5 comments about I Was Cuba: Treasures from the Ramiro Fernandez Collection.

1. Great collection of photos pre and post Revolution; not simply tourist photos, but many of ordinary people,
   and great figures of Cuban history. Commentary is insightful and lets the reader appreciate that only a Cuban
   can understand and appreciate his country's history, oppression and culture.



2. I had originally bought the book for me, but when I opened the book and saw all the beautiful pictures of what Cuba once was, I knew I had to give this book to my parents. When my mother unwrapped the book on Christmas Day and started to look at the pictures with my dad, tears came from both their eyes. My mother hugged me and could not stop thanking me for the gift. Those of Cuban Heritage, please buy his book, for "YOU ARE CUBA" and you won't regret it.



3. I Was Cuba: Treasures from the Ramiro Fernandez Collection
   
   This book contains an amazing collection of old photographs that essentially cover the entire island. It is a real TREASURE. The selection of images is excellent; subjects are representative of 'times gone by'. I have gifted the book to individuals who lived in Cuba and are familiar with many of the places included in the collections of photos. The response has been extremely positive.
   
   The author deserves credit for such a good selection of subjects, relatively good images -considering the time that has passed. Younger persons have also enjoyed a 'virtual visit' to a country that is out of bounds for most people.



4. This book has the most amazing collection of authetic pictures from cuba I have EVER seen! I met Ramiro (the man who collected the photos) at Florida State University and he explained to me how he collected all these photos from Cuba. It really is a fantastic book and the price is UNBEATABLE!



5. Fantastic collectionn of photos that take you to another place in another time. Beautifully sequenced and with great essays. I hope Mr. Fernandez has more books in him. Give this a sixth star. And a seventh.

4 comments about Culture Shock! Ecuador: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! Guides).

1. My son is in Ecuador as an exchange student for a year, and I found the book interesting. It gives you a sense of the culture and what to expect if you go to live there.



2. If you're planning on going to Ecuador this is the book for you. The author writes in a very lively way to keep you interested all the way to the end. Having lived there for over 20 years he has authoritatve views and accurate histories to really get you prepared to interact with the people of Ecuador. The author also has a helpful list of do's and don'ts to help keep you out of trouble. Check it out.



3. As all Culture Shock books, this too is a very good one in unerstanding the soul of a country.



4. This book is a very comrehensive look at the culture & people of Ecuador. It is written like a travel guide giving an inside look into different locations & the people living there. This book would an enjoyable read even for people who are not planning on traveling to Ecuador.

5 comments about Frommer's Buenos Aires (Frommer's Complete).

1. I never like dining suggestions in Frommer Travel Guides. The very best are expected, quality food at high prices. But their best values are usually not the best values in that respective city/country. What I did like from this book was the side trips, which I highly recommend. Particularly nice was my buquebus trip to Colonia, Uruguary. I went in the winter and it was very scenic and a nice contrast to Recoleta, the neighborhood where I ended up renting an apartment in Buenos Aires.



2. Blah. How in the world did this get 4.5 stars? Not well laid out which make it dense and difficult difficult to read. You can get better and of course fresher information searching the NYT. And no introduction of practical stuff - one of the only entries on crime is where one of the Bush twins had her pocketbook lifted. I lament the end of the great Access guides.



3. 
   The trouble with travel books like Frommer's is that they don't tell the negative side as thoroughly as they do the positive. That's why I like Rick Steves' European guidebooks. He is opinionated and quick to tell both sides of the story.
   This Frommer's book on Buenos Aires was useful on our trip last week but did not discuss how massive and basically filthy and jammed with traffic the city is. The sidewalks were littered with broken pavement, garbage and dog droppings, even in the best of neighborhoods.
   In one section, Frommer's relates a day trip via ferry to nearby Uruguay; it made it sound as if one were visiting the Magic Kingdom. In truth, it was just a few streets and shops; certainly not worth the trouble.
   There was no warning about counterfeit Argentine currency. Apparently color laser printers are pretty common down there because there are plenty of homemade 20, 50 and 100 peso bills that look perfect to the untrained eye. A warning would have helped here.



