5 comments about Flying South: A Pilot's Inner Journey.

1. This book is not only extremely entertaining but also a great collection of beautiful color photographs of different spots "South of the border...WAY South."

   The author bears her soul for the reader in such a manner that you will feel you're sitting right next to her in the cockpit of her single-engine Cessna as she flies herself (as well as her husband and brother) to the adventure of a lifetime.

   Some will say she was a bad pilot. Who are we to judge? She was a brave soul and I am glad she had the courage to share her experience with the rest of us "safe" pilots.

   Barbara's book is an inspiring story of self-discovery. One that pilots and non-pilots alike will enjoy.




2. There are a lot of things wrong with this book, as noted by other reviewers, including:
   - An inexperienced private pilot repeatedly in over her head
   - No great insights into the places or people she visits
   - A level of jealousy for her famous husband
   And yet, I found myself truly drawn in to the story, due to the combination of adventure, beautiful images, and the author's relentless desire to prove herself. Knowing how she met her fate added a level of poignancy for me. I coudn't put it down.



3. This was a good, easy read. A little frustrating for this more experienced pilot, but for lesser-experienced pilots, and especially women pilots, you will really enjoy it.
   
   Keep in mind that this isn't just a normal hardcover book. It's printed on glossy 60-lb. paper and has dozens of incredible photos taken by her husband, renowned photographer Galen Rowell.



4. This book is illustrated by a collection of high-end aerial photography that makes it probably the most colorful travel/aviation nonfiction available. The text offers just a tad more of the author's private affairs (career, marriage) than you might expect (definitely too much for my taste: maybe I should have taken the subtitle - 'A Pilot's Inner Journey' - more seriously). That said, you get a fair overview of the challenges of a really long cross country flight as well as an explanation why you want to prepare well for your own flying adventure to South America.



5. This book revealed what Barbara was living, not editing out what was politically correct, not covering up the flying mistakes that would be embarrassing to most, not holding back on insights of strong dominate individuals in her life who can make decisions difficult in and out of the cockpit. In this book, Barbara was true to herself and her readers, in her decision-making, her skills and her growth as a person.
   
   As a pilot I learned from this book, good pilots are always learning, as a woman I learned from this book, trust your instincts and as a person I learned from this book, live your dream.
   
   Well written and difficult to put down.

2 comments about Lines in the Water: Nature and Culture at Lake Titicaca.

1. This is a gem, written with great respect for the indigenous people who live aound Lake Titicaca, well-annotated and with wonderful photographs by the author. Orlove has broad interests - anthropology, economics, natural history, environmental issues, to name a few, and a talent for accessing interesting memories. He conveys his astute observations in clear and vivid prose.The book is organized nicely - I especially liked the material in the final chapter, entitled "Paths", which offers an antidote to the sad fact that roads and highways are so often destructive to local people and to biodiversity. Paths, literal or metaphorical, also provide valuable linkages and essential connections among the various components of this remote but very interesting and community with ancient roots. Orlove provides the reader with a sense of having traveled those paths for a short while with him.



2. (Planeta.com Journal) -- Lines in the Water (University of California Press, 2002), a beautifully written ethnography of rural fishermen and their families. The book's subtitle "Nature and Culture at Lake Titicaca" specifies the center of action, but the scope is much broader and deeper. It's actually hard to find the words to say how delightful this book is. Author Ben Orlove is an environmental science professor at the University of California, Davis, and his book is based on three decades of trips to Peru and Bolivia. The book is a showcase of fresh writing and a major contribution to the literature about South America. Orlove provides a frank account of the role academics themselves play. He includes himself in this story and shares candid observations -- from his reactions to office politics to daydreaming about museums. This book is highly recommended. Eco travelers visiting Lake Titicaca would do well to read this book in advance.

No comments about Moon Argentina (Moon Handbooks).

2 comments about Ecuador & Galapagos, 6th (Footprint - Travel Guides).

