3 comments about Pacific Northwest Camping Destinations (Camping Destinations series).

1. I bough thtis with the MOON bok, and am using both of them , this one is helpful with trip ideas, and the best of the large campgrounds, a very usefull book.



2. Having lived in the Pacific NW for many years I know lots of places for camping and RVing. I found this book accurate and very resourcefull. With rising fuel prices, we are all looking for closer to home places to "get away" and this book is a required resource to help find them, and determine their suitability. The only criticism I have is the way its organized. A little hard to find individual places since it is organized based on tour routes.



3. I like how this couple presents their information. The book is full of useful data. I have purchased this in preparation for our journey to Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories. It does a superb job of helping you understand what to look for, where to look for it, how much things cost relative to other areas. Excellent job.

4 comments about Cutting for Sign.

1. In the 21st century, the United States will finally acknowledge that it's a largely spanish-speaking country. Meanwhile, Mexico remains a mystery to many of us. Not after reading this book: Without descending into a morass of facts, we learn about the essence of the place, and its relationship to the US. A well-written treatment with respect for its subject.



2. As a former City Manager of Marfa, Texas, I have observed and experienced first hand many of the incidents described in the book. For instance, the morning gathering of area ranchers at the former Thunderbird Restaurant, totally devoid of Hispanic participants; the persistent overtones of bigotry amoung many of the well established Anglo citizens;and, there are still semblances of the old "Patron" system alive and well.

   While I can't prove that my dismissal from my position as City Manager was based on the fact that I am Hispanic, I have no doubt that the racial aspect played a part in the decision to terminate my services. Many local residents have told me that the Mayor could not stand a smart well-educated Mexcican making him look bad.

   In any event, the description of Marfa and the region surrounding it are all surprising accurate. The author most certainly has a deep sense of morality, and an uncanny method of lucidly describing people, situations, and injustices.




3. I grew up on the Mexican border, and Langewiesche beautifully captures the schizophrenic love/hate relationship entangling the two sides. He writes with the clean, precise lines of the journalist, but gives the end result a spin of philosophy that could only come from really feeling the people and places he visits. Much like his second work, "Sahara Unveiled", this is much more than reportage. It's too bad not more people have read this book...I think it would greatly help Americans' understanding of border relations.



4. A very good read about the tense and diverse relations that exist at the Mexican - U.S. border. Author is a good storyteller, and offers great detail. A must for anyone seeking to understand our neighbor to the South.

1 comments about If Mountains Die: A New Mexico Memoir.

1. New Mexico, and the Taos area in particular, has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. John Nichols captures this beauty perfectly in his first of the Taos series, "If Mountains Should Die." Accompanied by heart-grabbing photographs, this book describes his first few years in Taos as a transplanted East-Coaster. Nichols not only captures the raw beauty of the land, but also the people that occupy it. Along with this, he describes the disturbing and continous struggle to keep it alive and free from suburbanization. His personal and touching accounts of his own struggle with the place and the people bring it alive in unexpected ways. There is also plenty of respect here, along with a deep anger for what is being done to the land, the people, and the unique way of life found in Taos Valley. As this is a very special place in my heart, I found it easy to cry and laugh along with him.

1 comments about Moon Handbooks Four Corners: Including Navajo and Hopi Country, Moab, and Lake Powell.

1. This is a well written and well organized guide. There are very few that focus on the Four Corners per se. If that is your area of interest, definitely buy this book. If you are interested in the Four Corners as part of a bigger AZ or NM or UT tour, you may be just as happy with buying the AZ or NM or UT book(s).

2 comments about You Decide Travel Guide: Loreto 2nd Edition.

1. Coming from tropical Cairns, in Australia, didn't think it could get anymore beautiful...I stand corrected! Loreto is an amazing place. I miss the sunsets on the beach after a full day of chillin' out, snorkelling and making new friends.
   
   I stayed at the Hacienda Suites, which had everything I needed and cost me next to nothing. I wouldn't have found it without this book. I love to explore on my own, and this book gave me all the direction I needed to really enjoy myself. Thanks! I recommend this to anyone planning on heading to Loreto. Even if you're not, I encourage you to get down there, you'll love it! See you there



2. We traveled to Loreto and stayed at a small inn right on the malecon. We brought this book and used it every day as we planned our daily adventures. There were a couple of new restaurants that opened since the book came out, but overall I thought it gave a very honest portrayal of the hotels and restaurants in Loreto. It was an easy read and I recommend it.

