No comments about The AA Map & Guide to Costa Brava: Top 25 Sights (AA TwinPacks).

4 comments about Hidden Gardens of Spain.

1. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There are so many beautiful places in the world, sites to see, pilgrimages to make. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could visit all of them? In reality, one is probably fortunate to travel to just one of the scenic spots on his or her wish list. After leafing through "Hidden Gardens of Spain," that country rose to the top of my hope-to-travel-to areas.
   
   Writer/photographer Eduardo Mencos has trained both his eye and camera lens on some of the most breathtakingly lovely scenes in Spain. His vision is unerring. Stunning photos in this folio size volume are accompanied by perceptive descriptions that are intelligent, informative, and dynamic. Mr. Mencos may well have come by his appreciation of gardens naturally as his grandmother, the Marchioness of Casa Valdez, was a pioneer of contemporary gardening in Spain.
   
   With 250 color photographs the author escorts us from Galician to Granada, Barcelona to the Balearics, Catalonia and the Canaries, Madrid and Mallorca. Many of the gardens are drenched in that country's history, reflecting the influences of the Romans, Moors, and Europeans. Other gardens were created and are tended by their current owners, still others came to life through the talents of respected garden designers, such as Luis Gonzales-Camino and Arabella Lennox-Boyd. Mr. Mencos was allowed unprecedented access to private gardens, and his views of the Alhambra are spectacular.
   
   In his Introduction Mr. Mencos writes, "Exploring the hidden gardens of Spain has been an enthralling journey for me. Each of the owners would welcome me into their own little Eden and we would share an enchanted moment there."
   
   We are in debt to Mr. Mencos for sharing these enchanted moments with us.
   
   - Gail Cooke



2. Spain. What are your first thoughts, food, flamenco, bullfighting, sun, sand, and Hemingway? Be honest, images of beautiful homes surrounded by cool, luxurious, patios, pools and gardens didn't immediately pop into your head. Gazing at a copy of Hidden Gardens of Spain will utterly change your conception of Spain, the Spanish lifestyle and the people who create these intimate spaces.
   
   Thirty-one gardens are profiled reflecting the diverse regions of Spain. Many are classical gardens, located in exotic hispano-moorish settings such as villas, castles, monasteries, and palaces. Several modern homes and gardens are included and they re-interpret classical features.
   
   Exceptional lush photographs explore the beauty and style of Spanish gardens. Each garden profile is accompanied by a passionate personal reflection of the owner. One owner says, " The garden is a dream and with skill and patience you can bring it to fruition no matter where you are." Many of the gardeners discuss the natural challenges they faced creating their personal spaces. Others discuss the history of their properties and gardens. Several Grande dames discuss loss of spouses and their eventual personal healing through involvement in their gardens.
   
   You may not have a volcano as a backdrop or a 1000-year-old olive tree but Hidden Gardens of Spain is full of wonderful executable ideas that would compliment a wide variety of American homes. Spanish gardens have similar features, which are practical and easily interpreted. A short list of essentials includes: patio, pool or other water feature, an emphasis on cool green foliage, strong vertical elements, and formal geometric plantings. Secret spaces, gardens within gardens that manipulate the view so only part of the garden are revealed at one time. Spanish gardens generally have a minimum of flowering plants; there are always a few varieties, for example a huge bed of agapanthus as a center point of color. Box hedges, stately cedars, and cypress are also very common.
   
   Pictured on the cover is Palacio de las Dueñas, located in Seville and owned by the Duchess of Alba. Building began in the fourteenth century and the garden is still a work in progress. Seville is incredibly hot in summer and the tinkling of the water and the refreshing coolness of the green space can be appreciated even in the photo. This portion of the garden illustrates several of the common elements, strong verticals, in this case the palm trees, low geometric box hedges outlining greenery, and a central fountain. This garden has more flowers than most. The enclosed courtyard extends the living space and blurs the boundaries between inside and outside. The courtyard also makes a secret or hidden space, revealing only this section and the remainder of the garden remains hidden from view.
   
