2 comments about National Geographic Traveler: Greece, 2d Ed. (National Geographic Traveler).

1. This is a beautiful book full of amazing National Geographic-quality photos of Greece. However, it is not so great as a traditional tour book. If you want a true tour book, this is probably not the one you want.



2. This is an excellent book for sites and all. I left it behind when I went to Greece and brought a bigger more detailed competitors book. But when I got back, I realized this would have been fine and superior in many ways.

4 comments about Blue Guide Crete, Seventh Edition.

1. This guide gives the information you need to know about traveling in Crete: history, current information, food and lodging.



2. We used this guide at the exclusion of several other guides on Greece/Crete. We found it indispensible. Not only for the cities, beaches, towns, foods, and general area, but for a piece by piece exhibit guide for the Museum (they don't give you any informational handouts at the Museum in Iraklion), but for the MANY ruins, monasteries and historical sites throughout Crete. This was the single best guide we had for Crete. Highly recommended.



3. First off, this book is written for an British audience so it's not quite right for a U.S. audience.. I found the book a little too verbose and not something i carried around with me. It is full of information about Crete but not really for use 'on the go' during my 3 day stay.



4. This is the official textbook for the 3-year degree course on Crete and ultimate reference work! Initial attempts to read the book were soundly repulsed by the sheer breadth and depth of the information presented. However, for mainlining Crete straight into the arteries, I picked up a Mediterraneo Editions guide to Crete by Stella Kalogeraki and read it cover to cover. This latter contains lots of colour pictures and is easy to absorb. For actually visiting towns and archological sites on the island, I carried the blue guide with me, and used it as a reference text. It is packed with detailed information, although some of it is out of date; for example, the "lone palm tree" in the Venetian Fortress at Rethymnon is now dead. It is, as John Cleese would say, a late palm tree.

5 comments about It's All Greek to Me!: A Tale of a Mad Dog and an Englishman, Ruins, Retsina--and Real Greeks.

1. If you enjoyed Memoirs of an American Housewife in Japan, and A Year In Provence, you won't be disappointed with It's All Greek to Me! You'll love it. All three books have the same ingredient, which makes them so enjoyable: humor. The sub-title: A Tale of a Mad Dog and an Englishman, Ruins, Retsina - and Real Greeks, tells it all. As an Englishman, John Mole truly captures the psyche of these seemingly simple Greek people. Mr. Mole's writing is concise and a pleasure to read.



2. Just about every page bulges with the "to be" verb, making the reading dull and monotonous. Sentences are unnecessarily packed with useless wording when simpler constructions would be far more clear. I can't imagine this book was edited by a professional. Simple grammar is incorrect in places. I got as far as the fourth chapter and gave the book away.



3. As someone who has renovated an old property in Greece, I can recommend this hillarious and quite genuine account of the process. It also emphasises the support and hospitality one gets from the Greeks.



4. I liked parts of this book and disliked others, overall I'm glad I read it, but I didn't find it as funny as other reviews indicated. Its fascinating to hear about Mole's experiences whilst renovating a greek home, I loved his interactions with the villagers and there are some really funny stories. I did not like how Mole tends to go on about Greek Mythology and History. This book is marketed as a funny life experience and that was what I wanted to read. I did not want to be lectured at the same time and found that I skipped many pages because of that. I loved reading about his experiences, not the lectures on Ancient Greece, thanks, already been there and done that, if you know what I mean!



5. It was an excellent book and very funny and gave you a kind view of living and dealing with greece and the greek people.

1 comments about The Rough Guide to The Greek Islands 6 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. Before purchasing this book I reviewed a number of books on the Greek Islands at my local library and settled on this Rough Guide version as being the most up to date, the most complete, and the most readable and frank (looked at Insight, Lonely Planet, Fodors (Greece), and others). I am traveling to both Corfu and to Crete this year and feel that the treatment is at the appropriate level for my one week stay on each of those large islands and a one-week sail through the other Ionian islands. I will supplement this with a sailing book/charts on the Ionian Sea and a Michelin Green Guide of Greece which emphasizes the archaeological sites and history. The upside is that with one purchase I now have info on other Greek Islands for future travels in the Sporades, Cyclades, etc. I have successfully and happily used Rough Guides in the past for European regions such as Bretagne.

4 comments about Greek Waters Pilot 10th Edition.

1. If you'e going, get this book. If you've been there hopefully it was already aboard with you. Great reference book: It is the book to have as a sailor in that area. Greek mapping of ATONs etc is not the best and this publication contains the best local knowledge you could have aboard unless your skipper is a highly knowledgeable local sailor. Landmarks, harbor services, native's demeanor, food & supplies, light historical info, phone numbers, even a glossary of useful Greek terms. This was my second trip using this book.



