No comments about Mexican Textiles.

4 comments about Glen Canyon: Images of a Lost World.

1. Anyone will find the pictures breathtaking. If you have an interest in the southwest rivers and canyons you will especially enjoy this book. If you are interested in seeing what they stole from us by the construction of Glen Canyon Dam then this book is required reading. Hayduke lives!



2. This is the best collection of photos I have seen on the now drowned Glen Canyon. Unlike some other books covering the area, this collection was clearly taken by a professional photographer. These pictures could easily be mistaken for Ansel Adams and I believe Mr. Nichols lists him as a big influence on his work. If you are like me and a lover of canyon country, it will definitely make you a little wistful thinking that this area has been lost--probably irretrievably. I just wish there were a comparable collection of color photos of Glen Canyon to supplement this wonderful work.



3. I have been researching Glen Canyon and Lake Powell for years now, for a book I'm working on, and my wife had always taken a very passive interest in what I was doing. She'd listen to me talk and add a comment or two, but it wasn't until I got this book that she realized just what I'd been rambling about.
   The photos are just like that.
   The black-and-white photos of sinuos, twisting, sandstone places like Dungeon Canyon and the Cathedral-in-the-Desert will take your breath away; they will make you ache to see the places the photos are of, and then they will break your heart when you realize all those places are currently underwater.
   Whatever your position on Lake Powell and Glen Canyon is--whether you think that Glen Canyon Dam is a giant, concrete Satan, or that it's a great source of employment, water, and electricity for the people of the West, you will have to admit these photos are beautiful, and of a beautiful place, and that something irreplaceable has been drowned and hidden away.
   By all means, get this book.
   And get Eleanor Inskip's full-color "The Colorado River through Glen Canyon: Before Lake Powell." Both books are excellent.



4. Tad Nichols (memory eternal!) left us a treasure: powerful images of a beautiful canyon now buried under water and mud. The art is amazing, very much in the tradition of Ansel Adams. The loss is stunning: it's difficult to imagine how even hardened landwasters could have condemned this wonder to a watery grave. Now all that's left to us are photographs and memories ... of a world most of us will never have the privilege to see. Enjoy!

3 comments about Adventure Guides Mexico's Pacific Coast (Adventure Guides Series) (Adventure Guides Series).

1. From artifacts and culture to water sports and local travel, Mexico's Pacific Coast has it all - as does Vivien Lougheed's book Mexico's Pacific Coast, an insider's guide to everything from archeological ruins to tours and places to stay. Whether you want to plan an independent sightseeing adventure, plan an outdoors trip, or survey cultural attractions and local fiestas, Mexico's Pacific Coast is the handbook to plan ahead with - and take with you. Part of the "Adventure Guide Series" from Hunter Publishing, Mexico's Pacific Coast is enhanced with clear maps, black and white photos, and the latest details combining to create an essential travel planner for any Mexico bound tourist, student, or business traveler.



2. I like the book. I wish that it would have 1 photo of each town it mentions. I also think it misses some very small villages along the coast, we were really hoping that we could find a book that goes into more details about the "off the beaten path" places. But for the bigger places of interest, I think this book does great about the details.



3. We live on our sailboat, cruising the Pacific Coast of Mexico and rely on this book to plan our adventures! The accurate descriptions of the smaller towns and beaches help us to make better choices in our travels. If you're planning to drive or sail this area, this is a must-have book in your backpack.

5 comments about Eyewitness Travel Guide to Rome (Revised).

1. Look no further than any D&K guide for your travel needs, it covers everything and anyting; the guide divides any big area in sections and then suggests which routes, or attractions you must see; it also covers a historical background on them. From history of the city in question as to how to get there, how to use public transportation, basic conversation dialogues a tourist may encounter, places to eat, see, stay, do, it's all there.
   
   To me, there are no better guides than D&K guides. Recommend 100%.



2. Bad news first: this book has the issue of trying to cover too much in too small of a format and page count. As a result, you'll run into some cases where entries are text only. This is not too big of a deal, but sometimes a photo would really help identify a place when you're hemmed in by roads and buildings with little in the way of addresses to guide you. When in Rome, this can be a problem for the uninitiated.
   
