2 comments about La Ropa Sucia [Dirty Laundry]: A Motorcycle Adventure through Mexico.

1. I love riding and I love reading motorcycle adventure books. Unfortunately I was left wanting more after reading Dirty Laundry - as it's a fun little read about the travels of four friends through Mexico, but for me it felt like Riess was skipping over way too many of the juicy details of the ride - which just left me wanting more. So here I am on Amazon buying other motorcycle adventure books and writing a review. I do admire the adventuress spirit and courage required by Riess and Co. to take such a trip - "bravo"! Pictures are a fun addition. Easy, 1 hour read.



2. I have always had a secret liking for Harley-Davidsons. My brother used to own one and would let me ride with him every once in a while, and then there is always the bike run that stops at the Dairy Queen. I sit on my patio faithfully every year and listen to the thunder leave town.
   
   I received a book in the mail a few weeks ago from an old friend of mine about a trip he and his three friends had taken. A motorcycle trip (on none other then Harley-Davidson's) through Mexico. They say never judge a book by its cover, but I did and much to my surprise, it was an awesome book.
   
   Their adventure starts in Laredo, Texas and it literally takes you through Mexico without leaving your chair. The way the author writes it you feel as though you are along on the ride and you are seeing what they are seeing first hand. He talks about going through customs, Spanish speaking locals, banditos, road conditions - toll roads as opposed to back roads, and just plain fun fast riding. The pictures, maps, and informative information in the book complete the story. It is an easy and enjoyable read.
   
   They rode 3,000 miles in 9 days and they got a whole lot of great memories out of the trip.
   
   You hear the song " Born to be Wild" - and one of the verses goes like this, " Get your motor runnin'ead out on the highway lookin' for adventureand whatever comes our way," you truly get that feeling reading this book.
   
   The name of the book is La Ropa Sucia, by Owen L. Riess.

5 comments about Moon Handbooks Puerto Vallarta: Including Guadalajara And Lake Chapala (Moon Handbooks : Puerto Vallarta).

1. We just returned from a two week vacation in Mexico, where we travelled from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta using the Bruce Whipperman handbook as our guide. The book, which is compact in size, is packed with useful and specific information that made our trip easy and enjoyable. We especially appreciated the back-road tips.



2. If you want to know about more than just the Puerto Vallarta area buy the Pacific Mexico Handbook. Better than 80% of the content of the Puerto Vallart Handbook is included as well as information of the other Pacific destinations. If you do not plan to venture more than 25 - 50 miles from Puerto Vallarta this book adds no additional value.



3. Book was not well written nor was it well thought out. It was difficult to access specific information (such as hotels and restaurants). The author also recommended the Hard Rock Cafe--which made me wary of any other recommendation he had! I'd recommend the Frommers Guide to Mexico for a better picture of Puerto Vallarta and Discover Puerto Vallarta for the pictures and additional information.



4. Every Moon Travel book I have purchased has been far and away the best travel book for the region. Anyone who has traveled in Mexico knows that restaurants and hotels change a lot in one year. The fifth edition of this book, copyrite Nov 2003 is as good as it gets. I also had the Frommers and AAA guide with me for 8 days of driving in and around Puerto Vallarta and the only book I needed was the Moon book.



5. Absolutly positively the worst travel guide I have ever read!!! Don't waste your money. The only thing that surpases what it doesn't include, is what it does include. Hardly anything of value! This book is a waste of a perfectly good tree.

No comments about Oaxaca & Chiapas State (Mexico) Map by ITMB.

1 comments about Travelers' Tales Mexico: True Stories (Travelers' Tales Guides).

1. I am becoming very intoxicated with mexico. I seem to be booking tickets to various places around mexico every chance I get. The stories in this book are amazing. Very well written and fascinating. I reccomend it highly for anyone interested in anything Mexican!!!!!

5 comments about Cooking With Baja Magic : Mouth-Watering Meals from the Enchanted Kitchens & Campfires of Baja.

1. This book should be purchased in threes; one for your kitchen, one for your coffee table, and one to take apart so that you can frame the illustrations. The recipes are simple to prepare and the results are SENSATIONAL! It is truly a gorgeous celebration of the flavors of Baja California: gastronomic and cultural. Take it along as a guidebook, too, if you want to explore Hazard's inspirations.



2. The receipes are great. The only care to take is that the portions are big. The stories are great.



3. The student and traveler to Mexico often returns home craving the tastes they experienced in Baja California. Ann's cookbook will compliment anyone's kitchen. From the appetizers to the salsas to the carnitas to the margaritas, with a little musica norteña, una fría and this cookbook, you can have a 'virtual' visit to Baja California. Recommended.



4. I was so disappointed in this book, especially after reading the reviews of others. Perhaps the author wrote the book for people who have no access to ingredients typically used in Mexican cookery, which 10 years ago might have been somewhat an excuse, but today, authentic Mexican ingredients are widely available. To those interested in real Mexican cuisine, there are much better choices, with this caveat; it's really too bad the author chose not to give us authentic recipes, as the cooking in this particular region of Mexico has not been covered well, and I have searched extensively.



