2 days of frustration with the Frommer's maps, I got a free map from my hotel. Everything was clearly marked, including the smaller and more ambiguous rues that even the locals had trouble finding. And it was completely free!
   
   - Illogical Organization
   1) After the book mentions about a place, it does not tell you where it is marked on the map. Instead, it gives you an address so that you have to find it yourself on the map. This is a time wasting exercise. Further, many times I found the address could not be found on the maps provided by the book, either because the rue is too small and thus omitted by the book, or because the arrondissement is not included.
   
   2) After the book mentions a place, it tends not to tell you how to get there. For example, it mentions Versaille is a must go and you can get there by RER. But which line?? How often is the service?? It also fails to mention that the RER offers a package deal including return ticket and admission to the palace - it would save a lot of time (at least 1 - 1.5 hour) waiting in the queue.
   
   3) After the book mentions a place, it does not tell you how to pronounce it in French. So you will struggle when you get in a cab, or try to get help from the locals.
   
   There are so many imperfections in this book, making it close to worthless. For example, I would really appreciate some more write up about the cultral backgroud, etiquette etc. in France. The restaurant recommendations were not great, either. Some recommended restaurants were closed for the season, some do not serve coffee at a certain time (yet the book fails to mention).
   
   I finally went out of my way and found a recommended spot, that was open and serving food. The food was good, but not significantly better than the random walk-ins that I found when the book's recommendations failed to deliver. And it was expensive. I also noticed that in that restaurant almost all diners were international travelers, many with a Frommer's - obviously not a spot enjoyed by the locals.
   
   On the inside cover of the book, it quoted Des Moines Sunday Register's somewhat indifferent remarks ("Hotel recommendations are close to encyclopedic"). I guess that the hotel recommendations would really help one navigate the city! Further, that newspaper only has a circulation of 250,000 (by comparison, USA Today has 2.5 million circulation) - hardly an authority on anything. But wait, where the hell is Des Moines?? Bill Bryson, one of my favourite comtemporary writers, once honestly wrote about Des Moines, his home town in Iowa, as "nothing really happens... every one just wants to get out of there!" I should have been alarmed when I saw a book quoting from such a newspaper!
   
   Enough ranting. The book is written by some supposedly famous writers, but good writers do not equal good travel writers. And this book has evidenced that. I believe a good guide book should present clear and accurate information about a location in a user-friendly way. This book is anything but. So it will be my first and last Frommer's. I hope it would not be your first.



3. All in all, this is a useful resource. However, there are some problems.
   
   First, the maps--especially the tear out map--are not optimal. The tear out map only includes a portion of the city. Since some of the parks at the outskirts of Paris are mentioned as places to visit, it is not very helpful that the Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes are not on the map.
   
   Second, some detail in the maps is missing. I could not find the street on which a delightful hotel at which I stayed some time ago was located.
   
   Third, as with any travel guide, one might question why some hotels, restaurants, attractions are included and others not. However, I have no major problems with the selections.
   
   There are some nice touches to this work. The various walks laid out are helpful (although there is some repetition from section to section). The writing style is sprightly and witty. Some inserts, such as "family friendly restaurants" can be helpful to tourists.
   
   So, although there are some problems with this work, overall it is a useful addition to the body of work on navigating the City of Light.

2 comments about American Steak & Seafood and Mexican Cuisine Passport (Let's Eat Out!).

1. This book is the size of a passport and very organized and well written. The American Steak & Seafood and Mexican Cuisine Passport is perfect for making choices while traveling, or while dining at your favorite local restaurant.
   
   This guide is extremely to use. It provides sample menus that you'd see at typical Steak & Seafood and Mexican restaurants. Then you are provided with descriptions of each dish and how it is prepared and the ingredients used. From there you are provided with specific considerations as to how the preparation or ingredient list may affect you if you have gluten or food allergy issues.
   



2. I purchased this book from the point of view of someone who cannot tolerate wheat gluten in my food. Unfortunately, I found this book to be completely worthless. As you can imagine, steak, potatoes and vegetables simply don't contain wheat gluten. If you are ordering onion rings, the batter may or may not contain wheat gluten so the book suggests asking the waiter. Few employees have read the ingredient list on the bag of batter or any other pre mixed ingredients.
   
   The book recommends asking the waiter about potential gluten content for almost any food served in the restaurant. I prefer not to depend on a waiter who has 8 other tables to wait on, 3 dinners waiting to be delivered to 2 tables, who may not get along well with the cook and who may have had a fight with his wife before coming on duty - all of which affect his mood and judgment.
   
   While the book contains typical ingredients contained in the Mexican recipes listed, Mexican food recipes differ from cook to cook - often even in the same restaurant. Again, the authors recommend asking the waiter if the foods contain certain ingredients.
   
