3 comments about Living Abroad in Spain.

1. Nicely written book. Some info may not be very useful, especially if you have been to Spain. Genreally, a pleasant reading and good organization. Will give you some idea on what living in Spain is like. You are better off if you know someone in Spain or have relatives.



2. In general, this is a useful introduction to the issues an expatriate will face when moving to Spain. As an American citizen who is considering making the move, I also like that the book is written by an American (most English-language books on moving to Spain are written by--and largely for--UK citizens, who have it much easier than Americans with regard to residency and work permits).
   
   However, I find it frustrating that Weinstein completely ignores the major catch-22 that bars most non-EU citizens from legal employment in Spain: most Spanish employers will not hire without an existing work permit, but it's extremely difficult to get a work permit without having a standing job offer. Even Google, an American company that has a branch in Madrid, will not consider applicants who do not already have EU working papers in hand. Weinstein does not say how she got around this problem; does not say how any other non-EU citizens have gotten around this problem; does not give any pointers on where to find companies that might be willing to sponsor Americans for a visa; in fact, does not mention this issue at all.
   
   Had I known of this glaring, hugely important omission, I would not have bought the book. Now you know. If what you want is general information about the logistics of life in Spain, this book is great. But if you're a non-EU citizen who is looking for guidance in circumventing the major catch-22 of employment in Spain, look elsewhere.



3. I just decided to look into moving to Spain and being green behind the ears this was the perfect book for my stage of research. Some "living in spain" books might be more detailed or specific, but Weinstein's book was written as if the author and I were sitting across the table at a Starbucks. She gave a general introduction to the highlights of not only history and culture but of the region and what locations will fit "me". A very easy and motivating read. If your still wondering if you want to make the move or where to go, this is your book.

5 comments about Cork Boat: A True Story of the Unlikeliest Boat Ever Built.

1. In general, I enjoyed this book. Designing and building a boat from bottle corks is quite an accomplishment, even with an author who is more than slightly self-absorbed.
   I believe that this work would have been much better served as a light-hearted and humorous discourse; as the author's political ranting contributed nothing to the content and in my opinion served to diminish the overall content. The boat was constructed on a whimsy and by taking advantage of an opportunity. And not, so near as I can tell, as a political statement.
   Raised in the elitist environment of academics and political activism, the author is unfortunately unable to separate either himself or his boat from such. With the resulting narrow focus and rigid weltschauung, even a very good writer will too often end up sounding both condescending and cavalier. When the author launches his next monograph he might want to consider leaving his politics on the dock.



2. This is a fun read that I will recommend to friends and family. The writing is excellent with humor and tongue-in-cheek wit. I tired of Pollack's whining and blaming everyone around him, particularly Garth, for schedule failures. Pollack prides himself on being well-organized but a well-organized project manager would not have his team working day and night up to the last minute. He appeared to be more of a procrastinator than organizer but a motivator and gatherer of people nonetheless. Two different things. When someone devotes the time and energy that Garth did to someone else's dream, working a demanding job the whole time, I would recommend a little more gratitude and less grousing. I also had a hard time understanding how JP could actually support himself entirely on savings and temporary work in an expensive city like DC. That part I never quite bought. I did well up every time he mentioned his sister. What a sad memory. Maybe some of the book proceeds could go toward an appropriate memorial of some sort for her.
   
   For JP's next project, I would recommend less procrastinating and vision failure moments and more effort in the early stages so as to get ahead of schedule. But then, where would there be a book? Loved it, nonethless, and will read whatever he writes next. Also, look up corkboat.com for photos and more.



3. This is one of those stories you wouldn't think was true if you didn't see the pictures. That someone would take the time and energy to build a boat from wine corks is incredible, but to read what happens once the boat has been built is even more unbelievable. Although I'm usually too practical to support wackiness just for the sake of it, I couldn't help but be swept up in this adventure, if only because so few people take a childhood dream and run with it. The begining of the book, dealing with time spent in Washington DC, didn't interest me much, but once the boat began being built, I was on board.



4. As a child the author John Pollack had an idea for a boat made entirely of wine corks; an idea that stuck with him as sort of a nostalgic reminder of his past for 25 years. The book humerously details the history of the dream, his annoyance with being a grown-up that ultimately sparked the dream into reality, and how it is was all accomplished.
   