1. Footprint guides are, bless them, practicaly encyclopedic. Some people find the wealth of detail overwhelming, but the advantage is that one can pinch pennies on one part of the trip and splurge on a worthwhile luxury at another time, without having to consult different guides. Also, they include more places, letting you know whether there's something of interest in a place (or not), rather than leaving a place out and leaving you to wonder. They include tour organizer information too, should you want to leave some or all of your planning to someone else.
   
   Granted, there is some shortand involved to get all that information in. The print can be small, the pages, thin. But, for example, if I see something marked as "recommended" in Footprint, I consider it a solid gold endorsement, because it's not given out often and reflects the comments of thousands of readers.
   
   "Footprint Ecuador" shares these qualities. Ecuador is a tiny country just bursting with wildlife, architecture, and people worth spending time with, and Footprint's details on things like how long a bus trip will take and how much it will cost allow one to plan confidently how to spend one's limited time there. And once in a while there is a wry, dry comment that will make you laugh.
   
   I visited a jungle lodge 3 1/2 hours by canoe from the nearest town, hiked on a volcano, visited native markets, lazed on a beach, explored colonial cities, saw blue footed boobies (without going to Galapagos, which was outside my budget), and talked, talked, talked with Ecuadorans.
   This book helped me everywhere and has given me a hundred reasons to want to go back and explore some more.



2. I had a difficult time deciding between Footprint's guidebook and Lonely Planet's because we've used both brands in the past. Ultimately, I chose Footprint for our 7-week Ecuador trip becasue it was published more recently; I am completely satisfied. This guidebook was accurate in its descriptions and prices. EVERY place we visited lived up to its reputation from the book. Although most tourists usually only visit Quito, Otavalo, and the Galapagos, the book had plenty of detailed information on many other magical places across Ecuador. The only changes we noted were that train service to Cotopaxi was discontinued and the Devil's Nose train ride no longer allowed riders on top. With assistance from Footprint, we were enchanted by Ecuador and will certainly bring Footprint the next place we explore.

5 comments about Driving the Pan-American Highway to Mexico and Central America: A Complete Guide for Do-It-Yourself Planning and Driving Through Mexico and Central America.

1. We have not yet driven the Pan-American highway, but were given the Pritchard's book as a gift in preparation for an eventual trip; therefore, I can't comment on the traveler tips. I was, however, amused and distracted by the incredible number of typos on each page (coastal is consistently spelled "costel"). The book seems very basic and at times naive (toilet paper discussion). I had the feeling that my grandfather was explaining the ropes to me... That said, the book seems to have some helpful information and tries to be specific regarding border crossings, the roads, etc.



2. I did a lot of research on our trip. We live in Honduras and are driving to the US over a three week period as we leave the area for good, so ordered the book. I was already very versed in the trip from countless stories on the Internet, and from exploring Central America over the last three years, so found the book simple, badly written, and not very helpful at all. I suggest that instead of spending your money on this book, you do research on the Internet and you will get much better information for free.



3. The information's regarding border crossing are just to old (more than 10 years) to be of any valid use today.



4. Do not bother. I am looking to make this trip but in 2007 not 1997. Information in this book includes what might be coming in regards to border accords and improved roads and "conditions" but no later model exisits. If the authors are still alive they are living well in Costa Rica selling this book that is basically and outdated catalog for Costa Rica (and others) real estate.



5. This book is a little dated. It was printed in 1997 and most of these countries are changing so fast that you probably need something a little more current to suppliment the book. However, it is still interesting reading and does have a lot of tips and information.

2 comments about Hedonist's Guide To Buenos Aires 1st Editioin (Hedonist's Guide to..., A).

1. Don't buy this unless you're looking for high end restaurants and shopping. Didn't help me with my trip.



2. Doesn't hold back. Get's straight to the point. HG2 have got under the skin of BA. It's a great book. the shopping is great here. this book has all the best shops and some really cool hidden ones..
   Covers some whacky places too..