2. This book is definitely a "must have" for everyone sailing in Greece. We have used it now for 4 Years there without having any problems finding the information we need to find. Together with the local charts (which are often not too accurate) You will definitely find your way to the destination safely.



3. I am planning to bareboat in the Saronic / Argolic soon. It will be my first experience in the area, since in previous ocasions I bareboated, I did it in the British Virgin Islands.
   This is why, My first reaction was to compare this guide with the ones I used in the BVI.
   Assuming it covers an area which is dramatically bigger than the BVI, I was not surprised with the size of the book, which, is big and bulky (certainly not a pocket one, or something you can read at bead, you need a table to put it over...).
   I found the book is clearly written, easy to understand, with good diagrams. If I not rate it with a five (5), is because:
   
   - Though it has a general map at the begining of each section, once you are inside a section, reviewing the different places, is difficult to place certain port in the big picture context. This requires going back and forward, which is certainly not easy considering the size of the book. I believe having the ports (or anchorages) diagrams refered to a bigger portion of the area, would be helpful. This would make easier to plan itineraries.
   - Main ports and anchorages are included. But it seems the book lacks of information about secluded places, which may serve as lunch stops between main destinations.
   - Would have expected more "local flavour" in the descriptions of ports, once you are in. Maybe more recommendations on where to go, or what to do. Or that kind of data, which really makes the difference between the so called "milk charters" or a "tailored" one.
   
   This book is the default guide which you will find on board of many of the yachts in the greek area (as I could find out from many quotations I received when planning my vacation). But if you are going there for the first time, I strongly recommend to have the book far in advance, since is not the kind of book easy to use on board (mainly because of it size, you will only use it down at the navigation table, but not in the cokpit). Then, is up to you if you decide to take it with you in the plane... or trust the one you will find on board is in good shape. But the important thing is to be acquainted with it. Having said all this, I am very happy to have this book in my library while planning my vacations.



4. I'm heading for the Cyclades this summer on a yacht. This book has all the information I need for my trip.

1 comments about Greece - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (Culture Smart!).

1. I was hoping for something a litte more in-depth and detailed, but over-all this was a good intro book.

3 comments about Harpercollins Language Survival Guide: Greece: The Visual Phrase Book and Dictionary.

1. I have 5 other phrase books and I think this is the best!!!!! It's colorful, big and easy to understand. This is the only book that I have seen in Greek with pictures to help you. It also has a greek/english and english/greek dictionary. I love it :)!



2. This book is the single best value of anything I've purchased for my vacation to Greece. Not only is it absolutely jam-packed with useful touristy vocabulary (everything from "Where is the hotel" to "I'm allergic to peanuts"), the pages are filled with actual photographs of signs, menus, phone booths, bus schedules, etc in Greek so that you can see what kind of things you'll have to decipher. Words and phrases are written both phonetically (with accented syllables bolded) and in Greek script, so that you can recognize them written or spoken.
   
   It's an especially valuable guide for foodies such as myself because of the extensive "Menu Guide," essentially a dictionary of common (and not-so-common) foods. There's useful tidbits throughout about such things as when shops are open or how to use a phone card. And to top it all off, it's compact and it's dirt cheap: two things every tourist loves to hear. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.



3. This book is a great guide for non-Greek speakers visiting Greece. I speak Greek, but still find it useful. The photos of the signs are especially helpful. Words are written in English, Greek & phonetic.

3 comments about Guide to Greece, Vol. 2: Southern Greece.

1. I have reviewed the companion volume (Guide to Greece: Central Greece) in the Penguin Classics series, and commented there that the Peter Levi translation is not ideal. One of the problems I had in mind is that the division into two volumes, while sensible in itself, does not follow the standard order of the books, but groups them geographically. Pausanias should have done this himself, but the innovation means flipping between the volumes when looking up cross-references to originally adjacent material, and really complicates using references in other volumes. Still, this is not an insurmountable problem, and should not be an objection if (when?) this translation is returned to the Penguin list. Of course, the Penguin Classics are currently (2003) being reprinted in a larger format, and that may prove an occasion for altering the "Guide to Greece" in a new edition



2. I purchased the Pausanias' Guide to Southern Greece many years ago before vacationing in the Pelopponese. Pausanias gives a very detailed account of many tourists sites. It is referred to on plaques at Greek sites in Greece. However, as important as Pausanias, is Peter Levi. His footnotes are extremely helpful in understanding the text and relating descriptions to what is on the ground today. I learned at least as much from the Peter Levi's footnotes as I did from Pausanias' text. I would not buy a different translation without his footnotes.
   I give this only a 4 star rating because it may be too detailed for the casual reader.



3. I'm not a professional archaeologist, but love the subject all the
   same -- my ideal vacation is to tour obscure sites with ancient literature
   mentioning the places.
   