   Common sense is a far better guide than anything offered in this book.

5 comments about The Village to Village Guide to The Camino Santiago (The Pilgrimage of St James).

1. I have just finished my Pilgrimage - In the five weeks I used this book to walk the track to Santiago in Spain - I grew quite fond of it - The 220 page book is ring bound and fits compactly into my rucksack.
   Every village is mentioned on the 800km way with information on each village, like don't cross this field because of a bull, or this is the village of barking dogs, or in this village the Baker helps Pilgrims or visit Madam Debril in this village near the laundry who likes chatting to pilgrims -
   Ninety Five villages and a guide between them - In each village the books lists places to stay and other useful information - The book will suit the budget traveler who walks the Camino because I did the walk on $10 per day, staying in the religious establishments the book mentions often for free. The book also prepares you for the Journey and details exactly what to take, like how much weight, what type of clothes, shoes, how much does food cost, how to do your laundry, dealing with bed bugs, useful Spanish phrases and so on - It also lists places worth visiting as you walk this 800km track and some interesting stories and legends around these places.
   There are also things to watch out for and useful tips - The book will mention at many different points legends around the Camino - It is a very detailed book on the 800km route every fork on this path is mentioned example.. the path now climbs for two km, turn right at the church, from the top of the next mountain you will be able to see the following five villages etc..-
   I took maps and three other guides with me but after reaching the city of Pamplona to reduce weight I posted the other books back to New York along with my tent and electric stove - the book had warned me not to take the tent & stove



2. I purchased this book after deciding to walk the Camino and was intending on taking it on the journey as a guide. I am now planning on taking another book I've purchased - A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago: Camino Frances - The French Way of St. James (Camino Guides) which is a better format, has more maps and relevant information.
   
   This book has no colour images or maps and the layout needs attention. The information seems reasonably comprehensive but a better layout design, more maps, photos and consistent headings for each village would be helpful. It seems to have good general info on the villages.
   
   If you've got room take it on the walk with another guide, if not, read it before you go.



3. As a veteran on the Camino for many years, I still use this guide as a favorite, although I own most of the others.
   This is the oldest guide book on the Camino but it is updated every year with Pilgrims sending feedback on their journey. The 2007 edition has all the changes on the route. I have walked the route now over three times with Pilgrims from various confraternities of St James's. The problems of road works continue and no all the guides are up to date as this one. This guide is also used when we wish to plan our budget because it has all the latest prices for accommodation, useful when you consider that prices are steadily rising in Spain and it no longer is a cheap country.
   
   The guide has hardly any pictures except about two dozen woodcuts, but one of the enjoyments of the pilgrimage is to see places that would surprise you, so seeing photographs tends to spoil it and the woodcuts do nicely. This guide is recommended by the Catholic Church so contains information for the religious pilgrim of on Holy places along the route. Its not a glossy guide like the lonely planet guide with artistic typesetting. But a guide for Pilgrims By Pilgrims.



4. This is my favorite guide and I have just completed my pilgrim and I tresure it - It never let me down.
   
   This is a book packed with information not only on the history of the places you will pas as a pilgrim. But all the information you will need to make detailed planning. The book is updated frequently and all the latest changes are in this book.
   
   The village to village guide has been around for many years frequently coming out in new editions as pilgrims and clergy themselves report changes to the pilgrimage route, this 2007 edition is case to point.
   
   The guide has aquired a bit of a cult status as not only does it have practical information and is a directional guide but it has many stories on the monuments and places of interest along the way. There have been many changes on the route. When the guide was first published there were hardly any pilgrims walking the way of St James, now many thousands make the journey. Prices too have gone up considerably and the new edition incorporates these changes. Latin American and the poor pilgrim will appreciate the guide as it allows one to do financial planning and make up a budget. The guide also points the way to cheaper accommodation.
   
   You will NOT find pictures coloured arrows and diagrams in this guide. It's a sober practical tome. I agree that pictures are not needed as you will be walking many miles to see these places, to stare in wonderment of the discoveries you have made. Pictures rather spoil this. Its rather like Seeing `War and Peace" at the movies interpreted by Hollywood and then reading Tolstoy's famous literary work, . Therefore I am glad there are no pictures in this book and only medieval woodcuts.
   
   The latest 2007 edition has done away with maps as the route is now way marked with thousands of arrows very fifty yards or so. So its impossible to get lost. There is one large map where you can plan your position in the context of where you are on the route and thus able to chart your progress.
   
   There is very useful practical advice on how the plan your journey what the weather would be like during different seasons etc.
   
