1 comments about Let's Go Ecuador 1st Edition: Including the Galapagos Islands (Let's Go Ecuador).

1. This book lacks some serious items, such as maps! The Lonely Planet guide is far superior.

1 comments about An Archaeological Guide to Central and Southern Mexico.

1. I was one of the most comprehensive books of its kind. Well researched and documented. Best of all was the detailed tips on how to get to the more remote sites. Most of the information can be found in various other places but she has one of the best compilations I have seen.
   Great Book!

2 comments about The Death and Resurrection of Jefferson Davis (American Crisis (Rowman & Littlefield)).

1. I have read many books on the War Between the States and very rarely come across a topic which is new. This book covers a subject that is little known by even culture concious Southerners. A very good read about an event that was pivotal in post war Southern History. If you are a Southerner this is a must. If you have any interest in the post war treatment of the personalities on that conflict, you will enjoy.
   
   Winston Churchill wrote - "Poor is a nation that has no heroes. Poorer still is one that has them and forgets them."
   
   This author has presented us with a way of remembering one of our Southern heroes. I think many readers will be surprised by this work.
   
   Highly recomended to Southerners and anyone who has an interest in the human experience.



2. Jeff Davis, beloved by many in the South and known as the president of the Confederacy during the Civil War died from heartbreak and mistreatment and looked old in his coffin on Dec. 5, 1889. His funeral train was as popular as Lincoln's removal to his home state of Illinois and much later FDR's train trip back from Georgia to Washington, D. C.
   
   When his body was laid in state in New Orleans, the prominence of the U. S. flags illustrated his burial as an officer in the American Army prior to his notoriety during the Civil War. He was first buried in a tomb of the Army of Northern Virginia in Metairie Cemetery.
   
   In May 28-31, 1893, after it has been displayed in the rotunda of the state capital in Raleigh, North Carolina, it was sent on to Richmond, Virginia. The route of the Jefferson Davis funeral train left New Orleans, stopped in Beavoir, Mobile, Montgomery, Alabama, Atlanta, Georgia, Charlotte, Greensboro, also stopped in Danville, Virginia. The funeral carriage was a remodeled artillery caisson with the U. S. flag prominently displayed. His remains were transferred to Hollywood Cemetery, The Third National Flag of the Confederacy decorated the head of his final resting place, with the Battle Flag at the foot. There is a bronze statute on his grave in the Davis Circle family plot at the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.
   
   Much maligned after the South lost the war, he was imprisoned in shackles and chains at Fort Monroe. His life and reputation has sunk to a seemingly unredeemable low. During the first three years after his death, his public image was ressurrected to a state of near adulation, and his fellow Southerners recognized him as one of their most important sons. He remains so today.
   
   The reburial three and a half years after his death demonstrated that Southerners increasingly were growing more overtly proud of the Confederacy. On June 3, 1907, a remarkable monument designed by Valentine and Noland was unveiled on what would have been his 99th birthday. It still stands in the park named in his honor in Memphis. It included the Confederate flags and symbols. Let by a group of University of Tennessee professors from the North, they are trying to have his memorial park renamed and the statue removed.
   
   It was a great American and did what he thought was best for the South, his beloved countryside. It's too bad that his life following the Civil War was so harmful to his health and what he had stood for. The flag has been removed from South Carolina's state flag, and Maryville College here in Tennessee can't keep their Rebel flag. What on earth is going on? Do those Northerners want another Civil War? It is best to leave dead dogs buried and the prejudices along with them. We natives of the South will always love Jeff Davis and what he stood for; the flag will never die. Resurrection is at hand.
   
   This historian has also written WAR CRIME OR INJUSTICE? GENERAL GEORGE PICKETT AND THE MASS EXECUTION OF DESERTERS IN CIVIL WAR KINSTON, NORTH CAROLINA and AN UNQUIET TIME: ALABAMA AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, 1950-68, among many other Southern history.

5 comments about Patagonia: At the Bottom of the World.

1. I bought this book hoping it would help me in planning my upcoming trip to Patagonia - no such luck. Basically, Chapter One contains the author's dryly written noodlings from his trip diary - which, by the way, follows the typical tourist trail itinerary that your local travel agent could beat after putting in 45 minutes of research. The rest of the book has the quality of downloads from the web and excerpts from pamphlets left over from museum visits. Maybe the book was just the author's half-hearted attempt to recoup some of the cost of his trip (good for him, bad for me). Wow! What a waste of time.