4. I really felt like the book helped give me a great glimpse into the culture of the city and its nearby areas. The information on the nearby sidetrips to San Antonio De Areco is also excellent. I stayed at a horse ranch based on a recommendation in the book, and it was a phenomenal travel experience.
   
   James



5. Would be better if there was more information on hotels, but in general, a good book

5 comments about Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer (Virginia Atlas & Gazeteer).

1. This Atlas, like all in the DeLorme series of Atlas & Gazetteer references, are wonderful map resources. A wealth of information is included. If anything, the level of detail, coupled with the topographic information, may seem a bit too much at first glace (if you are new to these guides). But if you're willing to spend a bit of time with the maps, you will find these guides to be very useful.
   
   In addition to the maps and the useful indexes and cross-references, these guides include listings or location sources for hiking, camping, fishing, recreation areas, unique natural features (waterfalls, bridges, caverns, natural areas, etc.), bicycle routes, horse trails, etc. And of course, GPS (Lat/Lon) coordinates are printed on each map.
   
   Although the scale of these maps demand it, it would be nice if the guide book dimensions were a bit smaller. At 11" x 15.5", it's a good size book, so it's not quite as easy to stow in the backpack or the motorcycle storage area, etc.
   
   Overall, these are excellent guides for any traveler or outdoor enthusiast.



2. great product! these maps even show little dirt roads that are on private land! amazing!



3. I have used the NC version of this book for years and due to metal detecting alot in VA got this version. It works great in laying out back roads and areas I have been looking at on computer based topo maps. Great product.



4. We'll be using this atlas for an RV trip. Although we haven't yet done the trip, the maps look like what we need (detailed, topographic, forest/side roads). I will say that it's missing decent regional and statewide views. The Benchmark California Road & Recreation Atlas, Fifth Edition (Benchmark Road & Recreation Atlas)series does an excellent job of panning the state, and then drilling down. The Gazetteer series just has the drill-down. Makes it tough when you want to get a macro-view of your route.



5. This is the best Atlas/Gazetteer I've found around at least for the areas I travel and can vouch for the details. It's a great resource for those times when you need to get off the main roads and see where the back roads take you. This map has a lot of the small details that I was looking for, trail heads, boat ramps, camp grounds, wineries, ferries, waterfalls, etc. The topo lines are pretty easy to read and elevations are well marked for this style of map. It's also pretty easy to cross reference to your GPS unit.
   
   What this map lacks are the details you need for in-town travel, and that includes downtown in the small towns. When the roads get too tight you're gonna need a different map because this one only has one size (1:150k or 1"=2.4miles) I also think they should have included phone/web contact info for their places of interest and a couple of blank pages in the back for notes. (Quick tip: I covered the inside back cover with post-it notes so I can take notes and move them to the page I really need them on.)
   
   Quality of the book is decent and should last long enough. The book is a bit big (15.5"h x 11"w) so don't plan on keeping this one in the glove compartment!

1 comments about V!VA Travel Guide to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands.

1. Really extensive information. Light on the photos but strong on content. Very up-to-date, much more so than most of the bigger name guide books. Maps were extremely useful while traveling around Quito and the restaurant reviews helped a lot. It's also really cool because you can visit their web site and add your own content on stuff, like if something changes or you had a bad hotel or whatever.
   
   Highly recommended.

5 comments about Drive I-95: Exit by Exit Info, Maps, History and Trivia.

1. This book is great! Not only does it give the standard I95 exit information (restaurants, hotels, etc.) but it also gives many points of interest for families...rest areas where you can play ball or places not far from exits where you can have fun.
   I can't believe how extensive this book is and how accurate since it's a few years old now and things they are a changin' along I95 North to South.
   We really enjoyed this book along our trip - reading ahead of time is recommended so that you can be aware of places to stop before you get there.