   An entire section is devoted to the equipment you must take, useful things to carry in your rucksack, a useful chapter describes how to get to the pilgrimage route by Land Sea and Air. It is so detailed that it gives the latest taxi fares and times when taxis leave from |Pamplona to Roncesvalles.
   
   The book is built on the experiences of Pilgrims past and that is its forte. The pilgrimage for every person is different however the book outlines how others did it and their itineraries.
   
   The book also comes with a short English Spanish phrasebook, focused on what the walker might need to say while on the walk, at the back, very useful as on the pilgrim route which is off the beaten track hardly anyone speaks English.



5. I'm preparing to walk the last 110km starting next Sunday and orginally consulted three books: Walking in Spain by the Lonely Planet ($20), Walking the Camino de Santiago by Pili Pala Press ($20), and A Pilgrim's Guide to Camino de Santiago ($30). Then I came across the Village to Village Guide ($35) and, based on the reviews and price, thought that it was a must read.
   
   So far, I'm disappointed. The information, I'm sure is accurate, but it is scance. Walking the Camino and A Pilgrim's guide had more references to lodging and meals and better route discriptions, complete with maps and walking elevations. Even the Lonely Planet's guide to all of Spain seemed to have about as much info as Village to Village.
   
   Village to Village looks like it was prepared by loving, but inexpert hands. At the top of page 194 one of the editors hiccupped and deleted at least two villages and part of the description of Portomarin. (I don't know about the preceding 400km of the Camino leading to Portomarin.)
   
   Because my walk will only be 5-6 days, I'll be able to take the short, pertinent excerpts from all of the books and will report when I return. For my own preparation I've relied the most on Walking the Camino de Santiago, but have regularly consulted the others.
   
   Part of the preparation for the walk has been refining and refining what I'll be taking. Perhaps the editors of Village to Village have done the same, giving us a bare bones treatment of what we most need,ie. there are no maps because the arrows blaze the way. If that's the case, there may be virtue in having it. I'll let you know.

1 comments about Paris and Elsewhere (New York Review Books Classics).

1. This collection of Cobb's essays is another book in the NYRB series which I did not want to finish reading. These essays are about more than Paris or Normandy or even Europe; here is a record left by an Englishman who passionately loved a place, a bi-cultural historian and writer who grew his soul between the rare archived records of France and the living streets he loved.
   
   Richard Cobb has shown me that writing a memoir of place is a sensory experience. His essays are so rich in textured intimacy that I feel "le Cobb" is living still. One can find him strolling down an avenue observing every alteration of the weather, every change in the pavement, in the passersby, their clothing and language. I imagine Cobb still sitting in his favorite haunt, the late night and early morning caf?, sipping the 4:00 a.m. calvados, or apple brandy, as he watches the barges come up the river. From his youth, to his late travels, Cobb had found that one cannot write history without knowing the living. Le Cobb called himself a "prisoner of habit" (301), and this, I believe, is the key to the depth of detail in his writing. He frequented the same places, the same towns, kept in touch with the same French and Belgian friends. But there is also something exquisitely lonely about Cobb, the solitary observer, that appeals to the wounded romantic in every traveler.
   
   I'm concerned that the general reader will not pick up this book; the density of language in Paris and Elsewhere appears to be for the intimate specialist only. But the essays are about desire for a place, about human interaction in that space, how people create each other's lives, and the anger and grief one feels when a beloved city or village is altered forever--phenomena and feelings which anyone can apply to anyplace in the world. I highly recommend this book for people involved in city planning, the New Urbanists, any reader wondering why the French no longer wear berets, or any reader looking for a context or background as to how or why the recent riots and rebellions occurred across France in the past year.
   
   Cobb loved France enough to criticize the French particularly in the decades from the Baron Haussman in the mid 19th-century to Georges Pompidou in the 1970s when so much destruction was visited upon Paris in the name of `architecture.' Cobb shows that Brussels and Paris sustained more damage after World War II than before: "The damage which has been inflicted on these two cities is not, then, the result of enemy--or Allied--action" (200). In Paris distinctive neighborhoods were destroyed by the French themselves with no concern for how people's lives were being altered or the monoculture being created. Well, Monsieur Cobb, this vandalism to intimate dwellings, social settings, tiny restaurants, private gardens, the homes and boulevards of experience, is now a global condition. Thank you so much, Professor Cobb, for such beautiful writing on such a bittersweet topic.

No comments about Frommer's Brittany with Your Family: From Rural Charm to Seaside Fun (Frommers With Your Family Series).

1 comments about Charming Small Hotel Guides France (Charming Small Hotel Guides: France).

1. We are the authors of Eating & Drinking in France and have used this guide for years. If you want to have a memorable trip to France, stay in the small hotels listed in this helpful guide.