2. In "Patagonia: At the Bottom of the World" Dick Lutz reminds us that to the European navigators who first discovered it, Patagonia was a strange region inhabited by giants, cannibals, and mysterious beasts. Occupying the tail of South America that stretches southward toward Antarctica, it remains even to the modern world a, little-known, off-the-beaten-path, sparsely inhabited region. Although politically divided between Chile and Argentina, Patagonia has a special climate, unique wildlife, and strange, and sometimes violent, history all its own. In this highly portable 206-page guidebook Lutz covers just about every aspect of this peculiar region including its history from the days of explorers and adventurers like Ferdinand Magellan and Sir Francis Drake to the Patagonia of today. An appendix includes Charles Darwinýs account of his 1834 trip to the region later published in The Voyage of the Beagle.
   The book opens with Lutzýs own account of his experiences as part of a tour to the region. You might want to read this chapter last, since the body of the text is broken up by notes that refer you to later sections of the book, and they can be intrusive. They occur only in the first chapter, so if you read this chapter last, you won't have to spend your time flipping back and forth. Still, leading the book off with this chapter is an excellent idea since most visitors to Patagonia will probably travel there as part of a similar tour group, and this lets them know exactly what to expect.
   The remaining chapters in the book cover the region's environment, history, people, wildlife, and just about everything a traveler might want to know. One other bit of information is not confined to a single chapter but permeates the whole of the book and that is the author's own love of the area. There is no question that Dick Lutz considers Patagonia one of the most beautiful places on Earth. He enthusiastically describes mountains, the towering glaciers that tumble into the Strait of Magellan, and the region's interesting and diverse animal life.
   He doesn't, however, gloss over the hardships the region endured throughout its early history: acts of genocide carried out against its native population, the ruthless exploitation of its forests and mineral wealth, its dubious record as a popular spot for penal colonies. As recently as the early 1970s, the political enemies of the former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet were confined to a prison in the area.
   In short, Patagonia is a place like no other on Earth, and to take you there, youýll find no better guide than this author. Dick Lutz has four previous books to his credit and writes skillfully and well. The book, quite honestly, could have benefited form a better proofreader, but most of the errors are typographical rather than textual. Despite this minor annoyance, Patagonia: At the Bottom of the World contains much solid information, and you would have to search far to find a more compact and useful guidebook. If travel to Patagonia is on your agenda, this is a good one to slip into your carryon.



3. Fabulous non-fiction Adventure. Lutz combines historical and geographic reference with his own personal tales of trekking to Tierra del Fuego. Especially good information on Charles Darwin's voyage of the Beagle, the animal life and fauna, and the native cultures.

   Particularly interesting is the information on the now extinct native Fuegian tribes that once roamed the area who some believed to be a near sub-species of Homo Sapiens, perhaps Late Cro-Magnom or even Neandertal. Actually, I would have liked to see even more in-depth info on this badly neglected topic.

   Also, good info on the Argentinian and Chilean villages that dot the region which could prove very helpful to travelers. Great photos. Fantastic cover art. Though, there are a few typographical errors here and there. Could be cleaned up a bit for a second edition.

   Eric Dondero, Author, Worldwide Multilingual Phrase Book




4. How often do you come across a book that is really disappointing? And when it is was it your fault because you chose it because of its misleading cover picture or its contents page? Dick Lutz, asserted writer of several books on animals and out-of-the-way geographical regions has provided us with some reading which must be below the expectation of even an average book consumer. His personal account of a trip to Patagonia with a certain tour operator might well have paid for his fare, however, it leaves much to be desired in the way of writing. Simplistic, badly-put together sentences many of which are semantically ill-formed make reading a continuous strain. "We then got into the zodiacs for a ride around Tucker Island. This is a bird paradise so we refrained from landing in order not to disturb them." (p.14)
   
   What is meant to be helpful advice for a future would-be traveller to the place unfortunately does not go beyond a rudimentary enumeration of lengthy bus rides between unnamed destinations and occasional lunch menus. "We took the small boats to shore where we were met by buses and vans that took our group through the town of Porvenir and also to an estancia (ranch)." (p.15) Sentences like the following would not go uncorrected by any editor with a minimum of pride in their occupation and one must wonder if this book received a second reading by anyone at all before going into print. "The drive through the countryside was different from what we had seen until now." (p.15) and "After driving awhile and seeing some more astounding vistas we next visited another spectacular locale." (p.17) At some stage the reader must ask themselves if the book was intended for children and incredulously reads on page 79: "Since there is a Lesser rhea, it follows that there is also a greater rhea."
   