   It's written with refreshing wit and eagerness for adventure into the unknown, kind of a West Wing (TV series) meets Kon Tiki.
   
   As someone who constantly daydreams about adventures that I'm not having, I completely understood the boat and wished I could have been a part of it. For other readers who are complacent with their lives and wouldn't understand how someone could partake in such a frivoulous endeavor, you wouldn't get it, and probably wouldn't enjoy it.
   And if you're unsure, it's a short read, give it a try.
   
   I'd recommend this book for anyone looking for a little humerous adventure or anyone who just enjoys off the wall travel ideas.



5. This is a fantastic book for any anyone who wants to be inspired to pursue their dreams! Cork Boat is a quick read and is well written. Anyone is sure to love it - perfect for a gift. I've bought this book for several friends, and everyone has raved about it. It's a sure thing!

5 comments about The Rough Guide to Andalucia - Edition 5 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. Keeping in the tradition of the insight, clarity, and usefulness which has made Rough Guide among the best of guide book series, the Rough Guide to Andalucia is the definitive book for any tourist interested in visitng that region.

   Uncluttered, with honest facts AND opinions about where to eat, landmarks, hotels, hostels, and more, the Rough Guide is peerless in it's thorough usefulness.

   This book does an excellent job of presenting more than your usual tourist traps. Special needs travelers (pets, children, handicapped) can also get a sense of what may and may not be good ideas for your Andalucian odyssey.

   All in all, if you're looking for a guide book that presents what you NEED to know without a lot of editorial musings, you will find the Rough Guide to Andalucia not only at the forefront of this genre, but without competition when it comes to giving you all things the "non-touristy tourist" wants to know.




2. I found this book extremely helpful, if a bit bulky. One shortcoming is that the book does not include prices for the accommodation it recommends. Prices are always helpful if you're traveling on a budget; even though they become outdated quickly, they at least give you an idea.
   
   Including the frequency of bus and train routes was very helpful, but they should also include web sites to check current schedules.
   
   I do recommend this book.



3. This high-quality guide is 50% thicker than the Lonely Planet guide to Andalucia, yet it's not too big or heavy for a light packer. (But I wouldn't want one any heavier than this.) There's no filler; it's dense with practical information.
   
   The "Let's Go" guides are written by undergrads and have excellent lists of accommodations and eats, but the rest of it tends to be immature and alarmist purple prose. (I'll never forget this comment on Morocco: "But be careful, camels have been known to carry syphilis." OK, how many people do you know that have caught syphilis from a camel?!) I call it "Let's Not Go" because they always try to scare you. Other travelers I've met had similar comments and once upon a train ride we had some laughs swapping ridiculous citations.
   
   Rick Steves is just too political for me. His "guides" read like tiresome negative campaign commercials or anti-American polemics.
   
   This guide is about Andalucia. It starts off with a section called "34 Things Not To Miss" with a nice color photo of each, includes a good index, clear and legible maps, and a section on Gibraltar. All the opening/closing times were accurate for the places I went. Those who enjoy intelligent historical and background commentary will like this.
   
   There's no logistical info on Madrid but that's OK: those who land there can go to the prominent "i" booth in Barajas airport or Atocha (the main train station) for free maps and friendly information in English.
   
   Accommodation prices are absent because they vary by season, but good values are pointed out. The money section should warn about the blue "EXACT Transfer" exchange booths in train stations which charge exorbitant fees (like 25%!) and refuse to cancel the transaction once they have your money. (They display different rates for three amount ranges, but charge the highest rate regardless of your amount; it would be a crime in most places.) Note that prices on everything have skyrocketed since the advent of the Euro: the Ave ("AHH-vay") fast train between Madrid and Sevilla cost 70 Euros each way (!) and taxi fares were what I would expect to pay in the U.S. (Tapas is still a deal.) I also suggest a free glance at the State Department's consular information sheet online --your tax dollars at work.



4. After just spending 10 days in Andalucia, I have to say that I wished I had gotten the Lonely Planet guide. This one just did not have enough truly useful information to justify its considerable weight. For example, it would say "a bus takes you from the train station into town," but did not tell you the number of the line. Or it would say "there's a lively market on thursdays on c/ borroso" in Sevilla, but it did not give you any orientation as to where "c/ borroso" was in the city or on a map...and do you know how many tiny streets there are in Sevilla? Also, while it gave numerous restaurant reviews, it did not give them relative cost ratings (e.g. $, $$, $$$). This would have been really helpful, as I often would seek out a restaurant only to find it out of my price range.
   