   A modern garden, La Mirada, the author's own, uses classic Spanish elements but his choices of materials are unique. For example, he used a mixture of live and dead trees from the surrounding area to create strong verticals. In a reflective moment he admits to ripping up all the trees in order to control the landscape. A mistake for sure, because he didn't realize how hard it was to grow a tree in pure chalk soil! Geometrical elements throughout the garden are made from tinted cement and salvaged automobile glass represents "a pool". A large reflecting pool near the house serves as a true water feature and it is accented with a few water lilies. Green ivy covers the façade of the modern organic shaped house, providing a green cooling respite.
   
   Gardeners, landscape designers and those who are crazy about all things Spanish will appreciate this intimate look at rarely photographed gardens. Many of the gardens are open to the public so those planning a trip to Spain can put some of these beautiful locations on their itinerary.



3. I had expected more court-yard gardens (being in Spain) and more historical gardens. What we are presented are more modern gardens (mostly) at villas and mansions in the country. And they didn't always live upp to my expectations. If you compare to France, gardens in Spain doesn't seem to have that high standard in design. I thought there would have been enough for a book this size to rival the French but no. Although some photos are stunning, this will not be a favourit in my humble collection.



4. A delightful coffee-table book which attacks the senses, giving a glimpse into the gardens of large Spanish estates which we mere mortals will never see.
   
   The photography is fabulous and picks out the essence (and often quirkiness) of gardens in each region. The accompanying text provides good insight into the motivations and character of the gardens' owners.
   
   It is not a book for instruction on garden design or practice - rather it is a good read for a gardener on a winters day. A high quality publication, worth its price.

2 comments about Sufis of Andalusia: The Ruh Al-Quds & Al-Durrat Al-Fakhirah.

1. Nooooooo! This book must be available to the public! it is a medeocore translation, but who cares (:-))

   This book from Shaykh AlAkbar was written because someone said to him that there was no no more tasawwuf left, let alone there were no Auliya left.

   What did he do? He wrote Ruh Al-Quds wa Al-Durrat AlFakhira! Included in this book are pages of the Auliya whom he met, studied with and learned from, including women!

   Ibn AlArabi is the qutb of men, and we may not be able to understand him, or be like him, but this translation is easy to understand, and digest!




2. The translator has provided here a partial translation of the 'Ruh al-Quds' written by probably Islams most influential Sufi ibn Arabi.
   
   The book, published by Beshara publications who often print translations of ibn Arabi's works in particular with commentaries by classical Turkish Sufis (Such as Ismail Hakki Bursevi's commentary on the Fusus and the Kernel of the Kernel) is a continuation of the publishers interest with ibn Arabi.
   
   The introduction is by the late Martin Lings who was a British convert to Islam and Sufi who wrote a number of books most notably a biography of Muhammad, a biography of the late Algerian Sufi Sheikh al-Alawi and several works in defence and support of Rene Guenon.
   
   The translator R.J. Austin provides us with an introduction to ibn Arabi's life and times giving us a detailed biography of the man and the cultural world in which he lived in. He then provides an introduction to Sufism it appears using much of Martin Lings' works as reference before the translation.
   
   The translation itself is simply a brief biography of Sufis who were ibn Arabi's teachers, people he met or scholars he knew of. Several of them are women, something that may be of surprise to some though during ibn Arabi's time it was fairly common to find women in high theological positions and well respected Sufis. The style is common to many books that can be found in the Muslim world as it was a common practice for a Sufi master to compile a biography of his teachers or of his Sufi lineage.
   
   This would certainly be of interest to those wishing to know more about Sufism and also to understand the cultural side of the Islamic world.

No comments about AAA Spiral Spain, 3rd Edition (Aaa Spiral Guides).

5 comments about Spanish Recognitions: The Road from the Past.

1. This is a lovely account of one lady's tour through a country with which she so rightly tells us "no one in this new millennium should ignore... it was one of the first places mentioned as being stolen from the Muslims in an early televised Osama bin Laden tirade of bitterness and intent. ... Al-Andalus. Andalucia. Spain. Few in this country knew what he was talking about" (255). I (unknowingly following in Mary Lee Settle's footsteps) decided to find out.

   Yet it was so difficult to discover any information about post-1492 Spain. I had a hard time finding books telling me about Knights Templar's history and tragic end in Il Torre Sangrienta (the tower of blood); giving me an intimate portrait of Black Virgin's of Guadalupe's haunting eyes; telling me of Unamunno's dramatic defiance of Franco's regime; or telling me the scandal in Zamora. And I had no joy at all in finding a book that tells the story of the many Spains (for in truth as Mary Lee Settle makes clear there is not ONE Spain but many) as though all its rich history grew up naturally--from the stones in the ground. As though this history were but part and parcel of the sights, sounds, and smell of modern Spain. Until, of course, I found this book.

