5 comments about Good Food in Mexico City: A Guide to Food Stalls, Fondas and Fine Dining.

1. I was so excited to see that someone who loves to eat had finally written a guide to street food in Mexico City! This book is everything for which I had hoped. Nick Gilman shares personalized, specific information how to find the places, what to expect once there and explains food terms to clarify their culinary differences. Nick made me feel like I was one of his friends visiting him in Mexico City and he was telling me about some of his favorite places for food, giving all the insider details. I have already circled and underlined all the places where I want to eat so it will be like one treasure hunt after another.



2. My wife and I spent a week in Mexico City and without exception we had great experiences with this guide. We went to several Fondas and tried some of the restaurants as well.
   Dollar for dollar this guide added the most benefit of any we bought to our enjoyment of this trip.



3. This little guide entertained me, and helped us find some otherwise lesser known Mexico City dining spots. I like its personal, quirky character.
   
   It does need a good going over by a more demanding editor to clean up a few flaws, such as missing items on the maps. There are key listings, in some cases, but no corresponding locator number on the map. The maps are very small scale and of low quality.
   
   But, overall, it's a good buy for the Mexico City food aficionado.



4. This is the book I was hoping for. My best memories of Mexico tend to be of and around food. Planning another trip to Mexico City, I've been through the mainstream guidebooks, which are generally out of date and written at "arm's distance" from the food, the restaurants and the people who prepare it. Not the case with this book. I now have more options for great food than I will have time to exercise. Cantinas that serve free botanas (appetizers) with drinks? Yes. Particularly good food stalls in the mercados? Check. Maybe a quality Spanish restaurant in El Centro? Got it. Let's see, I know one night I'll want birria for dinner. Luckily Taqueria Tlaquepaque is around the corner from my hotel, and it's open until 9 p.m.
   If you're going to visit Mexico City (or live there now) and like good food, buy this book. For making reservations at fine dining restaurants to finding a great cup of coffee on the spur of the moment, this book can't be beat.



5. In my opinion food is one of the most important experiences in travel. It is always so disappointing to me to have a mediocre meal when the chances to experience great and new food are so few. This book is very helpful as it contains a glossary of many of the more foreign dishes as well as a great guide by type of dining experience as well as cuisine. With a city the size of Mexico City it is great to have such a comprehensive and conscientious guide that is so portable at the same time. I am looking forward to visiting old favorites as well as exploring new ones with this books assitance. Also great is the list of websites in the back. This is a great resource for planning to make the most out of any visit to one of our favorite cities in the world.

5 comments about Living Abroad in Mexico (Living Abroad).

1. As a newsletter that's been discussing where to live in Mexico for 30+ years, we find this book to be one of the best ever in terms of lifestyle issues. Particularly good chapters on planning a fact finding trip, starting a business, buying property. The text is nicely broken up with case studies and inserts written by other gringos. The back has a very complete resource list (including the AIM Newsletter, but with the wrong address). Anyone considering a move to Mexico will know exactly what to expect day to day if they read this book. The best supplemental reading material will then be about specific places.



2. I've been researching, reading, and visiting Mexico for retirement living for over two years. I have no affiliation with the author. LIVING ABROAD IN MEXICO is the most useful book of a dozen I've purchased. It gets to the major questions and needs I've had about making the move. Other books may be great for touring, but this book is the most current and comprehensive if you are interested in the idea of moving to Mexico for months or years. It is a valuable guide and I appreciate the author's work. See you in Lake Chapala in a few weeks.



3. This is a great book which covers a brief history of Mexico, the culture, and various areas in which to expatriate to. My wife was probably glad when I finished reading the book because every few paragraphs I would stop and share with her some information I had just learned about Mexico. Since I'm only interested in a particular part of Mexico to move to I skipped quite a few pages which covered areas I'm not interested in. If you're undecided however on where to make your new home then this book covers all of the areas popular with foreigners. Be sure to pick up other books on moving to Mexico because they're not all the same and do not all cover the same information. Reading a wide range of books on moving to Mexico should hopefully cover the spots missed by others.