   That said, if you're not planning on getting audioguides at the historical sites and have time to read the descriptions, you will undoubtedly get more out of this book than I did. And when they had the necessary details, their recommendations of things to do were spot-on.
   
   After browsing through other travelers' Lonely Planets, I think those guides are arranged much more intuitively.



5. This guide was so bad I ended up ditching it half way through the trip, since it was basically as useful as carrying a brick around.
   
   I had been to Spain before, previously using Rick Steve's guide, and I have usually rely on Lonely Planet - which I used in India - so I thought, since I had been to Andalusia before I would try something different. What a mistake!
   
   a. Inaccurate information - for two nights I had no hotel reservation (because I was coming from Morocco and wanted that portion of the trip to be open ended - I tried using the guide in two cities I was unfamiliar with - Ronda and Alegris. The hotel information for Alegris was vague and the hotel they described as sparkling was literally a roach filled dump. In Ronda, the first hotel I tried to call I got fax number, the second, I was able to make a reservation but the hotel listed in Rough guide under hotel listings was different than the hotel shown on the map - I ended up getting a nice hotel out of that for cheap (turns out there were two hotels with the same name) but through no fault of the guide! Now I can understand one or two mistakes but out the three hotels I tried all three had inaccurate information.
   
   Walking around Ronda, I got the distinct impression the writer had never been there and was simply copying things from other guides - the way things were described was so vague that I simply ended up relying on the nice tourist office, a map provided by them and information from the sites. Ditto for Sevilla and Granada. Often -very often the way things were labeled by Rough Guide was NOT how they were labeled in reality or on the map. I tried the tapas/rest. recs - and found for Ronda they were again vague and inaccurate -'good tapas off such and such square' - that I simply ended up finding a place myself - the same in Granada where the writer described one place as spit and sawdust' when in reality it was cafeteria like!.
   
   b. Self righteous politicizing - I don't like people sticking their political opinions in places they don't belong - especially in places like Spain which has a complex history. The writer(s)'s PC bias was clear describing Isabell and Ferdinand as "liberating" (in quotes!) Granada as if the Iberian people taking back their own land was a bad thing, in Ronda the writer can't bring himself to say that it was Franco supporters who were executed by being flung off the bridge (which drops into a steep gorge) and (again) vaguely says 'the prisoners were executed on this brigde) never referring to who or when. In many ways this is worse than a bad guide since it seems to be deliberately distorting information in between telling us that Gibraltar 'can and should' be returned to Spain without telling us why they think so other than their own warped political views (Gibraltar was won by treaty and the majority of Gibraltons want to stay part of Britian, so much for democracy for PC jobworths)
   
   c. lastly HORRIBLE connection and transportation information. No estimated travel times between major cities like Seville and Granada, no number of trains/buses a day - and as seems to be consistent for this crappy guide, vague often inaccurate information.
   
   I will never use another Rough Guide again. Honestly if you're going to spain for the first time and standard' trip - use Rick Steves - its light but gives you everything you need to know - getting a bit more off the beaten path, use Lonely Planet.
   
   Yes there is some 'good' information in here about sites and such - but it was probably just copied from somewhere else.

1 comments about The Rough Guide to Portugal Country Map (Rough Guide Country/Region Map).

1. What a sturdy map that can really take a beating. More importantly, it's easy to read and travels/refolds well. If you've never driven in Portugal, you're in for a treat. Consider yourself warned. This map will be invaluable as you get lost over and over again, wondering where the sign was before you hit the roundabout. This map is comprehensive and easy to follow.

1 comments about Fodor's Barcelona's 25 Best, 4th Edition (25 Best).

1. We found this guidebook to be womewhat helpful, although at least 3 of the restaurant recommendations offered here take you into some dangerous neighborhoods without a word of warning. It made me wonder if the persons who wrote this had been to Barcelona recently.

1 comments about Frommer's Seville Day by Day (Frommer's Day By Day Series).

1. This book is absolutely fantastic! It's small and concise while still being detailed enough for a short trip to Seville. It offers several suggestons for how to spend 1, 2 or 3 days in Seville. The guide walk is perfect for our upcoming cruise. I hesitated to buy a book like this for just one city, but it really does provide SO much more information than a general Spain book would. However, it does so without being too big (or too small) and includes a great fold-out map. I highly recommend any book in this series.