5 comments about Food And Drink in Argentina: A Guide for Tourists And Residents.

1. Many people see France, Italy and Asia as culinary meccas of the world. But there is a wonderful cuisine waiting to be discovered. The food of Argentina!
   
   As a food writer, I see a multitude of cookbooks and guides to cuisines all the time. But one of the areas that is lacking, is Argentina. With an Argentine mother, and having had the wonderful opportunity to have lived in Argentina, I can declare that this book is excellent and an invaluable resource of food and drink in Argentina.
   
   Not only does this guide explain food terms and etiquette, but also which restaurants are good (even for special diets) as well as information on Argentina's wines.
   
   There are some fantastic photos included too!
   
   What I found to be wonderful were the recipes included for traditional Argentina fare, as well as guides to meat cuts and labeling in Argentina, the United States, England as well as France!
   
   If you are going to eat in Argentina, you will need this book.



2. Expertly researched and co-authored by Dereck Foster & Richard Tripp, Food And Drink In Argentina: A Guide For Tourists And Residents is an informed and informative introduction and "user friendly" reference for dining-out while traveling or working in the beautiful South American nation of Argentina. Included is an A to Z translation for beverage and food terms, advice on where to eat and what to drink, information on exploring the great wine country in Argentina, tips on shopping for food, advice for special diets and those traveling with children, and a wealth of regional recipes and culinary dishes. A "slips easily into your pocket or purse" guidebook, Food And Drink In Argentina is to be given high praise and a very strongly recommended for planning an Argentina itinerary.



3. This colorfully illustrated book provides mouthwatering details of Argentine cuisine, going well beyond the basics of beef, mate and Malbec.
   
   One of my favorite ways to immerse myself in another culture is to eat and drink as the locals do. It's easy with this comprehensive guide. Use its A-Z Guide to translate restaurant menus.
   
   The book is well organized, easy to navigate and conviently sized for travel; it fits into your purse or pocket.



4. I wasted my money and the space in my suitcase buying this book. It is more a spanish-english dictionary. The mayority of the book consists of a long list of spanish words with its meaning in english (ocassionally followed by a brief description and illustration).
   Not recommended if:
   1) you are spanish speaker
   2) you are looking for a dinning guide or something similar.
   
   You will do better by buying a local guide in Buenos Aires



5. Tipping, how to say medium rare in Spanish when ordering one of their famous filet mignons.......you get the picture.......Good start for your adventure.......

2 comments about Las Soldaderas: Women of the Mexican Revolution.

1. The pages of the book are not even numbered correctly at the beginning of the story . The book is very thin, with only 89 pages (57 pages are of photographs, all of which are easily available on the internet for free, like on Pancho Villa's Photos website of Ojianga). Throughout the book, everything is so contradictory. The author seems confused. No real effort seems to have been put forth to educate the reader.Seems like she gave a bunch of jumbled reviews of different novels she picked up . You can't tell what is true and what is fiction. Can't believe this is supposed to be a book.



2. Elena Poniatowska's "Las Soldaderas: Women of the Mexican Revolution" (Cinco Puntos Press, $12.95 paperback) demonstrates the riveting, almost hypnotic power of photographs.
   
   Poniatowska's text (translated from Spanish by David Dorado Romo) is wisely limited to about two dozen pages and acts as a frame for the remarkable black-and-white images of the brave women who fought on either side of the Mexican Revolution.
   
   The term "soldadera" comes from "soldada," or salary. Poniatowska explains that "during all wars and invasions, soldiers used their 'soldada' (a word of Aragonese origin) to hire a female servant. The woman would go to the barracks to charge her salary, i.e., soldada." Thus, the term "soldadera" was coined.
   
   The photographs are culled from the enormous Casasola Collection in the Fototeca Nacional of the National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico. The publisher tells us that the collection is based on the work of Agustín Casasola (1874-1938), one of the first photojournalists in Mexico and founder of the photo agency that carries his name.
   