   On the other hand, I found the descriptions, diagrams, and photos of the major areas to be more than adequate. I also found on several occasions that the guide pointed out little details (such as the location of Raphael's tomb in the Pantheon) that I would have missed otherwise. The restaurant and refreshment recommendations (save yourself some ground money by drinking from the aqueduct fountains) were right on - not a bad meal in the bunch. Which reminds me...if you like coffee, stop by Tazza d'Oro next to the Pantheon for a really good cup.
   
   To sum up, you cannot go wrong with this guide. Actually, all of the Eyewitness Guides I own - Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice, and Amsterdam - are essentially the same: not exactly perfect, but very good. Other than the minor issue of missing photos on some pages where it would have been useful, I can think of no complaint.



3. Used this on a trip to Rome earlier this month and found the information very helpful and up to date. One aspect of this guide that I enjoyed was the division of Rome into neighborhoods. It was nice to see at a glance what was located in each neighborhood and plan my day accordingly. It also listed some lesser known streets around Campo di Fiori where furniture is restored and antique books are sold. We didn't run into any tourists on those streets! The book had some nice maps, but I would recommend picking up a more detailed one locally in Rome.



4. IF YOU ARE PLANNING A TRIP TO ROME IN THE NEAR FUTURE THEN THIS BOOK AND THE LAMINATED STREETWISE ROME MAP IS LIKE A BIBLE TO YOU. THE PICTURES IN THIS BOOK IS OUTSTANDING. THE AUTHOR BREAKS EACH SECTION DOWN INTO MAPS, DIRECTION AND INFORMATION ON EACH MONUMENTS,CHURCHES, AND PLACES OF INTEREST IN EACH SECTION. THE BOOK ALSO DESCRIBE MOST OF THE HOTELS AND BED-N-BREAKFAST THROUGHTOUT ROME, RESTAURANTS AND SHOPPING. IT ALSO GO INTO DETAIL OF THE SUBWAY SYSTEM. WITH THIS BOOK YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL NOT ONLY HAVE A ROMAN VACATION YOU WILL EXPERIENCE A ROMAN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME. WHAT REALLY STANDS OUT IS AN INDEPT OF ST. PETER'S BASILICA AND THE COLOSSEUM



5. This is, as made clear by every review, a beautiful book. But on our trip to Italy, we found ourselves using Rick Steves WAY MORE. This book has great pictures and maps, and is good for planning, but it lacks the information Rick Steves gives such as where to park. We would have been completely lost without the Rick Steves book. I will give it this though: We found our hotel from this book and it turned out to be a very nice hotel. Also, this boo weighs a ton so carrying it around was kind of a pain. Get it a a keepsake, but not as a tool for while you are on your trip. Or use it only for the planning stages. If you are looking to get one guidebook, I would get Rick Steves, but I will probably buy both this one and a Rick Steves next time I go to Europe. Happy Travels!!!!!

5 comments about Hiking New Mexico Gila Wilderness.

1. Just a note to any of you considering this book. I was browsing for new books about New Mexico when I came across this one and thought it would be a great reference for our guests- we live within 500 feet of the Gila on a working cattle and guest ranch- when I read the editorial review- 500,000 acres??? try 3 million! So while it might be a great book about the trails of the Gila the inital information is wrong in the review. There had to have been a lot of time and effort put into this book, so I hope the books authors catch the mistake.



2. This is almost a definitive guide to hiking in the Gila Wilderness. I used to hike trails in the Gila Wilderness, and I wish I had had this guidebook. It has all the important information you need, such as which trails are still in use, where the trail might fade away, where the reliable water is, and how long to plan your trip for each trail.

   It is chock full of useful information. For each hike, it gives an elevation diagram for the hike; detailed directions to the trail head; the best season to go; a table of how far key points are from the trail head; special hazards and considerations presented by the hike; the highlights of the hike expressed in a sentence; the difficulty of the hike; and the maps you will need. It also covers the facilities at the trail head, and gives options for side hikes. All this in addition to extremely detailed information about the hikes themselves, likely camping areas, reliable sources of water etc. And it does this for every significant trail in the Gila Wilderness! This is a significant improvement over Murray's book which gives sketchy information about fewer trails.