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

1 comments about Frommer's Lisbon Day by Day (Frommer's Day By Day Series).

1. This book is absolutely fantastic! It's small and concise while still being detailed enough for a short trip to Lisbon & its surrounding areas (Cascais, Sintra, etc). It offers several suggestons for how to spend 1, 2 or 3 days, or even a week.
   
   The book is detailed without being too big (or too small) and includes a great fold-out map. Buying a whole book on Portugal would be more information and bulk than I need.
   
   I highly recommend any book in this series. Nice color without being too much fluff.

5 comments about On Bullfighting.

1. The author does not pretend to be an expert on bullfighting. She undertook this book because it was offered to her. The result is not so much an explication of the sport but a meditation on it. She considers, among other things, why do matadors risk death when most professional sportsmen risk only defeat? The author roughly compares her own encounter with suicide with the risk that professional bullfighters take in the ring.
   This is an informed meditation on bullfighting. The author has done her homework. For a good introduction to the art, I would recommend Death in the Afternoon by Hemingway. It as an informed, literary intoduction to bullfighting with diversions into war, death and art. But this book is a good supplement. Unlike Hemingway, A.L. Kennedy describes the course of actual bullfights she has seen. Her meditations are engaging. On Bullfighting doesn't take long to read, but the curious would-be afficionado will value it.



2. A.L.Kennedy's extraordinary book leads us from her own near-suicide in Scotland to the gaiety of the Fiesta Brava in Spain. Her work is here somewhat shaped by her own ill-health, and much of the book is a meditation on death. Do not be put off by this idea, for the whole thing is exquisitely written and makes use of unusually moving images: the result is positivley inspirational. Kennedy has studied toreo in great detail, and has a good grasp of her subject; she neither condones nor condemns. My only criticism is that the book runs out of steam towards the end when the author relies less on her stunning abstract and philosophical ideas, and gives a semi-journalistic account of the corrida. There has been a lot of very bad literature about bullfighting (including some by Hemingway!) but Ms. Kennedy's book is of the highest quality, well researched and written, and deserves a very wide audience.



3. This book is written in language that some might mistake for fluid, inventive prose - but it's labored and overwrought. It doesn't help that the subject matter continually returns to the author's health and ill-spirit, or that every problem in her life can be conveniently and neatly tied to bullfighting. A typical passage will open with her problems, then segue with something like "...but I won't think about my aching back, instead I'll distract myself with the story of xyz bullfighter who I just saw some film of..." and will then return to her issues with life. The suicide thing is, frankly, a cliche. Ending with the positive - she does a good job of delineating the history and the terminology as it would naturally become accessible to the first-timer.



4. There is very little taurine literature worth reading, specially in English. There is the dysfunctional American hotdog of the Hemingway type, busting with alcoholised mysticism, or else the false aficionado of the Barnaby Conrad sort, trading in stale myth-making and half-digested pseudosociology. Books of this kind proliferated in the 50s.
   
   A L Kennedy writes instead an extended essay, full of real insights, in which she relates bullfighting to mankind's [sometimes unconscious, often not] preocupation with death. She does this without grandiosity or bombastic sententiousness, or even that tiresome female one-upmanship. The fact that she is very obviously an Anglo-saxon woman may grate on some readers; then again, the freshness of her point of view would not be the same if she were a classically-educated, conservative Spaniard speaking of a long-cherished, unquestioned value. It is this freshness that makes her contribution interesting.
   
   The volume is perhaps poorly edited, but make no mistake: it is one of the few books on bullfighting worth reading. A minor classic.



5. I was in the process of researching bullfighting when I came across this book. I read it from cover to cover. This is an amazing and intimate account of a woman from outside of the Spanish bullfighting world coming to terms with its mystique, barbarism, and ceremony in highly readable and compelling terms.
   
   Her journey through Spain, and especially her trip by rail to Granada and the home of Lorca, was insightful and haunting in its detail of a society's need to cling to its traditions. The history of the bullfight and the author's personal story of physical and mental anguish were well matched, and the experience of this book has stayed with me long after finishing its pages.

No comments about Fast Talk Spanish - Essential Language for Short Trips (Lonely Planet).