   For Mary Lee Settle's book does all of the above. She tells her and Spain's story from the vintage point of an often lost and eternally fascinated traveler. A traveler who romps through the physical Spain and through Spain's history equally and who manages to construct an immensely readable and thoroughly enjoyable book interweaving both journeys.

   It is not, however, a history book and it freely admits this. Indeed, perhaps one of the most precious (to me) parts of this book is the frequent history book recommendations. Mary Lee Settle's Spanish Recognitions is thus the ideal book for someone like me: someone who wants to read about Spain's rich history and who would like to travel there armed with historical and cultural knowledge but who is not sure how to get started.

   I highly recommend it.




2. An 82 year old woman from an American coal mining region heads out to explore Spain on her own in a rental car, with very little Spanish, but a wealth of information she has read before hand. Her notes and thoughts through the journey are fascinating and revealing. Her insights into St. Theresa are original and enlightening, her discussion of the Roman remains in Merida are very interesting reading. In a few short paragraphs lays out why the Muslin religion took hold so well when it did, a description that is simple that I have not seen anywhere else. She takes her facts and transcends them into clear understanding in an impressive way. Without speaking the language she has the feel for the people and conveys it quite well. The last couple chapters tail off in strength, but the book is a definite read for anyone who has been to Spain and is in love with the country. Remarkable piece of work.



3. As an aficionado of Spain and (almost) all things Spanish, I have read Mary Lee Settle's book with pleasure. Although she covers a lot of well-trodden ground, she also introduces the reader to some less-known places, such as Zamora, Guadalupe or
   Jerez de los Caballeros. Her writing style is smooth and evocative, and her personal, opinionated way of seeing things quite enjoyable (unlike some other reviewers, I do believe that good travel writing must be personal and opinionated, otherwise it is just guidebook writing.)
   
   However, "Spanish Recognitions" suffers from several evident shortcomings and faults. Its editing is rather poor: numerous Spanish words are either misspelled, or have their accents misplaced or completely omitted (but it is worth pointing out that Ms. Settle always uses the correct expression "auto de fe" instead of the Portuguese "auto da fe", so irritatingly common in other books about Spain.)
   
   The text also contains a substantial number of factual errors and misunderstandings. For example, Goya never created any "black prints", only "black paintings" (p. 21; the prints in question are called "Los Caprichos"). Goya's famous painting showing the execution of Spanish insurgents in Madrid is called not "The Second of May" but "The Third of May, 1808", while the canvas referred to by Ms. Settle (not incorrectly) as "The Attack on the Mamelukes by the Madrilenos" is also known as "The Second of May" (that's why so many streets in Spain bear the name "Dos de Mayo"; both examples from p. 24).
   
   On the same page, Goya's series of etchings is referred to as "The Horrors of War" instead of the proper title "The Disasters of War". Also, Goya did not arrive in Madrid in 1780 "with the dung of [his] village still on his boots" (p. 19-20): he had been by then already well established in the Spanish capital, working on tapestry cartoons for the Royal Tapestry Works of Santa Barbara. Even before that, he had executed several important commissions in and around Saragossa, and stayed for some time in Italy.
   
   On page 29 Ms. Settle states unambigiously that the model for Goya's twin paintings "The Clothed Maya" and "The Nude Maya" has been the Duchess of Alba but this identification is completely unsupported. Finally, pages 28 to 32 are devoted to the Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida and its famous frescoes by Goya without mentioning the fact that this church is the resting place of the painter himself.
   
   On pages 63-64 the author seems to state that Emperor Charles V (1500-1558) was still alive and in charge during the Thirty Years War (1618-1648). On page 25 we find the following, obviously untrue, statement: "There had been an earlier attempt at democracy in 1931, but it was soon put down by a dictatorship." Page 150 includes a mention of the "cathedral" of St. Peter in the Vatican (which is actually a basilica.) On
   page 149 the date of Martin Luther's posting of his famous 95 theses in Wittenberg is given as 1516 instead of 1517. On page 182 the date of the founding of the Knights Templar is also one year off (1119, should be 1118). Similarly, on page 180, the fall of Jerusalem during the First Crusade is said to have taken place on July 15, 1087 (the correct year is 1099).
   
