1 comments about National Geographic Driving Guide To America: Texas, And Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, And Oklahoma.

1. Following a series of recommended drives throughout the Middle South from west to east, this compact little book provides an excellent listing of sights (including brief descriptions) that a reasonably intelligent reader might enjoy. I read it with highlighter in hand, marking the sights that appealed to me, an approach I recommend to others.

   Mr. White appears to be an active bird-watcher (he apparently has written other books on that subject). Readers who share that interest will find this book particularly interesting, since he highlights the best bird-watching spots along the Gulf Coast.

No comments about The Condor and the Cows: A South American Travel Diary.

No comments about Cuba, 4th (Footprint - Travel Guides).

No comments about Chile: A Journey Through Extremes.

1 comments about The Rough Guide to Guatemala & Belize Map (Rough Guide Country/Region Map).

1. The quality of the paper and the appearance of the map are great. The map itself is useless. I don't know what they used for data or if they had it checked before publishing it but, on a recent trip to Guatemala, it proved to be full of errors. In one case it showed a road as paved which has never been paved and for which there are no present plans to pave. I drove the road and it is only suitable for high clearance, rugged vehicles. Another section of road shown as dirt has been paved for years. I had planned to take another road shown as paved but was told by locals that it was not paved and only suitable for SUV's and pickups. If a map does not reliably show roads, their location and type and if it has numerous geographical references wrong, it's not the worth the beautiful paper it's printed on. As a result of my experience I do not recommend this series of maps.

No comments about The Little Black Book of Washington, D.C.: The Essential Guide to America's Capital (Little Black Book Series).

No comments about Compass American Guides: North Carolina, 4th Edition (Compass American Guides).

2 comments about South America's National Parks: A Visitor's Guide.

1. South America is home to many of the world's most spectacular natural wonders. These include Angel Falls, the world's highest waterfall; Iguassu Falls, one of the world's largest waterfalls; the world's largest river, the Amazon; and the Patagonian Icecap, the largest in the world outside Greenland or Antarctica. All of these magnificent features and a host of others are covered in the text of this book. Especially noteworthy as well are the Andean parks, such as Mount Fitzroy, Torres del Paine, both awesome mountain ranges, and Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas, discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.

   This book addresses various national parks in South America's nations, including the parks that encompass the foregoing marvels. Good travel tips are included in each article, including where to stay, what to do, fundamental regional courtesies and idiosyncrasies, expedition tips, etc. Each featured park description also includes a map and black and white photos. The centerpiece of the book is a series of extraordinarily good color photos coviering the more spectacular areas.

   The text is easily read and provides excellent, frequently unanticipated advice for the North American or European traveler. For anyone planning a trip to see the natural side of South America, this book would seem absolutely essential. I recommend it highly.




2. This guide to some of the most famous of South America's National Parks is very good. It covers such places as Iguazu, Torres del Paine, Peninsula Valdes, Nahuel Huapi, Vicente Perez Rosales and Tierra del Fuego in a very thorough fashion. If there is any criticism to this book is that it is a bit incomplete. Since 1990, when the book was first edited, a number of others national parks have been created in South America, and they are obviously not included here. Also, the book concentrates in the national parks of southern South America (perhaps because they are the best organized and are easier and safer to visit) and it lacks a bit about parks in the northern part of South America. But this is a very good introduction to really fascinating places. All in all, a very worthwhile book.

3 comments about The Cities of the Ancient Andes.

1. The author of this book knows so much, it seems, he can't get it all into his book.

   Without having a firm foundation in early Andean culture, I found this book challenging to digest. It moves through historical terminology at a mind-warping rate. On the other hand, after "stepping back" to read more basic books on the same subject, I realize I've gotten a strong platform of knowledge from Von Hagen. I recommend you read this book only if you plan to read others on the topic, too.




2. The authors provide a stimulating introduction to urbanism in the Precolumbian Andes. The only problem with this book was that it left me wanting more. Since the book covers the entire history of the Ancient Andes, it cannot devote much space to any specific city or civilization. Nevertheless, there is still more than enough to enthrall. At the start of each chapter on a civilization, there is always a short description of what life would have been like for some inhabitants of a city of that civilization. This provides some extra colour to the book though some technical readers might not appreciate it. My favourite portion was on Tiwanaku, the largest city of the altiplano around Lake Titicaca. The pictures and maps were excellent and greatly enhanced to the book.



3. Von Hagen first explains the definition of a city. Then in chronological order she starts telling about the pre-cities (monumental architecture) in Peru and the first cities. All is accompanied by beautiful photos and helpful maps. The stories of the cities are preceded with a tale "once upon a time" though in a very realistic manner. Next the city is explained When you visit Peru, and walk through the cities, this book will help you imagine how real life was in precolumbian times.

2 comments about The Journey and Ordeal of Cabeza de Vaca: His Account of the Disastrous First European Exploration of the American Southwest.

1. This report of the 1528 to 1536 "journey" of Cabeza de Vaca is in his own words and that is really what makes this book so interesting, even to this day. The expedition was doomed by greed and stupid decisions from the start and then we follow the story of de Vaca as he survives for 8 years without even the clothes on his back as he travels 6000 miles through unknown geography before returning to "civilization". And although this story itself is interesting enough, it is to my mind most fascinating because it is a first hand account from that time. You can read about his changing attitudes towards the "Indians" who help him survive, yet enslave him. Ironically there is a slave among his small band of survivors. His attitude towards the Indians changes with time and when he is found by a group of Spanish Conquistadors he is digusted by how these treat the Indians that helped him. Yet de Vaca never seems to really consider that these savages are really as human as "Christians". He's constantly referring to himself and other members of his group as "Christians" although religious distinctions are hardly what he's referring to by this.
   
   It is not just an interesting adventure story, it is also a look inside the mind of that age - something to make you wonder how 500 years from now others will read our memoirs and marvel at our superstitions and misinformed judgements.
   
   The translation is easy to read and contains enough parenthetical additions that allow you to easily follow the journey on the modern map that is included.
   
   Enjoy a "real" story for a change.



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   The Journey and Ordeal of Cabeza de Vaca: His Account of the Disastrous First European Exploration of the American Southwest
   
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