4. This is a delightful, easily read book that is packed with a lot of practical and useful information. Whether one intends to merely visit Mexico for more than a quick trip or plans to move there permanently, Living Abroad in Mexico covers all the bases from housing to communication to medical availability to food. The book presents a realistic idea of what life in Mexico is all about without being too rosy or to doom and gloom. The author did a tremendous job in conveying some of the cultural idiosyncracies and intangibles encountered when immersing oneself in a foreign environment. The one area of content that I can fault is that it does not cover Morelia, Oaxaca or Veracruz, which are large popular areas of Mexico with fast growing ex-pat communities. If these are a person's target area, this book will not provide as much detailed help as it does for areas such as San Miguel de Allende, Puerto Vallarta or Lake Chapala.
   
   The book could probably use a little updating as things change. A passport is now needed to cross the border for re-entry into the U.S. and there has been a Presidential change in Mexico and some changes in policy on that side of the border as well. There are also a couple of minor errors in the resources that can easily be corrected in an update. And finally, while this comment has nothing to do with the quality of what's inside the book, it does have to do with the overall quality of the printing/publishing...the middle 150 pages of the book fell out as they were not bound properly.



5. As a person about to move to a specific place for work, this text was not what I was looking for. It is more useful for someone who's not sure if Mexico is right for him or her and specifically for someone looking to go on a "fact-finding trip." If I had known that, I would not have made this purchase.
   
   That said, the book has answered some of my questions, specifically about diet (vegetarianism), moving pets to Mexico and pet food brands available and office/working life.
   
   If you are looking for a broad overview of what a move to Mexico book would be like, give this a try. If you want more in-depth information about what your daily life would be like and what the transition to a new culture would be like, check out "The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico" which I found to be much more informative.

5 comments about Red Glass.

1. Laura Resau's beautifully written RED GLASS is one of those books that lingers in memory. It's the story of not-so-brave Sophie, who goes on the adventure of her life, in Mexico, and later Guatemala, an unstable and dangerous country, finding her courage and love along the way.
   
   For teens, and adventurous middle schoolers, who realize the world is wide open to them!



2. Sophie has been afraid of just about everything: cancer, gems, car wrecks, and becoming an orphan. Then one day her stepfather Juan gets a phone call from the hospital. Pablo, a six-year-old Mexican boy is recovering from a trip across the Border. The same trip that killed both of his parents. Pablo comes to Sophie's home. She grows to love this little boy who she calls-her Principito, Little Prince. After a year Sophie's parents are able to contact Pablo's extended family in Mexico. Sophie, her Aunt Dika, and Dika's new boyfriend and son must travel with Pablo so he can make a heartwrenching decision.
   
   On the way down Sophie feels a strong connection to Angel, her Aunt's boyfriend's son. But she fears she'll lose him. A tragic accident forces Sophie to make a dangerous journey where she must learn to face her fears. Will she always be delicate Sophie? Or will her difficult choice make her become fuerte--strong?
   
   I enjoyed this story of a young girl who must face her fears in order to grow stronger. The road trip into Mexico was very vivid and I remembered similar things on my own trip many years ago. The contrast between Mexico and Guatemala are striking. I don't know if I'd be as strong as Sophie to travel down there alone. But what really stands out about this book is how Sophie learns to reach out to those around her. Dika, the eccentric aunt who survived the Bosnia war. Mr Lorenzo who survived beatings from the Guatemalan police. And little Paco, who watched his parents die while crossing the Border. They all learn from each other even when one of them makes a heartwrenching decision.



3. Contains all the ingredients for a good story: tragedy, comedy, love, and danger. I'm using it in my book club for adult ESL learners who are from various world cultures. They love it! It treats modern issues of immigration, alienation, and human rights with sensitivity. Hispanic culture is beautifully interwoven as are the lives of common people who come to know and respect each other accross vast landscapes and invisible borders.



4. Laura Resau writes the kind of books I loved to read when I was a teen, and still do. She takes us to new places with characters who are both loveable and flawed. In her latest book, Red Glass, she introduces us to a colorful cast of characters who quickly become so endearing we are happy to follow them to Mexico and beyond. Her main character, Sophie, is a girl doing what so many of us hope to do, pushing her own boundaries. Through Sophie's adventures helping return an orphaned Mexican boy to his village, Resau teaches us a little about tolerance, a little about bravery, a little about humanity and a lot about love. Her settings are so wonderfully drawn that we can easily imagine ourselves along for Sophie's ride. I've been happily sharing this book with the young girls in my life and they've been telling me that they, too, love it!



