No comments about Insight Guide Shopping in Rome (Insight Guides (Shopping Guides)).

1 comments about Rome City Map.

1. Very useful and up to date. Includes some of the lesser streets not shown on other maps.

1 comments about The Umbria: Italy's Timeless Heart.

1. For those who read THE SEASONS OF ROME and enjoyed it, as I did, UMBRIA will most likely be a disappointment. If you enjoy travelogues then you may yet like this book. I, on the other hand, do not care where every little painting of the Madonna resides, or where St. Francis spent every night when he was outside his normal abode, ad nauseum. The author writes as if those who read his pennings are completely clueless as to current events (i.e. the earthquake which destroyed many historic sites) and then goes on to leave out much of what it was that made the headlines! In summary, not worth the bother, frankly.

No comments about Magic Moments in Florence.

1 comments about Tuscany.

1. In search of a beautiful picture book on Tuscany, this is yet another on my list of disappointments. I want a book which stirs my soul and captures the beauty of Tuscany I have seen - this does not.

5 comments about Europe For The Senses: A Photographic Journal.

1. I live in Germany, myself, and this book was made by one of our (school) student's parent. No bias here, really, when I say this is the best book I've ever seen like this. Europe has a lot of beautiful books published about various sites and cities. This one tops them all! Just absolutely beautiful!



2. I was thinking about a trip to Europe, but after a friend showed me a copy of "Europe for the Senses" Wow, I have to go. The pictures are so inspiring along with the discriptions, I'll make sure I don't miss the Black Forest. Such a great book, it now has a home on my coffee table.



3. Europe For The Senses: A Photographic Journal by author, traveler, and photographer Vicki Landes is a breathtaking collection of full-color photographs from around Europe. Images range from wildflowers to the Leaning Tower of Pisa juxtaposed against an aerial view of flying to Pisa, to Luxembourg's American Military Cemetery, and much more. Most photographs have a brief commentary in the form of text, printed in a handwriting-style font and reminiscing fond memories as well as recounting historical facts about the images that portray classic locations. A joy to page through, and the perfect giftbook for Europhiles.



4. Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (12/06)
   
   World traveler, Vicki Landes, portrays Europe in the most delightful way one can imagine. She captures, through her precise eye, sights of delight, wonderment, and beauty in her enchanting coffee table book.
   
   Enchanting it is as Landes takes the reader through various areas of Europe, evoking not only sight through pictures, but through the other senses. Although one would think that her photos would only induce appreciation through site, Landes' photos are so defined that they look real. I found myself touching the pictures, expecting to feel the bright green ferns. I imagined the smell of the water blooms, and almost heard the pipe organ in the Fraumunster Church.
   
   The other thing I found delightful was to see photographs of places I've been to: Linderhof Fountain, Temple of Venus, city view from a castle in Heidelberg, Cologne Cathedral, and of course the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Going through Landes book was like revisiting Europe.
   
   "Europe for the Senses" is more than a picture book. Landes also explains some of the architecture as well. An example is, "Pisa a collection of clay-colored roofs being interrupted by a pallid square of marble structures. Contain a smirk when you ponder Pisa's only claim to fame is an engineering failure; imagine the perplexing mixture of pride and embarrassment for its creator, knowing the world remembers you for this crooked tower too unstable to ring its own bells."
   
   Landes adds a wonderful section on Austria. To me, Austria is one of the most beautiful countries I've ever been to. The photos of garden urns and fountains are magical. I love the statues in the gardens and have tried to recreate the same atmosphere in our own courtyard. She also adds photos of the various frescoes in the St. Charles Cathedral.
   
   Secondly, I love the Netherlands, and of course Landes added a wonderful section. She explains "Rows of colorful tulips as far as the eye can see...it's tulip time in the Netherlands. As each flower greedily reaches for the sun, countless visitors at the Keukenhof Gardens snap pictures and purchase bulbs and seedlings." It is obvious that Landes was one of those snapping pictures. The rainbow of colors that are portrayed in the photos of "Europe for the Senses" is spectacular and the hyacinths are so true to form that I feel like putting my nose into the picture. In fact, I'm sure I can even smell the flowers!



5. I feel so ripped off. I'm astounded by the other reviews unanimously giving this book 5 stars. They must all be the author/publisher's friends, is the only explanation I can come up with. It is not worth the money at half or a quarter of the price. In fact, if this was on a sale table going for ridiculously cheap, I still wouldn't buy it. It is small, it is paperback (I know I should have looked more carefully at the description), it is not printed on paper that is conducive to showing off photography. Even if it was, the pictures themselves are nothing special. They are faded, not artistic shots at all. It appears to me that it is a third generation copy of leftover postcards from 20 years ago. I was hoping for something like a glossy, high-quality coffee table book. I have learned an expensive lesson. Pay attention to who the publisher is. If it's not from a big name publishing co. it is probably because it was rejected by them and was self-published by the author hoping to make a buck off some unsuspecting internet customer. I'm disappointed that Amazon allows this.

No comments about Drive Around Italian Lakes & Mountains with Venice and Florence: Your guide to great drives (Drive Around - Thomas Cook).

5 comments about Michelin THE RED GUIDE Italia (Italy) 2002.

1. Every Michelin Red Guide I have has an introductory section in French and in English, and often in Italian, German, and perhaps other languages. The hotel and restaurant listings indicate features with icons which are explained in the introductory section. Michelin Red Guides are the most comprehensive and objective of any published, from budget to deluxe.



2. The title is "Italia", not "Italy"! Yes, the main part of the book is in Italian, but you don't need to know Italian to utilize this wonderful guidebook. There is a complete introductory section in English wherein the symbols used in the text are all explained. If you can't figure out symbols, then you may have a problem, otherwise this is a great source to finding budget to expensive hotels and restaurants. We've never been steered wrong yet by going to a place listed in a Michelin Guide, and have had many memorable meals!



3. I'm a sales rep. for a Europe-bound Tour Operator, and this book is a dream come true!! I've been using these red books for the past couple of years, and they have never done me any wrong. Though it may be a little confusing at first, once you've gotten the hang of the symbols (look in the beginning pages, in the front of the book, there are descriptions, in English, stating what the symbols mean) then it's a piece of cake. It has been so easy for me to find hotels & restaurants in popular & unknown cities & towns throughout Italy for my clients, and the new 2002 Edition is ever better, with new hotels & restaurants, that I will never use another travel book, as I have pledged my faithfulness to the Michelin Red Guide Italia!!



4. There's no english in the book so you'll have to guess on some of the details but the symbol system is enough to understand what the book is saying. We used it for our trip to italy and the restaurant recommendations are more comprehensive than any eye-witness or rick steve's guide.



5. we have spent a month every year in italy for 28 years. The first time we went, i did not buy the red guide because it was
   in italian. WHAT A MISTAKE! i ended up throwing away the 2 guidebooks that i did buy instead. You only need to translate about 25 words that are used like the months and days of the week - and "closed" - then the guide becomes what it is - TRULY
   THE BEST EUROPEAN GUIDE - nothing comes close. I now plan the
   italy trips for all our friends, and their friends - and i use
   the red guide exclusively. Don't be lazy - figure out this book
   and you will be rewarded with the best hotel/restaurant/sight
   guide there is!

No comments about Gold Guide to Rome & the Vatican (Bonechi Gold Guides).

1 comments about Michelin Main Road Map: Italy, Italia/No 988 (Michelin Maps).

1. Italy travel road.
   Milan travel road
   Venezia travel road
   Florencia travel road
   Roma travel road
   Pisa travel road
   Genova travel road
   Bologna travel road