   The tables and diagrams in this book are a model of what good guide books should contain. For example, there is a map showing all the USGS quad map locations for the Wilderness, a Map showing all trail head locations schematically, a table that allows you to choose a hike based on what type of hike you want, a detailed table of contents, and a gear checklist. The only thing it doesn't have are GPS coordinates. Of course, it might not be enough to own just this book, if the trail is very lightly used...you should bring USGS topo maps and a compass at the very least. There is a also a Wilderness Map and Visitor Guide for the Wilderness which is worth purchasing.

   This book is obviously written after long and hard backpacking through the wilderness. The authors are extremely well-organized and systematic in the things they note, and in their presentation. Even so, after having been in this wilderness, I know there is much that is not in this book that is waiting for the reader to discover. The black and white pictures in the book can only convey a little of the flavor of the beauty that is there. You really have to experience this beauty for yourself. Armed with this book, I think you will be able to have a safer, and more enjoyable time while doing it.

   ...the Gila Forest (which is 3 million acres), [is] not ...the Gila Wilderness, [which is] a more protected area which is indeed 550,000 acres. A wilderness is a place where cars, and all forms of motorized transport cannot go. In contrast, cars can drive along forest roads. ...




3. We used this book while hiking the Gila Wilderness. We are experienced day hikers and have bought many Hiking Books and have taken many hikes. This is by far the worst book from an accuracy perspective. The number one attribute of a hiking book is accuracy. This book is not accurate. From now on I will check where the authors live. The authors were not from NM and have no business writing about the Gila Wilderness.



4. I haven't read the book yet. It's being ordered. But I wanted to comment on the review by the person who lives 500 feet from the Gila, but didn't take the time to read the book title. The book is about the WILDERNESS. The Gila Forest is 3 million acres. The WILDERNESS is just over 500,000 acres. I look forward to reading the book soon.



5. What I like about this series and this particular guide is the wealth of useful information provided. Each hike is described comprehensively and the descriptions are supplemented with maps, elevation profiles, and mileages to key points. Plus all the usual info is provided about water, seasons, maps, etc. This gives all the information required to make informed decisions when planning a trip. A minor but nice point: the maps all are oriented with north up. Too many guidebooks provide maps with multiple orientations which can be confusing for the unwary.

No comments about Mexico - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (Culture Smart!).

2 comments about Why Mexicans Think & Behave the Way They Do! (Cultural Insight Guide).

1. Another insightful treatise from a recognized expert on the cultures of Mexico, Japan, Korea and China. The author reveals the reality of Mexico that lies beind its variety of masks: "piety, pride, courage, gaiety, indifference and stoicism." Another well written, concise, reader-friendly book by this prolific author on how the historical circumstances of Mexico's past - i.e. aggressive religious intolerance, corruption, racism, male chauavinism and an elitist political system forged the character of all Mexicans -- "Spanish, Mestizos and Indians alike." It is surely evident to all thinking human beings that unless we understand our neighbors all over the world, we will never be able to live in peace and harmony. This book is yet another example of this author's continuing desire to futher the cause of cultural understanding between peoples of our world. His motto: Study the history of the country! Words to live by! It's a great read. Fern Stewart Welch is the author of "The Heart Knows the Way -- How to Follow Your Heart to a Conscious Connection with the Divine Spirit Within."



2. For anyone spending time in Mexico, doing business in Mexico, or considering relocating to Mexico, this is a quick, must-read that will eliminate many of the frustrations which so often accompany North Americans south of the border.
   An example: Americans and Canadians often criticize Mexicans for failing to follow through on a promise (perhaps for a deadline that was not met.) It is helpful to understand that the goal of the Mexican who participated in the conversation in which the promise was made, was that the other party (You!) leave the conversation HAPPY. If making a promise that the other party wanted would make him/her happy, then, such promise was made -- perhaps even though it was obviously a long-shot. And, for non-Catholics, the role that the Colonial Catholic Church had in the creation of the Mexican thought process is worth exploring and understanding. This is not a deep thesis, but rather a sort-of "Mexican Psychology for Dummies" and it is both useful and entertaining.

5 comments about Michelin Road Atlas 2008: USA, Canada, Mexico.

1. I have been using the Michelin Road Atlas for about 4 years now. I buy a new one every 2 years because new roads appear about that often.
   
   I travel frequently, and I used to find the map size and amount of detail very good for my needs. For 2008, Michelin has reduced the page width side-to-side by about an inch per page, with about a 10% reduction in scale. The print is starting to get a little small for easy reading. I wish they had kept the original size.
   
