4 comments about Hidden Gardens of Spain.

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   There are so many beautiful places in the world, sites to see, pilgrimages to make. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could visit all of them? In reality, one is probably fortunate to travel to just one of the scenic spots on his or her wish list. After leafing through "Hidden Gardens of Spain," that country rose to the top of my hope-to-travel-to areas.
   
   Writer/photographer Eduardo Mencos has trained both his eye and camera lens on some of the most breathtakingly lovely scenes in Spain. His vision is unerring. Stunning photos in this folio size volume are accompanied by perceptive descriptions that are intelligent, informative, and dynamic. Mr. Mencos may well have come by his appreciation of gardens naturally as his grandmother, the Marchioness of Casa Valdez, was a pioneer of contemporary gardening in Spain.
   
   With 250 color photographs the author escorts us from Galician to Granada, Barcelona to the Balearics, Catalonia and the Canaries, Madrid and Mallorca. Many of the gardens are drenched in that country's history, reflecting the influences of the Romans, Moors, and Europeans. Other gardens were created and are tended by their current owners, still others came to life through the talents of respected garden designers, such as Luis Gonzales-Camino and Arabella Lennox-Boyd. Mr. Mencos was allowed unprecedented access to private gardens, and his views of the Alhambra are spectacular.
   
   In his Introduction Mr. Mencos writes, "Exploring the hidden gardens of Spain has been an enthralling journey for me. Each of the owners would welcome me into their own little Eden and we would share an enchanted moment there."
   
   We are in debt to Mr. Mencos for sharing these enchanted moments with us.
   
   - Gail Cooke



2. Spain. What are your first thoughts, food, flamenco, bullfighting, sun, sand, and Hemingway? Be honest, images of beautiful homes surrounded by cool, luxurious, patios, pools and gardens didn't immediately pop into your head. Gazing at a copy of Hidden Gardens of Spain will utterly change your conception of Spain, the Spanish lifestyle and the people who create these intimate spaces.
   
   Thirty-one gardens are profiled reflecting the diverse regions of Spain. Many are classical gardens, located in exotic hispano-moorish settings such as villas, castles, monasteries, and palaces. Several modern homes and gardens are included and they re-interpret classical features.
   
   Exceptional lush photographs explore the beauty and style of Spanish gardens. Each garden profile is accompanied by a passionate personal reflection of the owner. One owner says, " The garden is a dream and with skill and patience you can bring it to fruition no matter where you are." Many of the gardeners discuss the natural challenges they faced creating their personal spaces. Others discuss the history of their properties and gardens. Several Grande dames discuss loss of spouses and their eventual personal healing through involvement in their gardens.
   
   You may not have a volcano as a backdrop or a 1000-year-old olive tree but Hidden Gardens of Spain is full of wonderful executable ideas that would compliment a wide variety of American homes. Spanish gardens have similar features, which are practical and easily interpreted. A short list of essentials includes: patio, pool or other water feature, an emphasis on cool green foliage, strong vertical elements, and formal geometric plantings. Secret spaces, gardens within gardens that manipulate the view so only part of the garden are revealed at one time. Spanish gardens generally have a minimum of flowering plants; there are always a few varieties, for example a huge bed of agapanthus as a center point of color. Box hedges, stately cedars, and cypress are also very common.
   
   Pictured on the cover is Palacio de las Dueñas, located in Seville and owned by the Duchess of Alba. Building began in the fourteenth century and the garden is still a work in progress. Seville is incredibly hot in summer and the tinkling of the water and the refreshing coolness of the green space can be appreciated even in the photo. This portion of the garden illustrates several of the common elements, strong verticals, in this case the palm trees, low geometric box hedges outlining greenery, and a central fountain. This garden has more flowers than most. The enclosed courtyard extends the living space and blurs the boundaries between inside and outside. The courtyard also makes a secret or hidden space, revealing only this section and the remainder of the garden remains hidden from view.
   
   A modern garden, La Mirada, the author's own, uses classic Spanish elements but his choices of materials are unique. For example, he used a mixture of live and dead trees from the surrounding area to create strong verticals. In a reflective moment he admits to ripping up all the trees in order to control the landscape. A mistake for sure, because he didn't realize how hard it was to grow a tree in pure chalk soil! Geometrical elements throughout the garden are made from tinted cement and salvaged automobile glass represents "a pool". A large reflecting pool near the house serves as a true water feature and it is accented with a few water lilies. Green ivy covers the façade of the modern organic shaped house, providing a green cooling respite.
   