   The chapters on the land, its history and its people certainly provide the unitiated reader with much new and useful background information although also here textual continuity is sporadic and superficial. Quotes are not always sourced and the few photographs receive no comments. The book does, however, have a good word index and provides an extensive bibliography.
   
   Should you buy this book? Only if you really need to.



5. This book is absolutely fascinating from start to finish! It's extremely well-written, and the author shows great insight, perspective, and knowledge. It's simply eloquent. I bought it for myself, and also as a gift book for two friends. It will enchant anyone.

5 comments about Live Better South of the Border.

1. This is a great book for anyone who is considering relocating to Mexico. Most other books are directed only at retirees. The information here is relevant to anyone of any age. The author briefly covers immigration issues such as getting your FM3 visa and car permits. He also discusses the issue of working. I was surprised to find out that work permits are not all that difficult to obtain. I have talked to expatriates who have confirmed this. There is an extensive list of cities with the pros and cons of choosing each. The bottom line is this book will help you decide if Mexico is right for you.



2. I felt that this book had very little substance and did not do a good job on any one area of Mexico. The book actually repeated three of the chapters a second time!



3. I've travelled for years using the old Sanborn's drivingguidesand when I saw Mexico Mike had written this book, I ordered acopy... My book was I have friends who have made the move and told me they found his advice saved them some money when they looked for a place to live. For myself, I carefully read his advice to single women. END



4. If there is a more enthusiastic and engaging publicist for the charms of living in that magic land south of the border, I don't know who it is. "Mexico Mike" Nelson has lived and worked in Mexico off and on for several decades, having operated an import and export business there in addition to driving and travelling over much of the country, and he brings that vast experience to this book.

   First, I should mention my own situation. I've visited Mexico several times in the past, and have driven across Baja once, but have no experience actually living there. I just started to think about living and retiring early down there. I am 51 years old, "semi-retired," and am living in a place in the U.S. where the cost of living is cheap, but am wondering if I can get more for my money in Mexico. If I can find the right situation there, it's possible I might never need to work again, although I'd be on a budget, although not a draconian one. So I was looking for a primer on Mexico to see if my dream of retiring there permanently was realistic and Mike's book seemed to fit the bill.

   That having been said, this book is geared more toward those who are interested in living in Mexico for an extended period of time but perhaps aren't quite ready to retire there yet. This includes international business people who have been transferred there, artists and writers wanting to live cheaply while they concentrate on that masterwork, and those just starting to investigate Mexico as a possible retirement option.

   He's not shy about discussing the negatives, however, and you will find much practical advice on finding a safe place to live, what the crime is like in a given area, and how to avoid risks and be safe in both the big city and in rural areas. That having been said, Mike is very clear that in most areas of Mexico you are actually safer than in big American cities, you just need to know what the differences are and act accordingly.

   He's also very clear about the costs of living in many areas of Mexico. First, the bad news. Gone are the days when you could live like a king on $300 a month. Most places in Mexico will cost you $900-$1200 a month to live, including rent, utilities, and food and entertainment, which means a decent but not huge or luxurious house or apartment in one of the preferred areas by Americans. If you are willing to live outside "Gringolandia," which means in a smaller town where most of your neighbors will be Mexicans rather than Americans, you can live for half that if you're willing to economize.

   If you're willing to rent a small house on the edge of a small town, which means you might be taking cold showers and cooking your meals on a dual-burner propane stove, you can live on $400 to $600 a month if you're careful about expenses. He found a place like this when he first moved to Mexico and loved it. He got a lot of writing done and there were very few distractions. On the other hand, he admits that now he would prefer not to live without quite so many conveniences.

   And if you want to live in Baja, you can double the $900 to $1200 a month figure, expecially in Cabo, which he says costs about the same as southern California. For that, however, you're getting an area with great conveniences, good medical facilities, and so many Americans that you won't have to speak a lick of Spanish if that's what you want.

