No comments about Compass American Guides: Virginia (Fodor's Compass American Guides (Paper)).

5 comments about Panoramic Colombia.

1. As a recent traveler to Colombia I found this book to be a truly great reminder of my trip. The wide angle photography gives you a pespective that can only be beaten by being there. It feels like you are truly in the picture. I also like the book because it doesn't focus on one area or on one type of geography. Countyside and City are equally represented. As are the mountains, the coastal regions and the jungle.



2. We purchased the Spanish version of this book while in Colombia. It had been recommended to us by other Colombians who felt it was the best photographic representation thus far of their country. The content is spectacular in that it captures pristine landscapes, beautiful seascapes and candid events. The photo quality itself is slightly imperfect in sharpness and lighting (sometimes the faces are in shadows), but this is understandable with the use of the panoramic lens. I have mostly enjoyed the corresponding eloquent citations from authors describing their impressions of, feelings about or experiences in Colombia.



3. Probably no country in South America has a greater geographical variety than Colombia. In 2002 I spent a month exploring Colombia (although the terrorists-FARC problem seriously restricted my movement). "Panoramic Colombia" helped me to remember, vividly, what I had seen and get a glimpse the many parts of Colombia I needed to return to see.

   Using a roundshot, 360 degree camera, Villegas has done a great job of showcasing the cities and natural wonders of Colombia. Each color photograph captures mountains, jungles, coastal areas, rainforests, moorlands, towns and vibrant cities. Each geographical region is delineated by a map (a nice touch). The reproduction of color is a notch below excellent. Most of the two page panoramic photos are 30 inches long, however, there are twenty photos that fold out into three pages, over 45 inches long!

   "Panoramic Colombia" is an excellent introduction to Colombia. A great book for anyone who is going to visit, or who has visited, this diverse country. "Panoramic Colombia" would make a fantastic gift for anyone from Colombia or interested in this Latin American gem. Highly Recommended




4. perfect and beautiful. Any time you want to visit a world of difference, beauty -go to this book. I would reccomend this book to any serious cofee table book enthusiast. Weather you have been to Colombia or not, you will like it!



5. 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.

No comments about Postcard-Mexico.

No comments about Lonely Planet Peru video (Videos).

1 comments about Exploring the Southeast.

1. In "Exploring the Southeast", book 4 of the Maverick Series, Elaine and Rodger Seavey enjoy boating, hiking, biking, and camping RV style; while at the same time, they search out local history and savor the special spirit that is "America".
   
   Here is a taste of what Elaine shares with her readers:
   
   America's beauty: the grandeur of the Great Smokies National Park in Tennessee, the haunting beauty of the Everglades National Park in Florida, and the spring pleasures of Knob Noster State Park in Missouri...
   
   America's unique color and diversity: an arts fair at the Miccosukee Indian Village in Florida; little Amish girls roller-blading in an empty parking lot in Intercourse, Pennsylvania; Nashville; New Orleans; and tours of the Tabasco Factory in Louisiana, and the Jack Daniels' Distillery in Tennessee...
   
   America's food: café' au lait and fresh beignets in New Orleans in 1986; Stone Crab from the Gulf of Mexico, grapefruit and freshly squeezed orange juice in Florida, Texas pecans, Ozark bacon and ham, and Louisiana Boudin sausage...
   
   America's history: the Alamo in Texas, Andersonville Prison in Georgia, and Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace in Kentucky...
   
   With the 4th of July only days away as I write this, I am happy that Elaine Seavey has given me a snapshot of America, which delights my imagination and stirs my national pride.

No comments about Cuba (Country Insights, City and Village Life).

No comments about Lonely Planet Venezuela (Spanish Guides).

1 comments about Art of the State: Texas (Art of the State).

1. Years ago, when preparing for my 50-state road trip I'd purchased a load of travel guides to help plan what to see in each state. The guides satisfied me until I stumbled upon the first ART OF STATE book in Iowa and quickly purchased all the other states available. This curious book series made all other travel books pale by comparison. Deceptively small, slim, lightweight and light read, these books pack a punch of meaningful, inspirational information. Beautifully designed and written, they are thoroughly engaging and a joy to read--like finding an ancestor's scrapbook or diary in the attic and reading a fascinating family heritage while peering over images of a buried past. Each author must be a native or a deliberate transplant, for they tell each state's story lovingly, with a deep appreciation of the state--and not just its good features, but the blemishes, too, described evenhandedly. Photographs of architecture, landscapes paintings, crafts and memorabilia complement the words. Each book presents the state's history, climate, landscape, traditions, symbols, recipes, must-see destinations and a statewide calendar of events. I've purchased all the books in the series (20 of the 50 states as of 2007). If your budget won't allow you to buy all 20, at least buy two: one of your home state and one of your adopted state. You'll be amazed at what you discover.
   
   I apologize for raving so much about THE ART OF STATE series, but it was such a find, like discovering a diamond in a sea of glass. I can't help but gush.
   
   Now, about the Texas edition. Each book in the series has a wallpaper design inside cover treatment: a background color, unique to the state, dotted with a state motif. I always try to guess what the wallpaper will be before opening the book. Sometimes I guess correctly, but not often. Texas was easy: the gold Lone Star motif against a tanned leather brown. I was at first disappointed that Corpus Christie was barely mentioned and the rich cultural landscape of Austin and San Antonio briefly covered, but soon realized that Texas, once a nation unto itself, is simply too large--in land, history, economy and ecology--to satisfy all curiosities. The Alamo gets a full two-page spread as does the founding of the Republic of Texas, that 9 year period ( 1836-1845) when Texas was a nation unto itself. There's a nice sampling of Texas politicians--the "good ol' boys" and "good ol' gals," from the nation's first- elected president, Sam Houston to LBJ, to Governor Ann Richards, and the woman unfortunately named Ima Hogg, daughter of a former governor who "hadn't thought it through" when he named her after a heroine in a Civil War poem. There's a clever distinction between the two different Texas cultures: the cotton versus the cattle culture--before oil was discovered. The oil boom and its towering skyscraper legacy also gets good coverage as do the chips: Frito-Lay's corn chips and Texas Instrument's computer chips . The influx of German immigrants and their influence, rarely mentioned in today's image of Texas, are described with vigor. A nice surprise was the mention of Lady Bird Johnson's National Wildlife Research Center--the woman was a bulldog on protecting wildflowers. Oh, I forgot to mention the Native Texans, the Caddo Indians, "Arguably the most civilized Texans ever," and the Comanche Empire. Lastly, the book claims Texas height and girth at 1,000 x 1,000 miles, which is a bit of a stretch (by most accounts, it's 800 miles at best), but I like the example the author uses to emphasize the point. "Texarkana in East Texas is 200 miles closer to Atlanta [GA] than it is to El Paso [TX]. Stratford [TX] in the Panhandle is as distant to Brownsville [TX] on the Mexican border as Manhattan [NY] is from Daytona Beach [FL]." That's a lot of ground to cover in just 96 pages, and the author does a remarkable job of presenting the salient points, including the Texas bluebonnets, music and cuisine where Texas barbecue is "a religion. . . a subject of intense debate." A delightful book, like all the ART OF STATE books--a national treasure.

No comments about The Smithsonian Guides to Natural America: Central Appalachia: West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee (Smithsonian Guides to Natural America).

No comments about Berlitz Rio De Janeiro (Berlitz Pocket Guides).