No comments about The Double Eagle Guide to 1,000 Great! Western Recreation Destinations: Rocky Mountains: Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico (Double Eagle Guides).

No comments about Sonora & Chihuahua State (Mexico) by ITMB.

5 comments about The Hidden Canyon: A River Journey.

1. I have traveled through the Grand Canyon many times, both on the river and on the trails. John Blaustein has not only been able to capture the beauty of the canyon but also the soul of the river it contains. Abbey's journal is a fine compliment to the pulchritude of the pictures.



2. Having rafted the Colorado myself 2 years ago, this was a perfect souvenir-reminder of my trip. The photos in particular are exquisite - some I have no idea how he managed to capture without ending up in the river himself. I lost my Pentax to the very first rapid! This book definitely gives a sense of what the Canyon, the river, and the rapids are like. Makes me want to go back!



3. Having done the Colorado in a private raft, The Hidden Canyon absolutely thrilled me - again - as much with its elegant pictures as with Edward Abbey's flat-out-fun narration.



4. As a person how recently did a two week raft trip down the Grand Canyon, I can say that this book visually caputures the essence of the experience! The pictures are wonderful. I have recommended it to my rafting friends as well as some Grand Canyon river guides.



5. I've been down part of the Colorado from Diamond Creek to Lake Mead but have never had the means or opportunity to see the rest at water's edge. Ed Abbey's text and John Blaustein's photos take me on a vicarious trip that brings back all the excitement of white water and the awsome experience of gazing up and up at the canyon's walls that many only view from the rim. It's a different canyon down there and a river journey allows me to see it all and remember the feel of ancient schist and the plaintive song of the canyon wren. It's a book to read and look at again and again even if you can never visit or revisit the river itself.

No comments about Spanish Language Phrases.

5 comments about Choose Mexico for Retirement, 9th: Information for Travel, Retirement, Investment, and Affordable Living (Choose Retirement Series).

1. This is a good book in that it addresses some of the basics of planning to move to Mexico. What it does not address is specifics such as,
   
   1. How do you get your water and gas?
   2. What should you look for in renting a house in Mexico?
   3. Is there a Mexican price and is there a Gringo price for things?
   4. What about learning Spanish?
   
   In the majority of the places this book lists for expatriation you will find large gringo communitites that are isolated from the culture of Mexico with their gated communities, their own American stores, movie theaters, etc... Choose Mexico does not cover these facts. The reason for this is that the majority of gringos in these colonies do not learn Spanish. Without learning the language you cannot very well have a life in geniune Mexico.
   
   Doug Bower
   The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico



2. Nicely organized and full of information, this is a great resource for anyone thinking of moving to Mexico. As much as anything, I learned what questions I should be asking, and what I need to consider before making a final decision. Different locations are compared in a meaningful way, so that I actually zeroed in on my tentative location (Sayulita, which I had never even heard of before) with the help of this book.
   
   Important up-to-date information on Mexican laws regarding land ownership and vehicle insurance are critical and this book can save anyone a lot of money and inconvenience. Don't buy or rent a house in Mexico without reading this book.



3. Modern retirees who want to get the most out of shrinking retirement benefits will want to look at CHOOSE MEXICO FOR RETIREMENT, appearing in its 9th updated edition to provide the latest facts on local real estate, costs, medical care, business opportunities and more. From Baja California to the Yucatan Peninsula, discussions revolve around cultural and economic considerations alike and also include first-person insights on development and direction. An excellent primer for assessing Mexico's pros and cons.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. It was this very book that gave my husband and I the information we needed to start bringing our dreams of retiring in Mexico to reality.
   There were so many good tips in there. We found our piece of the baja outside San Felipe in Baja Norte, and started a site called [....]
   
   Thanks to this wonderful author who has helped us realize our dreams of living and retiring in Mexico.



5. This book is filled with useful and interesting information on retiring south of the border. I recommend it as a starting point, if you are considering retiring there.