5. The food in this book is excellent. As an almost-native San Diegan who has moved away, I depend on this book to help me make the Baja-style food that I love. I particularly like the Carnitas and the Chicken Enchiladas Verdes. Whenever I make carnitas, my guests just rave! The portions are somewhat large, so have a party or do what I often do - eat carnitas scrambled into eggs, made into quesadillas, etc. My only issue with this book is that there are a few technical mistakes(i.e. wrong page numbers, etc.). However, this is easy to overlook. Enjoy!

1 comments about National Trust Guide Santa Fe: America's Guide for Architecture and History Travelers (National Trust Guide to Santa Fe).

1. The architecture of Santa Fe is amazing. We wandered the back streets just enjoying the incredible forms it took. This book gave us the history of Santa Fe architecture, information about particular buildings, and made us feel like more than mere looky-loo tourists. Now, after the trip, I look at it to relive the beautiful sights! We burned out on shopping the first day and enjoying architecture provided us with exercise and entertainment! I definitely recommend the book -- I would have given it 5 stars, if it had had color photos!

5 comments about The Daybooks of Edward Weston.

1. This book stands alone in the annals of art history. No other book gives such an intimate view into the day-to-day trials of a working artist. Weston, who from time to time fostered ambitions of becoming a writer, genrously shares his thoughts and his experiences over a 15 year period, culminating in a remarkable portrait of the artist as a human being. While literary critics may have occasion to fault his prose, which at times seems flowery and verbose, given his Victorian-age education this can be forgiven of him. Weston takes us through his decision to leave his family and travel to Mexico, where he chronicles not only his own work, but that of other artists. He writes of the bullfights, love affairs, the scenery, and of the many unforgettable characters he met along the way. Weston moved in many circles, and thoroughly enjoyed himself, whether his company be artists or revolutionaries. He shares with the reader his many instances of self doubt, of guilt, and of poverty. He also shares his many triumphs, as his original photography begins to garner commercial success. We see Weston as an art critic, giving unflinching opinions of the works of Diego Rivera, Carlos Orozco, Robinson Jeffers, and a host of others. He is no less honest in his evaluation of his own work. Included in the volume are 72 extremely well-reproduced photographs divided into the various periods of his photographic life. We are givin a behind-the-scenes look at how these photographs were made, from both the artistic and the technical point of veiw. Most importantly, the Daybooks is not just for photographers or Weston afficianodos, but for anyone who appreciates a well-written autobiography of a remarkable artist.



2. This book is a great book to get to know the thoughts of Edward Weston on his daily work of photography and personal life. This is a diary type book of daily entries of thoughts. It has some funny points and sad points (as a lives do). Photographers today can identify with the great Photographer on his progress of daily work. If you want to see Edward Weston's thoughts in his daily life this is the book to get! I'd have to say it's awesome to know the thoughts and happenings of a great photographer of the past!



3. A fascinating introspective look into the mind of one of the great American photographers of the beginning of the 20th century, Edward Weston. With his intricate, yet simple, and sometimes abstract images, Weston created a world of his own together with his "one true love," his camera. By evidently pouring his soul into every entry of his daybooks, Weston makes the reader gain a greater understanding of his technique and extraordinary eye for beauty. The chronological organization of entries takes the reader from Weston's days in Mexico through his days in California.
   Not only writing about photography, Weston describes his many acquaintances (his encounters with Stieglits are most interesting), his dinner parties, his adventures in a foreign land, his romantic dealings, etc. It was interesting to read of his take on Mexico of the 1920's. Also interesting is the glimpse into the life of a struggling artist who depends of every "sitting" to survive...the life of a true artist. The pairing up of his writings with sporadic clusters of his wonderful photographs enhanced and completed this Weston experience. Alltoghether a fascinating compilation of thought, highly recommendable.



4. Second time reading Weston's Day Books over thirty years. First time I was young and only looking for technical hints. This time I'm much more interested in relationships, family, and Weston's struggle with his art, money and life A must read for all artists.



5. I can tell that this was a really interesting book. After reading it front to back more than once, I now have a new outlook on Edward and his work. I finally understand what he was trying to convey though his images thanks to this book. Edward Weston had a fascinating life especially with all who he encountered. This is a must read if you are an artist, photographer or not!

No comments about Insight Guide Mexico (Insight Guides Mexico).

No comments about Chico, George, The Birds, And Me: The Mexican Travelogue of a Woman Naturalist, 1948-1949 (Louise Lindsey Merrick Natural Environment).

3 comments about The Idea of Cuba.

1. For anyone interested in the politics, economics and aesthetics... This book is a thoughtful look at the contemporary landscape of Cuba. The photographs are stunning.



2. The pictures of the old cars were beautifully depicted against the crumbling facade of buildings. However, all the cleavage shots negated that. This made me realize how sad and truly desperate the Cuban people, especially the women must be. I could find art in the picture as long as people weren't in the frame.



3. Having been away from Cuba for more than 40 years, this book bring a lot of memories of my life there