No comments about Frommer's Tahiti & French Polynesia (Frommer's Portable).

2 comments about Fly Fishing Southern Baja.

1. A Great Addition to your Baja Library. For the fly fishing angler, Baja Sur has always been a big mystery--too remote, too exotic, too many kinds of fish to try for, and not enough real information to tell you EXACTLY where to go and how to fish. Now, multiple IGFA recordholder--Gary Graham-- has solved that mystery with his expertly-written book. Gary Graham has been fishing Baja Sur for over 20 years. He's the owner of the Orvis Endorsed "Baja-On-The-Fly" a Fly Fishing Expedition Company operating in Baja. His new book tells you the best spots to cast a fly from Pacific mangroves of Baja's fabulous Mag Bay, all around the 'Los Cabos' southern tip, and on up into the Sea of Cortez as far as Santa Rosalia--the very richest saltwater fly fishing grounds in the entire world. Graham's NO NONSENSE GUIDE TO FLY FISHING SOUTHERN BAJA will show you exactly how to catch everything from roosterfish, ladyfish and jacks to offshore dorado, tuna and billfish--and dozens of species in between. Large scale maps put you directly on the best fishing beaches and specific recommendations on flies, rods, expected species and proven local techniques let you approach Baja's rich waters with confidence and finesse. NO NONSENSE GUIDE TO FLY FISHING SOUTHERN BAJA is about how and where to catch fish--plain and simple--and from a leading expert in the field. This book gives you good, solid information that works.



2. It tends to ignore important information (whats the best way to get a Mexican fishing license?)while going over info that should be a no brainer to the most novice of angler, (Sharpen your hooks? Tip your skipper?)
   Spanish fishing dictionary in the back is a nice touch. Location information is bare bones but adaquate. Maps are spare and the rest of the illustrations leave a lot to be desired. Particularly those of the fly patterns. All in all, it looks like something thrown together for a quick buck.

No comments about New Mexico for Dummies.

5 comments about Behind the Doors of San Miguel de Allende.

1. However, If you would like to read about San Miguel, then this is not the book for you. There are about 8-9 pages of reading, then 80 pages of photos. Not very much info on San Miguel.
   Not what I was looking for.



2. I wanted interiors, not courtyards. Based on what little info Amazon has provided I expected interiors to be "behind the doors". As for courtyard ideas it is good but not great. Most are a little better than average. I didn't want to rate the book lower just because it isn't what I wanted and the title is a little misleading. The author's book "The Doors of SMA" is very good. It shows doors. - jim



3. San Miguel de Allende is a lovely historical colonial town located in the central highlands in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. A sleepy town until a bunch of American GI's returning from the war settled there, so it was suggested and now the de facto fact. Word soon spread and the price of the real estate soared. San Miguel de Allende now boasts the second largest expatriate community found in Mexico.

   This book romantizes and glamorizes the homes and hotels of and for the wealthy. Perhaps the title is more applicable "Behind the doors of the rich in San Miguel de Allende". It has beautifully photographed pictures and probably makes a nice coffee table book. If you are thinking of buying or remodeling your home in San Miguel, this book surely gives you some good ideas. Better yet, go visit there yourself and take a couple of the home and garden tours offered by the library in San Miguel.

   Oh, the front page showed the hotel Casa Sierra de Nevada in the park. It is no longer that but now the Hotel Quinta Real. It no longer qualifies for the small luxury hotel (SLH) designation. Let's hope behind the doors of this hotel under new management, the service and quality can equal the beauty of this property. It would be more fun and interests if behind the doors offer more into the history and intrique of each property, not to mention the juicy stuff that is going on today behind closed doors.




4. Strolling down the cobblestone streets of San Miguel De Allende is a unique experience. From behind the unassuming whitewashed walls standing flush with the sidewalks, pierced here and there by a window adorned with a moucharabieh , one can catches glimpses of life... Music, laughs, the scent of a promising menudo in the making, a child whose eyes will follow you down the street, a kitten napping in the sun on the window sill...
   In this Spanish colonial town, much of life takes place out of the passer-by's sight. Following a traditional Andalucian floor plan, the rooms, linked by a colonnaded court, open around a central courtyard, or patio outfitted with a pila , and whose lush and colorful vegetation tempers the austerity of the house seen from the street...
   Through the eye of Robert de Gast, we are ushered behind these doors to discover lush gardens, antique cantera and saltillo floors,soothing fountains and all these amazing construction details that define Spanish Colonial architecture.
   A great book to savor, whether you are building or remodeling in the Southwest or Mexico, or you simply enjoy great photography and architecture...



5. "Robert de Gast, author of the popular The Doors of San Miguel de Allende crosses the thresholds of homes in this historic Mexican town to discover their remarkable outdoor paradises--sunstruck, lushly colored courtyards, patios, and breezeways--that lay beyond them. Come with de Gast as he guides viewers to parts of San Miguel visitors seldom see and offers glimpses into the daily lives and traditions of those who live in this unique place.
   
   "Established in the sixteenth century as a Franciscan mission, the lovely town of San Miguel de Allende has been an art and artisanal center for nearly two centuries. Its cool summers and mild winters have more recently made it a popular destination for vacationers from North America and Europe.
   