2. Drive I-95 by Stan Posner and Sandra Phillips-Posner has been released in updated 4th Edition. It is a very comprehensive guidebook for any drive along the North-South route of the United States most Eastward coastal highway. This edition now includes Florida. With maps, radar traps, radio stations, 24 hour gas info, good eats and sleeps, where pets are welcomed, unususal shopping opportunities, fun places to visit, and fascinating historical facts along the route, you cannot leave home for that highway without this book! You'll miss so much! The excellent book, with exit by exit itemized information, has won the Book of the Year Seal, Best Books Award, and Benjamin Franklin Award. It is compact and sturdy enough to tuck into your car door pocket. EXCELLENT!!!



3. As someone who travels I-95 often, I was delighted to discover "Drive I-95." What a valuable tool for the vacationer or the everyday traveler!
   
   This slick, spiral book is an ideal guide to everything you need to help make your trip more pleasant. Exits for every segment of I-95 from Massachusetts to the tip of Florida, where I-95 ends, are documented with important landmarks, motels, restaurants/fast food places, service stations, and drug and grocery stores. A book flap gives the dial location and program types for the strongest radio stations along the way. Following the map section, the traveler will find more than 100 pages of interesting tidbits concerning history and places found near I-95. These include segments, with exit numbers, about the Torpedo Factory Art Center, located in Alexandria, VA; Gadsby's Tavern (an historic restaurant at the same exit); St. John's Church in Richmond, VA where Patrick Henry gave his famous speech about liberty or death; the Best Western Space Shuttle Inn; Outlets at Vero Beach, FL; Worth Ave. in Palm Beach, FL and much more. The back inside cover has a list of motel chain 800 numbers.
   
   Drive I-95 is a treasure you will want to keep in your car as you travel from Boston to Miami and lots of places in between. What a great idea!
   
   --Mary Montague Sikes, author of Hotels to Remember



4. Now in a fully updated fourth edition, "Drive I-95" continues to be the premier guidebook for the more than 42,500,000 people who drive to Florida every year down Interstate 95. It accurately charts all 552 exits on I-95 from Boston to Miami. It is also a wealth of information about food options, motels, radar traps, radio stations, 24-hour mechanics (a unique feature not found in other travel guides) ATM machines, shopping recommendations, and even some of the best golf courses to be found along the route. With anecdotal stories such as the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield, North Carolina having been started with a kiss, to a listing of motel chain 800 numbers, to so much more, "Drive I-95" continues to be the premier and confidently recommended travel guide for anyone driving up or down I-95!



5. Haven't had time to actually use this book so far but my sisters. one of whom has used an older version of this book in the past, used theirs recently while traveling north. They found it very helpful in locating places to eat and stay overnight. We did notice however that one or two of the eating places in our own area of Santee are no longer in business.
   
   I hope to get my chance to use it shortly.

5 comments about Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail.

1. Marching Powder was a great read. Despite the actions that led Thomas McFadden into the San Pedro prison system, you root for him to succeed in this sub-world that is ruled by the best and worst of capitalism.



2. In early 1998, while traveling solo through South America, I was told I had to visit Thomas McFadden when I got to LaPaz. After I visited Thomas, I told two other travelers, so I can see how his tour business was so large. When I came back to the USA, I only told a few people about visiting Thomas because being a female traveling alone it wasn't the smartest thing I ever did. So, when I read about this book in Oprah, I was so excited to read his story. I thought the book was very well written, easy to read and very entertaining; I think everyone who reads this book will like it.
   
   Some of the reviews don't believe his is for real, but I know he is. As far as embellishing I can't comment on that, but he is a very likeable guy. I spent the day with him as his visitor. He was extremely courteous and nice. In the afternoon, I didn't know how to repay him for showing me around so I asked what I could do for him. He wanted a pizza from outside the prison. When I came back with the Pizza it was when visiting hours were ending, so Thomas bribed the guards to let me in. I didn't know all this until later. I was brought to his section and locked in. At that moment, I was pretty scared. But, once I found Thomas, we had a fun time eating p



3. I coldn't put this down once I started it. The three other people I lent it to, felt the same way. It is an amazing story of one of the most bizarre prisons in the world and what it took to survive there for 4+ years.



4. This was an amazing book. It read like fiction in the sense that I couldn't put it down. Everything was so unbelievable that at first I thought this was fiction! But no, it was all real. Talk about a messed up legal system...



