2 comments about Insight Guide Tenerife and Western Canary Islands (Insight Guides).

1. Informative pocket guide giving history, culture and climate. Sums up 8 different areas of the island listing their highlights. Points of interest can easily be located on the maps provided. Has information on transportation, services and some accommodations. Color-coded tabs allow easy referencing of topics and routes. Great photos. A good source of information and a "must have" while travelling in Tenerife.



2. We took our first trip to Tenerife in December 2002 and took this book with us. We read the historical information and found that it really helped us to understand Canarian culture and traditions. The sections on cuisine were also quite helpful, as Canarians have a cuisine of their own. Conejo Salmorejo is a local dish that you must try (or Pollo for those who fear rabbit) as well as chilled red wine - Yummy!

   Read carefully and plan on following the advice in the book. It won't lead you astray!

No comments about Insight Pocket Guide Seville, Cordoba & Granada (Insight Pocket Guides Seville, Cordova & Granada).

No comments about Escapada a Lisboa.

3 comments about Following the Milky Way: A Pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago.

1. This account of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, made in 1982, before the current resurgence, contains everything you need to know about history, architecture, myth and legend along the ancient route across northern Spain and more. It is a personal account, but one chock full of customs and lore, as well as facts and individual musings on the nature of pilgrimage and what drives a pilgrim to leave home and hearth to trek 500 miles to the medieval end of the world.

   Elyn tells her story with humor and pathos and ask the reader to consider just what the pilgrimage route and the symbols contained therein might really mean for today's pilgrims. It is, after all, both an inner and outer journey.




2. Elyn Aviva has written an excellent book on walking the Camino. She includes the human interest angle as well as interesting info about the history, cultural aspects, and architecture. The fact that her walk was in 1982, before the Camino became the popular pilgrimage route it is now, is quite interesting. I consider this book to be a great addition to my growing library of books on this subject.



3. The review heading is a quote from day 10, July 18, 1982 in Elyn Aviva's fascinating tapestry of trail journal and scholarly insight. This story was first published in 1989. The 2nd edition was published in 2001. Prior to the 2nd edition, the author walked the Camino again in 1997 and again in 2000.

   The Camino in 1982 was a vastly different experience from the modern Camino, and for this reason the author has left the text of the body unchanged except for some editing. She has added an 18 page Introduction to the 2nd Edition where she describes some of the changes over the last twenty years and talks about the other pre Christian pilgrimage routes that some believe evolved into the Christian Camino.

   I had never read the original edition, and really enjoyed the account of Elyn and her friend Bill's journey. They had never backpacked before, and started out carrying heavy packs, wearing new boots, and throughout the book I emphasized with the experience of new backpackers, gradually becoming fit. In 1982 there were few refugios compared to today, and frequently they slept under the open sky. The trail was poorly marked, sometimes non existent compared to today. Sometimes they had to hitch. Particularly in the earlier part of the trek, the local people did not look on pilgrims with favor.

   Each day gets a section in the book, with a little map showing maybe a third of the entire Camino, with a little bracket showing the distance walked for the day. The first day has a similar map of the entire route - not a map for detailed info, but a simple line with place names. Day 1 starts in St. Jean Pied de Port and the book ends with Day 47 - leaving Santiago.

   Anyone who has walked the Camino will appreciate this story, and anyone about to travel the route will benefit from the history included with the day to day narrative.

   Modern day walkers - read this for background, but be sure to get the Confraternity of St. James The Camino Frances guide to take with you, as well as either John Brierley's guide or Davies and Cole's guide. Also, check the forums such as GoCamino and Santiagobis and websites such as backpack45.

No comments about Eyewitness Spanish Travel Phrasebook (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

No comments about Starting a Business in Spain (Starting a Business - Vacation Work Pub).

No comments about Culture Smart! Spain: A Quick Guide to Customs & Etiquette.

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

No comments about Iberian Villages: Portugal & Spain.

No comments about Live & Work in Spain (Live & Work - Vacation Work Publications).