   Having said that, I still find that the atlas fits nicely in the door pocket of my vehicle. The page-to-page organization is very logical and easy to follow, with good overlap from page to page. Michelin has done a good job on this atlas series.



2. The key feature of this atlas is the maps division principle. Michelin divides the whole US into equally-scaled rectangular pieces and puts each such piece on a page. This means that they don't put each state on a separate page. This way you get a more logical, uniform organization of maps with predictable transitions between them. The overlaps between the maps are large enough to make it easy to find where you were on the previous map. There are special large-scale maps for the East Coast region, also nicely arranged in an overlapping manner. And of course, many city maps. The atlas also contains a lot of useful information, such as mileages, scenic routes, etc. Be aware that the atlas is smaller than the RandMcNally's big one, I think it is about the size of the smaller RandMcNally atlas, the one which is supposed to fit into the gloves compartment (it does, actually, in my car). I give four stars to the atlas rather than five stars because it is a bit small so the fonts are not large enough to be easily read when driving. But in all other aspects the Michelin atlas is better than its competitors.



3. This atlas is easy to use and very comprehensive. The pages are by sections rather than by state, which is quite good when you are traveling across state lines. I highly recommend it to anyone who travels by car.



4. My wife and I went on a long road trip - I have a navigation system in the car but it's nice to have a paper map handy so you can easily see what's a few hundred miles ahead.
   My only complaint with this atlas, and any paper atlas for that matter, is going from page 96 to 52 to 46 to whatever; that's a lot of page turning and you'd better have someone in the passenger seat or you'll have to pull over to the side of the road.
   But, overall this one is nicely laid out with more detailed maps of the larger cities.



5. Ever lived in LA? The Thomas Guides are great because they block each section of the city into about 1 square mile grids and you can easily see approaches and streets. This Michelin guide does that for all of North America. Instead of Vermont being on one page the sections are all about 50 square miles. The back section is fairly good street guides of metropolitan areas on maybe a 5 square mile page. Even a town the size of Fort Wayne, IN gets one of these maps. Really helpful to get from point a to point b where you have directions to the final destination in a city.

No comments about Rand McNally Santa Fe/Taos New Mexico Local Street Detail.

5 comments about Time Among the Maya: Travels in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico.

1. Wright has done the modern Maya a service by calling attention to their continued existence.

   However, he seems infatuated with antiquity and the signs of its persistence and fails, sometimes in serious ways, to account for the nobility of the modern Maya's grim and successful struggle to survive.

   Wright also can't help slipping in "green" comments and digs at multi-nationals, stupid governments (oxymoron), and exploitative ladinos. These targets are too easy. For example, he sloughs off milpa agriculture almost entirely and even comes close to lamenting the "death of the forests" that some misguided types think it causes.

   What causes over-farming is over-population and neither I nor Wright will convince the Maya to let infant mortality assert itself again since its virtual demise in the last two decades.

   Wright does, however, have a feel for the Maya and that makes his book a worthy contribution. His search for X-Cacal Guardia and the resultant events should lead readers to study Yucatan's Caste War and further consider the Modern Maya's view of themselves.




2. Ronald Wright takes us to Belize, Guatemala and the Yucatan, visiting various archeological sites and people along the way. This is a great travelogue with lots of history included. It is well researched including a glossary, notes, bibliography and index for the reader who wants to delve deeper. Good reading if you're planning on going to this part of the world.



3. Classic, essential, practical. Don't leave home for Maya lands without it.



4. I can't believe how disappointed I was in reading this book. It was boring and the style was incredibly poor. What is worse is that while it describes the Mayan ruins no photos are included. Wright has an infatuation with the Mayan calendar and numbering system but what would have been helpful is a clearer (like using the Gregorian calendar) picture of when events he tells of happened.



5. Ronald Wright makes no pretense of writing an academic study of the Mayan culture of Guatemala and surrounding areas. Instead he writes a deeply impressionistic, unpretentious story of _his_ travels. He brings to life a sweaty backroads bus trip, complete with the Pidgin and Creole conversations that he listens to. He provides a history of the conflicts in Central America and of the ancient Mayan culture, but the narrative is grounded in his travels and feels authentic and vivid. Any visitor to Mayan Central America will benefit from reading this book.