5. Marching Powder is a ghost written account of an Englishman's incarceration in an Bolivian jail.
   
   Whilst the book is no great work of literature, the amazing world that it uncovers is worthy of reading about, and intriging enough to make you want to read on and on.
   
   Unlike other prison memoirs that I have read, such as The Damage Done: Twelve Years of Hell in a Bangkok Prison (highly recomended) - this prison is not the ultra violent place you might imagine.
   
   As long as you have the money, prisoners can live a reasonably comfortable life, set up businesses, have friends over to stay, even go out night clubbing!
   
   A good read - purley for the insight into such a weird world.

2 comments about The Rough Guide to Buenos Aires 1 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. We just returned from an incredible two-week stay in Buenos Aires and the new Rough Guide to Buenos Aires was an essential part of our experience. Unlike other BA guidebooks we've read about on amazon.com, this guide is up to date and accurate (the fact that it's brand new helps). We liked its in-depth coverage of neighborhoods and good maps. The restaurant recommendations were very good.
   
   A few restaurants were not where they were shown on the Rough Guide maps (Un Altra Volta in Palermo and Rigoletto in Recoleta) but we learned quickly to go by the address in the book, not the dot on the map. Another pet peeve is that the restaurants are listed in their own section in the back rather than within each neighborhood section so we found ourselves doing more flipping back and forth than we thought was necessary. Other than these small hassles though we highly recommend the book. We had also purchased used copies of Time Out Buenos Aires and Lonely Planet Buenos Aires, neither of which we even cracked open.



2. One of the things I liked the most about this book is that it was up to date. We used this book to find some of the best places to eat. We found it extremely useful in this area. We also used it to help us decide which museums we wanted to visit. Again very helpful! I found it's layout simple and easy to use. I would recommend this book to anyone traveling to B.A.

5 comments about Alive.

1. Once I finally got into the book, this was a good story of survival. The men and women who crashed in the Andes had to overcome horrible situations -- injuries from the crash, an avalanche, and then the lack of food. What they did to survive was admirable, even if some may judge them harshly over their decision to eat the flesh of their dead friends.
   
   That being said, though, the story moves so slowly, and the author's writing style is so staid, that it took me forever to actually feel like I was reading something worthwhile.
   
   A good story, but it's a journey to plod through it.



2. This is a very interesting book. My wife and I were living in Uruguay when this occured and I recall all the anxiety until they were found. Also, recently, our son was in a conference in California where Nando Parrado, one of the survivors, spoke. Nando has also written a book about the crash and survival.
   The book Alive is a bit gruesome at points, but realistic about the guys' survival. There was shown a great deal of determination and desire to live on their part.
   In general, very good.



3. It's become a bit of trivial fodder: In 1972, a plane carrying a Uraguayan rugby team and their friends crashed in the Andes. They survived there for over 70 days, doing whatever was necessary to survive, sustained on their faith, and the hope that they could one day break beyond the prison of the mountains and reach civilization.
   
   Since the story HAS become a piece of trivia, it's important that we read something that makes us understand the underlying humanity of the situation. To that end, Read's book is almost a necessity. It details day-to-day life in the crashed plane, and attempts of the Uraguayan families to find their missing loved ones.
   
   The great thing about "Alive" is that it chronicles the event in a somewhat detached manner. At first, this might seem odd; after all, such a tragic event is an emotionally-charged topic, especially once you get down to the human element. However, to tell the tale with emotion is to get LOST in the tale. To overcome this, read uses a scientific, detached description of events, which ultimately leads the reader to ponder the horrific reality these people went through. It is a very successful storytelling mode, which only hits a few snags (he insists upon calling cannibalism "anthropophagy," and admits in the introduction that some of the survivors felt the book didn't go into enough detail about the friendship they felt for each other). Also, there is the fact that this book dates back to 1974, only two years after the events; it would be nice to know how the survivors faced the rest of their lives.
   
   Still, the book is thorough, and it's dry, almost dead-pan style is the only real way of describing the events that unfolded, without getting lost within the maze of emotions (actually, the dry delivery almost makes things even more horrible; don't read this book if you are squeamish). "Alive" is a tale of horrific events that tested the limits of humanity. It is a must-read for anyone interested in what being human really means.