   It is difficult not to mull over these photographs of Mexican and indigenous women from the early part of the last century as they pose with their pistols, horses, children or husbands. These are women who played different roles, sometimes as brave soldiers, other times as helpmates (or even prostitutes without much choice) to the male warriors.
   
   Poniatowska offers anecdotes to help us know these women, sometimes using their own words. Pancho Villa does not fair well here, nor do other men who took brutal advantage of -- or even murdered -- these women.
   
   "Las Soldaderas" perfectly weds words with photographs as a poignant tribute to the brave women who were active participants in the Mexican Revolution.
   
   [The full review first appeared in the El Paso Times.]

4 comments about So You Want to Move to Florida: How to Save Time and Money in Becoming a Resident and Exploring Florida's Treasures Your Guide to Securing Your Dreams in Florida.

1. I read the book. I've been to Florida. This book has great information.



2. The contents of Farnham's guide is essential for anyone seriously considering relocation. The invaluable information he provides gives the positives and negatives of living in Florida. Read this practical book about day-to-day life in Florida if you're thinking of moving to paradise. Many helpful pointers which has already made my life simpler. Jam-packed with simple, crisp declarative sentences that makes reading the book both interesting and easy.



3. I read this book and liked it. There is a lot of stuff about Florida that I wouldn't have thought to consider when making a decision to move there. There are many differences than other areas of the U.S. For example, most houses don't have a basement, so you better keep that in mind if you need the space. In addition to the practical move information, there is a number of chapters on recreation (Weekend trips, Key West, Parks, Beaches etc). This would probably also be useful to current residents.



4. What a terrific resource. Lots of useful and practical information about relocating to Florida, all in one place. It includes lots of personal observations and enough anecdotes to keep the reading breezy and enjoyable. I will refer to this before AND after the move!

5 comments about Lonely Planet Peru.

1. I used this guide for travelling with my family and was fairly useful, except for some good spots that were not considered.
   For example, in the jungle we stayed in the Explorers Inn (www.explorersinn.com), which has a very nice setting and fights to preseve the amazon rainforest.
   I was also amazed to find a quality hotel chain that wasnt part of an international network. Hoteles Libertador (www.libertador.com.pe) were a very good option in many of the destinations we visited.
   Overall, the activities and destinations recommended were good, but the info was sometimes out of date and/or incomplete.



2. I found the LP Peru guide to be a useful tool on my recent trip to Lima, Cuzco and Machu Pichu. The country overview was insightful, the restaurant recommendations were tastey, and the advice about altitude sickness was ignored. Big mistake. I've never paid attention to LP's health warnings and never had a problem. If you're heading to Cuzco, you'd be well advised to listen to their experienced writers and bring the necessary medicine.



3. I have a tour operator in Peru, [...] I meet the writer, Rob Rachowiecki, he is a great explorer and he was a tour leader in Peru andean areas.
   
   This book is very help full not only for foreing people, also for peruvians ones, many times when I go to a specific areas and I does not have enught info.. I open my travel survival kit and read for some extra info and many times I sent updates that I see have been taken in next edition... just one word... BUY THE BOOK, it's a good help to do not be lost in Peru.
   
   Rafael Belmonte



4. the material and facts are well provided and fairly well organized,but
   the country deserves better then this. As one of the worlds most fasinating places, both from a human and natural perspective, this book falls short relative to providing a full view of Peru's incredable wonders, seek another source if you are looking for an informative guide or historic perspective.



5. Initially I wanted to purchase the 2006/7 edition (that was supposed to be released in Feb, 2007) but was unable to find it anywhere. However, this edition was very helpful for my travels in Peru. I did come across some problems when trying to locate the listed Vegetarian restaurants (some were closed down since publication) but otherwise all descriptions of hostels/ travel destinations were accurate.