   He says the bottom line, however, is that you can expect to spend about 70% of what you spent in the states to support your old life style, and your standard of living will actually be higher for that amount of money than what you could afford in the States.

   He also includes advice and info on buying and owning property, art and culture, which banks to use, medical care, where the best language schools are, dating and love life ("all latinas have brothers, none of whom has a sense of humour about their sister"), and even advice for gays and lesbians. He even says you can call him personally for advice, especially on business matters, and includes his address and telephone number.

   For me the best part was the section on the different cities and towns and what it was like to live there and what the ambience and cost of living there was like. This includes sections on everything from giant Mexico City with its 21 million people to little mountain villages 7,000 feet up on the central Mexican plateau of just a few hundred people. Many of the towns discussed are around 50,000 people, though, and a number are 200,000 or more. A few are 5,000 or less, for those who really want to get away from the big city and from the other Americans and Canadians to get some real local color.

   Mike also points out that his book is really for those who need the basics on living in Mexico. He recommends another longer, more detailed book by another writer (which costs more, but he says it's worth it), for those who have read his book and want more information. He also says it's intended more for those who are really looking to retire in Mexico and need something on that. I found Mike's book excellent for my first read and am now considering getting the more detailed and expensive book that he recommends.




5. I just bought this book, it's a newer edition ( third edition),
   I found it not only full of useful information but the organization and quality excellent. I now find myself dreaming of living in Mexico.

5 comments about The Discoverie of the Large, Rich, and Bewtiful Empyre of Guiana (The American Exploration and Travel Series , Vol 77).

1. I think that this book was excellent. The author was a very talented man. I recommend this book to any one who would like to learn more about the history of South America.



2. I think that this book was excellent. The author was a very talented man. I recommend this book to any one who would like to learn more about the history of South America.



3. I think that this book was excellent. The author was a very talented man. I recommend this book to any one who would like to learn more about the history of South America.



4. This book is basicaly a rehash of Walter Raleigh's work. Whitehead, never having done any long-term fieldwork in Amazonia, offers little new insight to his readers. He gets away with this by theorizing, as postmodernists often do, from a distance (and using the hard work of others). This book, as so much of his other work, is a sign of the decay of anthropology in USA.



5. Little needs to be said about Ralegh's text beyond the obvious--it is a fascinating example of Renaissance self-fashioning through travel writing. It is reproduced carefully and faithfully here, with a minimum of editorial intrusion, for which readers should be grateful.

   Whitehead's long introduction poses more of a problem. It is shockingly badly written--one imagines that the editors threw up their hands in despair at the atrocious quality of the prose. Only professional anthropologists and historians are likely to struggle through it. This is a great shame, because Whitehead's argument is fascinating and important. In essence, he argues that many of the most seemingly fantastical aspects of Ralegh's account (tales of Indians with faces in their chests, etc.) weren't simply European projections, but products of an interaction between European assumptions and native myths.

No comments about South Carolina (America Series).

1 comments about Chattanooga Great Places: After You'Ve Seen the Choochoo, There's More to Do! : The Where-To-Go Guide to Chattanooga's Great Restaurants, Arts, Entertainment, Recreation.

1. I ran a bed and breakfast outside the city for ten years, and this was the best guide to Chattanooga. My guests earmarked it and took it on their travels. It was easy to read, well referenced and had tons of helpful information. It would get a five star rating but it is out of date. We need a new one desparately! Chattanooga has a new Southside, a great farmers market and it is sad that they are not listed.

No comments about A World in Focus - Central & South America Teacher's Guide (A World in Focus).

2 comments about Colombia panoramica.

1. This is honestly one of the best ever depictions of such a rich country, not only in culture, art, architecture, history and geographical variety, but in the people, the spirit, the colors and the sharp contrasts that this beautiful country has.
   The photographer exposes an intimate and personal view that allows us to be inside the picture, as if living it ourselves. He has entered areas and dangerous zones to show us those existing contrasts, and has exposed us to the magnificense of this varied country. It is a perfect example of being able to see through someone else's eyes, and how beautiful it is.



2. If you like Colombia, as much as I like, you have to have this piece of jewelry in your coffee table. It is also a good idea if you want to surprise somebody you know that likes Colombia, or wants to learn about it. Unbelievable pictures in fold-in pages. Divided in zones and perfectly explained in Spanish about every detail in each breath-taking picture. Hard Cover. 260 full color pages.