   On page 185 Damascus is wrongly listed among the Crusader possessions in the Middle East. The statement on page 198, to the effect that "Augustus Caesar... appointed himself a god", is also not true; in fact, Augustus - from 42 BC on - called
   himself "a son of god" (i.e., Julius Caesar's who was deified in that year) but he very carefully avoided the Oriental custom of deifying living rulers. On page 213 the author makes a mistaken assertion that "Islam... has billions of followers, more than
   Christianity" (in September 2002 the approximate estimates were 2 billion Christians and 1.3 billion Muslims worldwide.) Prophet Muhammad did not "chose" the name of Islam for his revelations, this term appears in the Qur'an itself (page 214). I am also very puzzled by the precise date of the Prophet's birth - given on page 215 as April 20, 571 - since the best guess by the experts on Islam is "around 570 AD".
   
   On page 263, Ms. Settle describes "a famous Spanish painting of Ferdinand and Isabel receiving a delegation from the Granadian (sic) Jews" in which description she misidentifies not only the subject of the painting (which is in fact about the expulsion
   of Jews from Spain) but also one of its main characters. It was Tomas de Torquemada, the famous - or infamous - Grand Inquisitor, and not Cardinal Jimenes de Cisneros, who accused the Catholic Monarchs of trying to betray Christ again for
   thirty pieces of silver. Incidentally, she elsewhere calls Torquemada "a fanatic Catholic" (p. 61) without seemingly being aware of the fact that the Grand Inquisitor - like so many other officials of the Spanish Inquisition - came from a Jewish "converso" family.
   
   The most disappointing feature of Ms. Settle's book is a tendency to perpetuate specific myths, cliches and stereotypes about Spain. This is all the more surprising in comparison with the parallel (and usually quite convincing) attempts at debunking other, similar myths (for example, the story of Queen Juana la Loca.) Thus the author's attitude toward the Spanish Civil War simply continues the crude, cartoonish image of "good Republicans" and "bad Nationalists/Fascists". There is no discussion of the undemocratic, discriminatory policies of the "democratically elected" Republican government. Republican prewar atrocities, political assassinations and war crimes are
   conveniently included in the phrase "atrocities on both sides" (page 129), and General Franco's role as the defender of traditional Spanish values against communism and anarchy is not even mentioned. Like so many similar accounts, "Spanish Recognitions" seems to imply that the Nationalist side enjoyed no popular support whatsoever, and that it won the war only through terror and brute force, mostly due to the military help of Hitler and Mussolini. Ms. Settle is aware of the absurd character of such a picture: on page 14 she writes, "That was then and this is now, and we know too much about the Spanish
   war, but then, it was simple, a black-and-white war, a right side and a wrong side." Nevertheless, instead of trying to construct a more balanced view of the conflict, she escapes into stubborn nostalgia: "If we were naive, thank God for naivete; maybe it breaks the barriers of cynicism." Maybe. But it doesn't produce unbiased history.
   
   Ms. Settle's views on the Spanish Inquisition, the Jews in Spain and the life of El Cid are also entirely conventional (for more realistic treatment of these topics I recommend, respectively, Henry Kamen's "The Spanish Inquisition", Americo Castro's
   "The Structure of Spanish History" and Richard Fletcher's "The Quest for El Cid".) On the other hand, she seems to have a soft spot for the Catholic Church and she doesn't bash Philip II or the corrida, thus leaving alone at least some of the most
   popular Spanish targets for the politically correct. It is also interesting to observe how, when trying to assess the role of Queen Isabel I, about whom Ms. Settle has written an earlier book, her semi-feminist tendencies constantly clash with her liberal principles.
   
   All in all, "Spanish Recognitions" does not quite measure up to its ambitious title but it is not without merit. A second, revised edition should be even better.



4. This chronicle of a long ramble through parts of Spain by 82-year old (at the time) Mary Lee Settle is far from perfect in its detail and flow, but there is something quite endearing about it. Settle poked into some obscure corners of the country and discovered some fascinating people and places. Her descriptions of each encounter really make readers want to replicate the experience for themselves. The discomforts and limitations of an elderly traveler are unexpectedly interesting. Settle's forbearance and resolve to get on with the trip no matter what are also inspiring. This is an interesting and touching travel memoir that is definitely worth reading, especially if a trip to Spain is being planned by the reader.