   Gardeners, landscape designers and those who are crazy about all things Spanish will appreciate this intimate look at rarely photographed gardens. Many of the gardens are open to the public so those planning a trip to Spain can put some of these beautiful locations on their itinerary.



3. I had expected more court-yard gardens (being in Spain) and more historical gardens. What we are presented are more modern gardens (mostly) at villas and mansions in the country. And they didn't always live upp to my expectations. If you compare to France, gardens in Spain doesn't seem to have that high standard in design. I thought there would have been enough for a book this size to rival the French but no. Although some photos are stunning, this will not be a favourit in my humble collection.



4. A delightful coffee-table book which attacks the senses, giving a glimpse into the gardens of large Spanish estates which we mere mortals will never see.
   
   The photography is fabulous and picks out the essence (and often quirkiness) of gardens in each region. The accompanying text provides good insight into the motivations and character of the gardens' owners.
   
   It is not a book for instruction on garden design or practice - rather it is a good read for a gardener on a winters day. A high quality publication, worth its price.

3 comments about Working and Living: Portugal (Working & Living - Cadogan).

1. This book starts with a very readable introduction and gradually leads you in from 'first steps' through to permits, banking, taxes, you name it. It goes as far as getting Portuguese nationality. Like other books, it has 'profiles' of the different regions in the country, but in a good balance with other (and more relevant) information you seek in this kind of book. Information on actually living and working in the country is very practical and the references for further reading are good. As the icing on the cake, the book includes topics like etiquette. This is not the first book I bought but is by far superior to my first attempt. I did not know about this book at the time. I hope others can benefit from my trial and error route and go straight to a good buy.



2. This is a very practical guide to planning a move to Portugal, delving deep into details about Portuguese life, work ethic, extracurricular hobbies, economic logistics, etc. My only criticism is that the author only very timidly broaches the issue that you can't very readily make a decent living wage in Portugal. This is much more upfront in almost ALL of the case study interviews- where they recommend getting a UK-based job with UK salary rate vs. picking up a Portuguese job.



3. This is not the most complete book on living and working in Portugal but deserves full marks for what it is, a very clear and concise guide. It was my first read on the matter and gave me an excellent starting point. Specially good are the chapters Portugal Today and Living in Portugal. I strongly recommend it to anyone at the initial stages of considering a move to Portugal.

No comments about Wallpaper City Guide: Bologna ("Wallpaper*" City Guides) (Wallpaper City Guides (Phaidon Press)).

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 Frommer's Seville, Granada & the Best of Andalusia (Frommer's Complete).

1. This book follows the familiar format of Frommer's publications. Graphics make for easy, "glanceable" readability. The authors get right to the point about what is worthwhile, and what is over-rated. However, I could not give a higher rating to this book. My impression is that this is a new edition of guide material that was first developed some years ago. It needs to be freshened up more. For example, for Seville, the authors note that all train service is "now centralized into the Estación Santa Justa." As I discovered from my own research, this modern train station was completed in 1991. Yet, not one of the maps provided of Seville give any indication of the location of this 16-year-old major train station. The maps show two other train stations (Estacion de Cadiz and Estacion de Cordoba), and this makes me wonder whether the publisher was simply using a very outdated map of Seville. Information on hotels gives scant details about the availability of internet connections. In some cases, the listing indicates "dataport." Does that mean dial-up access? In the year 2007, most travelers who need internet access require some form of high-speed internet access. Overall, I would not say that this guide is quite up to the usual Frommer standards.

No comments about Time Out Shortlist Barcelona 2009 (Time Out Shortlist).

No comments about Fodor's Spanish for Travelers (CD Package), 2nd Edition (Fodor's Languages/Travelers).

No comments about Karen Brown's Portugal 2009: Exceptional Places to Stay & Itineraries (Karen Brown's Portugal Charming Inns & Itineraries).

1 comments about The Rough Guides' Ibiza Directions 2 (Rough Guide Directions).

1. This book is definitely more useful than the alternative, "Ibiza Travel Pack", which I also purchased. It focuses evenly on different geographic regions of the island, even though some of these are more heavily trafficked than others. The book lacked information about Playa d'en Bossa, which is the area I am interested in--it does not review any hotels in this area--so I had to turn to the Internet for more info. The book also failed to note how so many of the airline departures and arrivals occur between midnight and 4AM.

No comments about Wallpaper City Guide: Beijing (Wallpaper City Guide).