4. Time has not diminished the drama of the tale of the Uruguayan rugby team whose plane crashed in the Andes Mountains. Of the forty five people on the plane at the time of the crash, sixteen came down from the mountain about seventy days later with a saga of survival not easily forgotten.
   
   Theirs is a journey born of tragedy and human endurance. The author unfolds a tale that is gripping in the telling, as enthralling as it is almost unbelievable. It is investigative reporting at its best, because it does not fail to convey the human drama and pathos behind the story of this remarkable struggle for survival high up in the Andes Mountains. Masterfully written, it is a well balanced narrative that takes great pains to ground the experience of the survivors in the context out of which it arose.
   
   The plane had crashed in the Andes Mountains on Argentinian territory. It was an exercise in terror for those on the plane, as it barreled down the mountain, before finally coming to rest in a valley of snow high up in the Andes. Of the forty five persons on board, thirty two had initially survived the crash. Some, however, had sustained serious injuries. Time would not be their friend. Moreover, with little warm clothing (keep in mind that October is springtime in South America), the survivors were exposed to the extreme cold of the night air, high up in the Andes. Though spring, this still meant temperatures well below freezing. Damp, cold, and hungry, amid the anguished cries of the injured, thus began the first of many such nights.
   
   By their tenth day in the Andes, the limited food supplies, which they had rationed with all the care of a miser, had virtually run out. Starving and ravenously hungry, they voiced what they all knew to be true, but had not dared to voice before. They must eat, or they would die. The only thing left for them to eat, however, was abhorrent and deeply repugnant to them. Digging deep into their conservative, religious souls, they found a way to justify actions that would have them transcend a new reality. Their fallen comrades would now provide the means of their sustenance. All eventually succumbed to this only means of survival.
   
   This, while one of the most dramatic parts of their story, is just that, a part. Their survival entailed much more. They had to endure other deprivations. They had to survive the elements. They had to overcome a profound despair over being seemingly forgotten by the outside world. Ultimately, only sixteen were able to do so. How they did so will fascinate all readers of adventure literature. The means that they took to let the world know that they were still alive will astound even the most jaded of readers. It is an account of human endurance that is thought provoking and compelling, a quest to reconcile physical needs with the spiritual. It is, above all, a riveting testament to life.



5. I absolutely love this book. I have read several survival stories and this is by far my favorite. It is a most inspiring story and I love the way it's written. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I read this book for the 1st time about 7 years ago. On average, I pick it up once a year and re-read to remind me that miracles do happen.

5 comments about South American Handbook 2008 (Footprint - Travel Guides).

1. I ordered this product in Peru and paid maximum costs to have it delivered within one working week. A month later the product still hasn't arrived due to importtax of 175% of the price of the book that i have to pay in cash in the capital Lima (while i'm in Puno). Amazon claims it's not their problem even though they do not at all warn you when ordering the product and promise to have it delivered quickly.
   Let it be a warning: even though Amazon says they can deliver anywhere in the world, they cannnot!! It is impossible to order a book in another country without leaving your house and paying a lot extra.
   It was the last time i ever ordere anything with Amazon unless they make an explicit warning ( not some little line in the general conditions) when ordering to another country then the US.



2. Informative for helping me plan my trip to Peru and Chile. Better yet was that it arrived the day after ordering it. Thanks!



3. I have traveled in South America four times with this book. It is fantastic for low-budgeters like me. I am a woman, 52. I travel alone. It gives all the info I needed about even small towns. It's by far the most extensive - and the price is so cheap!!



4. In preparation for a trip to South America, I purchased a number of books on the different countries as well as South America in general. By far, the Footprints offered the best information, maps, and tips for successful navigation through the country. Unfortunately, this is such a thick guide that it will not make the trip with us, but it has helped lay the foundation for efficiently exploring all that South America has to offer.



5. This book provides the best information for those traveling to South America. It's content is precise, updated, and unique. Further to this, the structure of the book is extremely useful for those that are not looking for the "standard", "packaged" vacation.