No comments about Touring Argentina: Peninsula Valdez (Conocer Argentina).

1 comments about Kentucky Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff.

1. Vince Staten is a man with many interests. His restaurant in Prospect, KY serves some pretty good barbecue. He is a free lance writer with a weekly column in the Louisville Courier-Journal about DVD's, and he is a prolific author, having written 11 books. With that being said, there is no excuse for his sloppy research for this book. It is appalling how many factual errors this book has in it. The most glaring error is Staten's claim that the Corvette originated in Bowling Green, KY, and every Corvette ever made was manufactured there. A visit to the Corvette Assembly Plant website would have revealed to Staten that until June 1981, Corvettes were manufactured in St. Louis, with the exception of the first 300 ever, which were manufactured in Flint, Michigan. Staten also repeats the often-told myth that Bourbon County, Kentucky does not allow alcohol sales, and Christian County, Kentucky does. A visit to the Paris-Bourbon County Tourism Commision website would have revealed to Staten that except for during Prohibition, Bourbon County has never been a dry county. In a brief story about 19th century Louisville Eclipse player Jimmy "Chicken" Wolf, Staten says that the Eclipse's home field during the 1886 season was Eclipse Park at 7th and Kentucky Streets in Louisville. While a minor league ball park also called Eclipse Park opened at Seventh and Kentucky Streets in 1902, the 1886 Louisville major league team played at Eclipse Park at 28th and Broadway. In a story about serial killer Ted Bundy's stop at a coffee house in Louisville on his way to his infamous crimes in Florida, Staten refers to the street it was on as Rowan Avenue, when it fact it is Rowan Street. Aside from the factual errors, probably no one but Staten is curious about some of the "curiosities" he writes about. For example, there is a story about Marvin Barnes's "Time Machine." Barnes was a baketball player in the ill-fated American Basketball Association, which went under in the 1970's. Barnes refused to board an airplane headed from Louisville to St. Louis, because the flight crossed from the Eastern time zone to the Central time zone, which resulted in an arrival time in St. Louis which was earlier than the departure time in Louisville. Evidently, Barnes said he was not going to ride on a "Time Machine." As he does for most of the "Curiosities" listed in the book, Staten gives directions to the Louisville airport. Aside from the likelyhood that no one cares about this, the Louisville airport is nothing like it was in the 1970's. There was a major expansion in the 1980's, and the original terminal building built in the 1950's was replaced by two new terminals, and the runways were re-designed. I did not even finish reading the book, because I recognized it for what is is: a shameless attempt by the author to make a quick buck with minimal effort.

No comments about The Definitive Journals of Lewis and Clark, Vol. 10: Patrick Gass.

1 comments about Ecuador, 5th: Climbing & Hiking.

1. Climbing and Hiking in Ecuador, 5th Edition was a real treasure of off-the-beaten track hikes and good descriptions of the more established routes. I spent several months exploring in Ecuador, staying out of the major cities. This book was great for getting to known the less known areas of Ecuador. Recommend some use of GPS and purchase topographic maps from the IGM, since none of the routes are marked, need to have good navigation skills.

No comments about Ruta 40.

4 comments about Randolph Delehanty's Ultimate Guide to New Orleans.

1. New Orleans' unique food, music, architecture, and people have been justly celebrated and explained to out of towners and locals alike in many, many books. Why one more?

   Randolph Delehanty's answer to that question would be, I suppose (I have never spoken with him), that most guidebooks miss the essence of our city: the varied streets - from the carriage-wide alleyways of the Vieux Carre to the grand boulevards of St. Charles and Esplanade Avenues - which tie together our rich architectural heritage and cultural history.

   At once public and private, street walking is an old tradion in New Orleans and this book introduces novice and old pro alike to the tricks of the trade.

   Delehanty, director of the University of New Orleans' Ogden Museum of Southern Art and author of nine books, including the definitive coffee table book of New Orleans'interiors and patios, New Orleans: Elegance and Decadence, takes readers inside New Orleans buildings and gardens on over a dozen walking, transit, and (when necessary) car tours of the city and its River Road environs. Neighborhood by fauborg, he explains the special points of history that make this a city of towns, unlike most Southern cities. While your eyes are drawn to the architecture, he points out the lives of the inhabitants of these old homes, shops, and mansions - often writers and musicians. A few pages on "New Orleans House Design and Sociability: Stoops, Balconies, Galleries, and Porches" explain how climate, architecture, and sociability were intimately intertwined before the age of air-conditioning, cars, and television reduced urban life to a fraction of its potential for gracious living.

   This walker's "ultimate guide" to New Orlean's architecture and culture is a must for locals who hope to become "New Orleans know it alls" and an inspired choice for those out of towners who hope to live like a native, if only for a few days.

   Excellent and detailed maps, extensive cross-references, and select listings of all the basic tourist needs (restaurants, music clubs, bars, etc.) round out an excellent guide: the best of its kind (in the opinion of this City of New Orleans' licensed walking tour guide and life long resident of the Big Easy).




2. Having visited NO before and having read three other "Guides" I was suprised by how different this book was from the others and how everything I personally wanted to know about was adressed in detail. Walking the Faubourgs is the best way to appreciate the very unique city behind the tourist hype and Mr. Delahanty tells you how. Other guide books are collections of data gathered from many sources, but this is a story told by someone who knows and loves his subject. Our morning walks through the Bayou St. John neighborhood for coffee on Esplanade Ave. were greatly enhanced by the information in the "Esplanade Ridge" section. The history is so much more amazing than the garishness of Bourbon St. My daughter, a six year resident of NO, is planning her wedding there and has found this an invaluable resource. There is an address and telephone number for everything. I am recommending this book to all of her wedding guests and buying a second copy for myself, having given mine to her. If you plan a trip to New Orleans, read this book before you go and carry it with you while you are there.