5. Mary Lee Settle brings a sparkling sense of wit and passion to this memoir of her journeys through central and southern Spain. Our intrepid traveler made her journey alone, rented a car and drove herself across Spain, not able to speak Spanish. Even more amazing is that she did so at the ripe young age of eighty-two years old!
   
   Spanish Recognitions is generally a pleasant read, although it loses steam in an anticlimactic finale. Settle begins her journey in Spain's capital, Madrid, winds through Castilla (Avila, Tordesillas, Zamora, Salamanca) and into southern Spain (Extremadura and Andalusia). Nary a mention is made of the architectural gems of Barcelona, the quest for an independent Basque country, or the lush green hills and Celtic legacy of Galicia, where bagpipes are the instrument de rigueur.
   
   What Settle brings with her is a keen sense of living history, a touch of the supernatural (one of her visits to a Templar ruin hints at a credibility-straining otherworldly encounter), and decades of traveling experience. She respects Spanish culture and customs, and weaves seamlessly between important (often violent) battles from Spain's past and their effects on the present. Snippets of Spanish legend and folktale round out her explorations of archeological ruins and restoration projects.
   
   Nearly 100 pages are devoted to the Islamic presence in Spain. North African Muslims (Moors) invaded Spain in 711 CE and retained power over a gradually shrinking Spanish kingdom until Ferdinand and Isabel conquered their last remaining stronghold, Granada, in 1492, followed by the expulsion of all Jews and Muslims that same year. This had severe repercussions for Spain, as talented doctors, bankers, craftsmen and scholars were lost and libraries of Arabic texts on medicine and learning, very advanced for their time, were burned during the Inquisition. Settle hints at how the Moorish kingdom was torn apart not by Christian soldiers and mercenaries, but by rival Islamic rulers and increasingly extremist fundamentalists who felt that certain rulers were engaging in un-Islamic behaviors. There is even a mention of Osama Bin Laden, who cited the theft of Al-Andalus (Andalusia) by the Christians in an early videotaped tirade.
   
   The weakest part of the book is by far the final few chapters, which take some of the power away from the excellent musings on Islamic Spain's past glories. There is a sudden, jarring transition away from Granada to theories on Atlantis, of all things. But overall, Settle brings a joyful freshness to a much-written-about destination, with a child's sense of wonder and a love of exploring off the beaten bath. She makes long-lost footnotes of Spanish history come alive in a way that few writers are able to accomplish, and fans of Michener's Iberia will most likely enjoy Spanish Recognitions, as will most anyone who's had the good fortune to travel in Spain.

No comments about Andalucia Travel Pack (Globetrotter Travel Packs).

No comments about Seville, Cordoba, and Granada: A Cultural History (Cityscapes).

1 comments about Portugal, 5th (Country & Regional Guides - Cadogan).

1. Travelling through Portugal trying to use this book led to a ridiculous series of misadventures. We had thought about renting a car beforehand, but ended up visiting Coimbra and Lisbon only - making this book completely useless.
   
   The guide's profile of each of these cities (two of the three biggest) was abysmal. The maps had no scale or even north/south orientation, and included only a small section of each city. Also, the location of each place to stay and every other sight was given in address only, rather than as reference points on a map (Such as they do in Lonely Planet). Several of the addresses were not even on the maps provided by the guide, and some were on streets that were too small for the guide to print the street name.
   
   Basically our strategy became to get to the city and go straight to the tourist office. The only time the guide was remotely helpful was in listing a laundry facility located in Lisbon - but again, we had to rely on a tourist office map to find it. This guide was endlessly frustrating, and we constantly had to rely on the help of other travellers/citizens, the ever-useful tourist offices, and our ability to wander endlessly, to find anything and everything from internet cafes to hostels to clubs to good dining spots to fado.
   
   Honestly, by the end of the trip if we'd had a match we'd have burned it. Instead we just threw it away.
   
   

No comments about Fodor's Spain 2009 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

No comments about Harpercollins Language Survival Guide: Portugal: The Visual Phrase Book and Dictionary.