   "A part-time resident of San Miguel since 1991, Robert de Gast is an award-winning photographer and a widely published writer. His avocations include hot-air ballooning, which he pursues in Mexico, and sailing, which he does for part of the year on the East Coast of the United States.
   
   "96 pages, size: 6 1/4 x 8 1/4". 96 full-color photographs. Casebound book, with dust jacket. ISBN: 0-7649-1341-7."--© Pomegranate

3 comments about Rockhounds Guide to New Mexico (Falcon Guide).

1. I enjoyed reading this book the author has put a good amount of time and effort in the collection of collecting sites. I like the format used including the best time of the year to collect. In the southwest it does get really really hot in the summer. The elevation is also important for people with mid winter cabin fever. I used that data to successfully collect petrified wood in Cuba in January. The forward introduction is important to read for people not used to living and hiking in New Mexico. I have given this book a three star rating based mainly on it's age. It's been around since 1995. that means that the site data is eight years old. I found that the sites near big cities like Albuquerque tended to be picked over or even worse closed to collecting. All of the west has had a population boom and New Mexico is no exception. the sites near smaller towns were fairly well intact. If you are going to use this book or any other guide I would check with local rock shops before traveling any distance to a new site. If the author or the published ever reads this review I would like to suggest that in the site location that they include the GPS data for main turn - offs and the initial starting points for collecting. In the case of this book eight years is a long time for forest service roads to stay intact or new ones created. I also use Mapping software on my PC to pull up topo and aerial maps of the area. I would also suggest a notation on every site listing the date when it was visited.



2. I essentially agree with the previous reviewer. We live in Albuquerque, and my son wanted to start rockhounding, so we used this book to get us going in January, 2007. Unfortunately, the first site we tried (one of those near the city and close to I40, of course) did not appear to be accessible any longer. The directions were fairly good, but the place we were to get off the paved road had a sturdy fence across it and signage that indicated it was not open to the general public, which was not what the book said (presumably becuase it was not like this in 1995). We decided to try a different site from the book that was south of the city and much farther from an interstate. In this case, the directions took us right to a good area, and we spent the last hour before sundown finding petrified wood, jasper, and a whole mess of other things that we have not gotten around to identifying, but sure turned out nicely after going through the tumble-polishing process.
   
   In short, take care assuming the access and conditions have not changed substantially in the 12 years since this was published. One always has to take care not to trespass, but don't rely on the book to tell you if you need permission. Other than that, the more general information about areas to find certain things is still good - though you might have to go farther off the beaten path to find them on the surface now.
   
   I also agree that any future editions that include GPS information would be very helpful.



3. A well written book and it's obvious the author is familiar with New Mexico and with her subject. I especially like the simple figure she uses in each area to show what part of New Mexico she's talking about. She uses a small New Mexico outline with a little mine symbol to indicate quickly where in the state the site is located. I recommend this book to rockhounds.

No comments about Oaxaca City Map.

5 comments about Writing Down the River: Into the Heart of the Grand Canyon.

1. I haven't received my copy yet but I can certainly review the experience. I saw Kathleen Jo Ryan on PBS on Sunday morning and as each photograph flashed up on the screen I just gasped because I too made this journey last summer and each photo brought back to me the precious days on that journey of a lifetime, recognizing each cave, slot canyon, falls and utter and absolute peace that I found in that place. Words just can't do it. I could go on for hours about it (and often do) The only words that I can find that come close os to say simply that it touched my soul. No one who makes this journey can ever be the same again. If you do nothing else in your life -make this trip. See Ms Ryan's book for an introduction.

   I plan to go again next summer. I look forward to my copy of this book of memories to keep me warm until I can be back on the river again.




2. Writing Down the River grabs your heart and broadens your understanding of the power of the western landscape. The photographs are amazing in themselves; the essays stunning.

   Sybil Downing, award winning author of Ladies of the Goldfield Stock Exchange




3. Writing Down the River grabs your heart and broadens your understanding of the power of the western landscape. The photographs are amazing in themselves; the essays stunning.

   Sybil Downing, award winning author of Ladies of the Goldfield Stock Exchange




4. Very good reading, with excellent comments on the Grand Canyon, the experiences of rafting the river and essays on how the canyon touches people in different ways. I have just completed an 8 day trip of over 280 miles in the canyon and experienced every emotion and awe-inspiring moment described in the book. The photographs are worth the purchase price alone. A must read before and after taking a trip down the wonderous Colorado in the Grand Canyon



5. this book was confusing and very not meaningfull i thought that page lambert did a bad job.

3 comments about Guide to Caribbean Family Vacations (National Geographic Guide to Caribbean Family Vacations Includes the Islands and Coastal Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, and Honduras).

1. This book is a wonderful guide to the Caribbean.........It covers everything any family would want to know when visiting the Caribbean. Several ideas presented in the book were helpful on our recent vacation. I have several of Ms Stapen's books and have found them all to be quite informative and worthwhile.!!!!!!!!!!



2. I bought this book for the cool little section on Costa Rica. it was fine. I brought this along with the photo essay book "Costa Rica : The Last Country the Gods Made." Had a great time!



3. Book was informative. The lack of any critical ratings, reviews or "best lists" was disappointing. This is the reason why I buy travel books.

No comments about Compass American Guides: Santa Fe, 5th Edition (Compass American Guides).

No comments about Pirates of New Spain, 1575-1742.