3. this book allowed for one of the nicest vacations i have ever taken. more than bourbon street indeed; if you're into historical along with fun, good food, and the infamous celebratory attitude then this is the book you're looking for! it covers everything you can imagine plus the historical information with the descriptions that follow the maps for the various tours is priceless. we didn't take one tour save the plantation *oak alley* tour; didn't need to! the maps along with the additional information is all you need to create your own walking tours, driving excursions and much much more. i would also allow that personally i did read another book: Fabulous New Orleans by Lyle Saxon. the combination of the two really compliment one another. just my opinion. again, great book; i sincerely can't say enough.



4. ...and I've got shelves of 'em. This is an exhaustively researched, splendidly written guide for visitors and native New Orleanians alike. Fantastically detailed walking tours cover New Orleans' celebrated five-star attractions...then take you off the beaten trail to explore parts of the city not covered in other guidebooks.
   
   This is the book to pack on your first, third, or even sixth visit to one of our most exotic and fascinating cities. I can't recommend it highly enough.

No comments about The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Volume 9: The Journals of John Ordway, May 14, 1804-September 23, 1806, and Charles Floyd, May 14-August ... (Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition).

No comments about On a Hoof and a Prayer.

5 comments about Moon Handbooks Brazil (Moon Handbooks).

1. What a great guide to this wonderful country - It is a completely up-to-date guide a expert who lives in Brazil give you the inside track, showing the reader the things to see and do. It is not not just a listing of tourist trappings, rather a substantial guide to the real Brazil. Before you leave, be sure to pack this guide to ensure you don't miss a thing."



2. São Paulo is the largest Brazilian city, how do you find a hotel near your trade show event or congress? How to fix or order your palm power supply or your network cable? Even these stuff are covered on the book, more than a traditional tour guide. A Brazlian view by an american citizen living in the country. Business travelling or Tour are both well covered on the book.



3. The Rio part of this book is replete with gross errors. Some of the resturant prices are 2 to 3 times what they are listed in the book. One of restaurants that is listed as a bargain is, in fact, one of the most expensive in Rio.
   
   The maps of Rio are plain aweful, they simply show "points of interest" that are two or three blocks off their actual location. I am not talking about one or two, but more like half that I have tried to find...
   
   Kinda makes you wonder if the author has been to Rio at all...



4. I just returned from a four week trip around Brazil. I took this guide and Let's Go Brazil. This guide was very useful from an information point of view. The author gave a lot of background into the country's history and culture.
   
   However, the restaurant and hotel recommendations were terrible. I often wondered if the person had ever been to these places! We visited two of the "specially" recommended hotels in Natal. The first one was a real dump and the other had burned down! We found this to be true of all the recommended hotels and pretty much stopped using the book for this purpose.
   
   The prices were also wildly off. I expected some discrepancy between the book prices and the real prices, but not to the extent we encountered. In Salvador we tried one of the moderately priced restaurants. It turned out to be one of our most expensive meals, and not one of our most memorable either.
   
   The maps in this book are also wildly off. In Salvador, some of the most important landmarks were put on the wrong spot. We also encountered problems with other maps. The Rio one seemed to be okay though.
   
   Overall, I'd recommend this book for someone who wants some background information on the country and its culture. However, I wouldn't rely on the hotel or restaurant recommendations or the maps. Buy another guide for that.



5. I know Brazil is a big country...but I was a bit surprised when I found that there was not a bit of information on Brasilia. I found it absurd that the capital of Brazil,with a population of over a million people, not only does not have a section....it is NOT even listed in the index!

5 comments about Climbing and Hiking in Ecuador (Bradt Hiking Guides Series).

1. I spent three entire months in Ecuador, one climbing and the rest hiking and travelling. I am a moderately experienced technical climber, I pride myself in my navigation. I have travelled to many third world countries and used many guide books, some good, some you dont need. This is one you are better without.

   Rob you have never climbed most of the peaks you describe, they havnt changed that much. I would have been better without this misleading guide book. I'm glad I never bumped into you after I climbed Tungurahua, or Pasachoa or Corazon.

   Please do not commit to any long hikes or strenuous climbs on the information of this book alone, you will regret it.

   If you ask the average Ecuadorian mountain "guide" the way up a mountain he will give you bad directions because he has never actually been there. It seems this is the type of information contained in the guide. The farther away from the road the less accurate the information gets, you have never been to half these places have you Rob.

   I think it sells because it is the only one out. Go to the South american Explorers club in Quito and read the trip reports rather than buy this drivel. I though it was a good read, then I actually got to Ecuador and started using it, what a joke.

   Maybe its not your fault but your name is on the cover.




2. We spent 2 months romping around the hills of Ecuador and this guide was indespensible. Definitely need to buy IGM maps for the more remote treks that are not on established trails. It was really fun to explore areas not ofetn visited by gringos. Ecuador is full of surprises and this guide really helped us to experience the real outdoors of the country.



3. I thought this book was great for helping me discover some of good climbs and backpacking trips off the gringo trail. Many of the hikes it seems like no one explores, which I guess is a good thing. Can't wait for Columbia to settle down and hope Bradt puts together an equally good guide for that country.



4. We found the guide useful while in Ecuador, but routes have changed on some of the peaks (Iliniza Norte, Chimbo). Definitely buy the book, but once in country talk to guides or South American Explorers Club about changes.



5. Unless you are really heading for unconventional climbing, I do not recommend buying this book. You are better off surfing websites about climbing in Ecuador. Moreover, it is now out of date.