5. Before I read this book I thought it would be completly depressing and not a very good story. After I started reading the book I realized that it is an amazing story about love and lost. The main character, Sophie, goes through many challenges but she learns to cope extremly well for someone so young. She learns many lessons that I think everybody needs to learn sometime in there life.

1 comments about Mexico Style (Icon (Taschen)).

1. The book is very nice to take an inspiration for a mexican party decoration, with real ambients and true colors.

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

5 comments about Mexico: The Beautiful Cookbook.

1. I like Susana Palazuelos, I enjoyed her meal at Izote in Mexico City...and have used her recipes, but I have no idea what she was doing for this book.
   
   In my opinion, this was done when her vision was still quite immature. My main complaint about her recipes is that they are completely Creole Revisionist... in other words they are done from a very Spanish / Euro perspective... the Herb, Chile & Spice combinations have been extremely simplified & you really do not get to understand & appreciate the true genius of Mexican Cuisine. Its like a Spaniard revised all the recipes.
   
   Truly dissappointing.... it should be embarrassing to here that Rick Bayless's books are a bit closer than this one.



2. This book is beautiful and packed with appealing recipes. The quality of the paper, the vivid photography, and the engaging travel writing combine to make this more than just a book of recipes. It's a book you'll pull out and thumb through while you think about where you want to go in Mexico.



3. unique cookbook, explains some about the culture and has many true Mexican dishes that are yummy.



4. Mexico The Beautiful Cookbook contains what it claims: beautiful MEXICAN recipes, which are traditional, therefore not owned by anyone and like all traditional recipes vary from family to family, cooking to cooking. The book is beautifully illustrated and easy to follow. I have used the book over and over and given it as a gift to numerous friends all over the world who all treasure it. Mrs Palazuelos reputation is due to high standards and extremely hard work and with very good reason is considered Mexico's number 1 caterer and now her equally talented son has just opened a hit restaurant of Mex-Thai fusion cuisine, unique in Mexico.



5. I have lived in Mexico for eight years now and have done a lot of cooking, as well as reading other books about Mexican cuisine; This is the all around best I have seen.

3 comments about People's Choice Guide Cancun 2008 - Cancun Travel Guide & Survey.

1. This is definitely the most accurate book out there, as the others don't like Frommers and Fodors don't list every restaurant or hotel. This fantastic book doesn't only list restaurants and hotels, but also clubs, bars, great information about transportation, and many other great things. It is definitely worth a lot more than the price you're getting it for. It's a must have book! I highly recommend this book for both any first timers and even the experienced Cancun traveler.



2. Well, I've just read the new and improved People's Choice Guide and I have to say that it is a must have for travelers or tourists to Cancun. The guide covers almost everything Cancun from hidden gems to the glitz of the club set.
   
   Unlike other prominent guides, the PCG covers almost every hotel, most restaurants and other points of interests. When I first started going to Cancun some twenty plus years ago, nothing would tick me off more than buying one of the so called major guides and not seeing a resort I was thinking about booking, in it. With the PCG that's not likely to happen and best of all many of the reviews are based on people whom have actually stayed at the Hotels or eaten at the Restaurants, and of course, the author who has managed to track down and keep regular tabs on the Cancun scene. The book is loaded with travel tips, recommendations, and up to date, concise addresses and phone numbers of everything the typical visitor to Cancun may need.
   
   In my opinion, this is the most worthwhile guide to Cancun published and is more extensive than any other guide on the market.



3. I am a repeat customer of Peoples Choice Guide Cancun and the new 2008 edition is fantastic. There are many helpful improvments, such as you can now search by Food Category and the Proximity Guide where you can quickly locate Restaurants and Clubs close to your Hotel. The locations for the hotels, restaurants and clubs are pinpointed to 1/10 of a km, which makes it far easier than saying "between km 9 and km 10. When you are driving, riding or whatever in a foreign land you don't want to be in busy traffic looking for a km to find a place.
   
   I live in Cancun and even as a resident this book is most helpful. Locals have to eat out too. When I travel I always try to find a Travel Guide before I plan my trip. It would be great if this guide was available for other travel hotspots.
   