   For that, Pausanias is ideal! True, as a previous reviewer wrote, the
   names are thick and obscure (just say "Sthenelaus" off-hand, then
   imagine dozens of other tongue-twisters in close context), the writing
   is not the best (although as early travel books go, this is the real
   thing!), and without looking at the actual sites, the casual reader
   may find little of interest.
   
   But I agree, Levi's footnotes bring hours of pleasure to someone who
   has visited the little-known places that, with a little attention
   from the Greek archaeologists, would be just as famous as those
   knee-deep in tourists. The fact you are alone, and with a voice from
   1800 years ago to guide you, is like a personal discovery. Having
   been to such places, I plan to return again, and I'll have my copy
   with me. . . .

2 comments about Crete (Regional Guide).

1. The book is just a little more than a turist guide. Maybe it can be usefull when making a tour with a small suitcase and a credit card, but backpackers and budget travelers shouldn't lean too much on it. Do your own research when planning the trip and talk to your kind of travelers on the trip. I guess the author did't do any researhes on her own but just copying the previous text. Maybe just some prices that are different than in the previous edition.
   Manos hotel in Chania is (let say) recomended by the book and it advertises that in the street proudly. When i asked for the room the price was double than written in the book and not negotiable. The hotel was dirty and the owner arogant. This was just one of my experiences on the trip that don't fit into the guide. But O.K. this can happen. The problem are missing information. For instance that you can sleep half price in the turk part of the historic centre of Chania etc.
   Overall: It is O.K. to have a guide on a trip but after visiting Nepal, India and Turkey with Lonely Planet is this one quite a dissapointment to me.



2. 
   Let me start by saying I have been to Crete before.
   
   I bought the book, rented a car and drove around Crete in 2005 using this guide only with the objective of looking for value for money accomodation and places of interest to me for this trip ie. beaches on the south west: Paleohora, Elafonissi, Plakias etc. The accommodation I stayed at was picked from the book and was superb. The prices (in 2005) were completely accurate. I am not a backpacker (such as the previous reviewer) and I had different aims from the guide and had a different experience. (Other guides are more informative if you are looking for more culural experiences). For me, I can't wait for the next edition to come out to plan my next trip to this beautiful place.

5 comments about Zeus: A Journey Through Greece in the Footsteps of a God.

1. I have always loved Greek myths but I have never been able to get all the stories straight. Stone has performed the impossible task of doing just that. By putting them in their proper sequence in the story of Zeus -
   Prometheus stealing fire, Pandora's jar ("box" was a bad translation),the Minotaur in its labyrinth, Perseus and Medusa, Hérakles, the House of Átreus, the Judgment of Paris,Helen of Troy, etc. -- and linking them to actual historical events such as the eruption of the volcano on Santorini, the fall of the Minoan Empire, the Dorian invasion, the Peloponnesian Wars, and the Roman conquest, Stone has made what has seemed to be an impossible labyrinth into a most enjoyable read. But in addition to all this, the travel parts of the book, which involve the story of his and Persian wife's travels through Greeceto research the book, are refreshing and delightful side trips to the main story. A deep and beautiful look into the Greek soul!



2. Tom Stone manages to produce a magnificent history or mythological and historical Greece. It's written by a lyrical kind of prose that stays true to the original romanticism of the myths. He also includes an incredible and comprehensive bibliography for those who wish to continue their own study of everything Greek.



3. A wonderful scholarly, but immensely readable odyssey through Greece. Stone visits ancient sanctuaries and shrines throughout the mainland and islands, and discusses the myth and the reality of this glorious civilization.



4. Everybody loves a good fairy tale, but as you get older you may feel silly reading "Cinderella" or "Hansel and Gretel". Thank goodness for the Ancient Greeks; their mythology stories are the perfect fairy tales for adults. There's plenty of double-crossing, emotional outbursts, sex, violence and jealousy, and you get the added benefit of learning about classical civilization while you read these soap-opera stories. In "Zeus: a journey through Greece in the footsteps of a god", author Tom Stone manages to blend these wonderful mythological tales with a travelogue of Greece. Since the stories that comprise Greek mythology are so numerous, with so many characters, Stone focuses his book on the tales involving Zeus, the most powerful of the gods. He also does a wonderful job of presenting the stories in a somewhat chronological order (time being a fuzzy thing when talking about mythological events), beginning with Zeus's early years and his struggles against his own father Kronos. Stone also weaves in the various ups and downs of Greece, conflicts with her Aegean neighbors, changes in Grecian society and the growing influence of monotheistic religions. A timeline, a map and a ton of endnotes helps round out this really engaging look at Ancient Greece. It's a wonderful read for anyone who likes Edith Hamilton (mythology), Simon Schama (history) or Peter Mayle (amusing anecdotes of interactions with colorful locals).



5. I expected it to be a bit dry, but after the first chapter, I found I could not put it down, and read it cover to cover in one night.