   I imagine it is hard to keep any travel guide current, with name changes, business closings, new places, etc. but the author states that he makes frequent trips to Cancun to allow for the most up to date information at the time the guide goes to print. This travel guide is a good as it gets for Cancun.

2 comments about 50 Hikes in Northern New Mexico: From Chaco Canyon to the High Peaks of the Sangre de Cristos (50 Hikes).

1. i own many hiking guides, but this one is a favorite! i highly recommend it for all levels of hikers.



2. As a resident of Southern Colorado, I was looking for a guide of nearby geological, historical, archaeological, and topographical interesting day hikes and backpacking trips. This guide is exactly what I was looking for. I would recommend it to anyone interested in expanding their knowledge and opportunities for adventure in Northern New Mexico!

3 comments about Puerto Vallarta & Pacific Mexico (Regional Guide).

1. A bit of a misnomer - the book actually covers Mazatlan to Tehuantepec (Oaxaca) intensively in a compact book
   
   Finally getting info on true budget hotels omitted from the Mexico book along with more indepth general coverage
   
   Generally I have avoided PV and Zihua since I thought budget accomodations had dried up - now I am thinking of checking airfares
   
   I am thinking LP should do more of these for Mexico



2. Very informative. Decent recommendations. A lot of surfing recommendations... if that's what your into. Only a third of the book is dedicated to PV. Rest of it covers Pacific Mexico (Mazatlan, Manzanillo, etc.)I liked Fodor's PV 2007 better. Especially if you are going to PV and not those other destinations covered by Lonely Planet. Fodor's has a lot more content concerning PV, and is easy to use and well laid out.



3. I usually love the Lonely Planet series, but this book is just a listing of restaurants and hotels along the Mexican coast. There is no information about day trips away from the major cities. A friend of mine pointed out that the cover says it all - that picture could have been taken anywhere! So how did this guide earn two stars instead of one? The history section, as usual, is very good, as is the general travel information for Mexico (information about driving and using phones, etc).
   
   This book is better than not having a travel guide, but I was really happy to have a copy of Moon Puerto Vallarta: Including the Nayarit and Jalisco Coasts (Moon Handbooks) as well. That had excellent information about small towns and other interesting day trips within a few hours of PV. I have a number of LP guides, but for Mexico the Moon series looks to be tops largely because the author (Whipperman) has spent the last 20 years traveling full time in Mexico, and seems to enjoy out-of-the-way places.

3 comments about Cancun & The Yucatan (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides).

1. This is quite a convenient guide fits perfectly in a pocket and easy to carry around. The book highlights the Yucatan region by listing the top 10 sights of all touristic cities in Yucatan. Besides it also lists the top 10 hotels, diving/snorkeling places, restauraunt etc. at the end. What it offers in convenience; but it lacks in depth. There is not much detail on any city; if prior reservations are not made or traveling on budget; it is best to stay away from this book.



2. Looking to find a book on "highlights" of the Yucatan? Then this is the book. When researching the next place to travel, I look for books with photos and highlights so I can see what lies ahead. This is a good book for just that ... and that only! It gave me "ideas" to further research but that is about all it is good for... a starting point.



3. I agree with the text of the two reviews before me, but I do not think their ratings are fair. This is an excellent guide for the traveler who wants to know what to see, what not to miss, and what to avoid. When I reach a destination, there are so many options that a guide like this is just what I need to make good decisions within a limited amount of time. It is also a convenient way to find out about activities you may have not heard of, like seeing the underground rivers ("cenotes").
   
   We spent 10 days in the Riviera Maya. This book was easy to carry and the information was not overwhelming. We were interested in seeing some Mayan ruins and the jungle. We still ran out of time to do everything, but we were able to prioritize what we really wanted to do with this book. We also avoided a "tourist trap" which was actually inside the airport where we would have walked right into it, because it was listed in "top ten things to avoid". The information is extremely well organized; mainly by what you want to do, and you can look up specific areas in the index. You can look up general info like "Highlights of the Yucatan" which listed a few ruins, then look up the "Top Ten Sights" at specific ruins.
   
   High quality pictures, easy access maps, and the information you want without having to dig through or flip back and forth constantly is what this wonderful and inexpensive little book offers. I will look for an Eyewitness Travel guide for all my future trips. Highly recommended!