1 comments about Michelin Portugal Madere/Portugal & Madeira (Michelin).

1. We spent the last two weeks traveling by car in Portugal from Lisbon to the top and northeast corner of the country; over 2500 km.

   This map was vastly better than the smaller maps we had. It worked particularly well in giving us a clearer picture of what the routes would be like. We discovered no errors.

   It also contains an index of cities and villages.

   Not 5 stars for the following reasons: many small villages not on the map. (To an extent this is unavoidable given that there are so many small villages.) Also, there's no cross milage chart.

   Even more valuable would have been a chart of estimated driving times between major cities. It was all too easy to get stuck behind (very) slow moving trucks in the hilly areas. The 'N' roads, which look like major highways on the map, usually have just one lane in each direction. In addition, they can be endlessly twisty, leaving little opportunity to pass.

5 comments about The Alhambra (Wonders of the World).

1. This little book is packed with the author's detailed opinions about the history of this marvel. It's good reading to prepare one for a visit, but it left me wondering if the legends that the author debunks may not be a prophecy of what tomorrow's scholars may think of this work.



2. Visiting the Alhambra is a once in a lifetime, must do event. See it first from the plaza adjacent to the little church of St. Nicholas across the valley. And when you do finally go in to the Alhambra, bring this guide.
   
   It's the sort of guide one might have had when visiting this place two hundred years ago--more Baedeker than Lonely Planet. It emphasizes the wonder of the place rather than entrance prices and opening times. Written in a narrative style that plays up the history of this magnificent palace, it is a joy to read both before and during one's visit. In fact, a careful reading of the book prior to visiting the Alhambra is bound to enhance the visit tremendously (as, after all, the Alhambra is so popular you'll be limited to a 15 to 30-minute window to make your entrance into the most stunning part of the complex, the Nasrid palace.) For that reason you'll want to know ahead of time what you'll be looking at, because once you're inside the rooms and courtyards go by in a blur--a gorgeous procession of delicate columns and sparkling fountains. If you're trying to read your guidebook for the first time in the midst of it all, you'll miss most of it. Once you are inside, you're much better off just using the book for a quick consultation as you enter each new room, gallery, or alcove.
   
   Irwin's 'Alhambra' tells you what you really need to know about this place (one of Europe's most magnificent palaces) including the unfortunate fact that much of what you will see (or are seeing) has been recreated; the presumed use of each area of the palace is at best an educated guess (and at worst, a shot in the dark). Even some of the carved inscriptions are misleading (assuming you can read medieval Arabic). As Irwin notes: "...Contreras, who knew no Arabic, rearranged them [the inscriptions] in such a way that it is no longer possible to make sense of them" (p. 47, hardbound). Regardless, there is beauty in this truth, and this book has it in spades. Your standard tourist guidebook will not confront you with such sincerity (although you'll need it for the basics mentioned above: entrance prices, opening times, etc., as Irwin is not concerned with those).
   
   The hardbound version of Irwin's 'The Alhambra' makes a great keepsake to remind you of your visit, and you can put it on your shelf next to the copy of Washington Irvings' 'Tales of the Alhambra' you picked up in the gift shop. Bottom line--if you are going to visit the Alhambra, do it right: bring this book, and read it ahead of time.



3. The good: debunks some of the myths, gives a good background to some of the names and how the appearance was radically altered by perceptions of what people thought (and what they wanted to think) represented Moorish architecture.
   
   The bad: He spends so much time explaining why this or that is not true that we almost learn about the Alhambra by what it is not. He never really gets has a together, narrative history here, which makes it difficult to get a 'grasp' on the place by just reading this book alone.
   
   Also He unfairly criticizes Irving's Tales of The Alhambra (apparently Washington Irving was at once dull, but too imaginative, prejudiced against Moors but sympathetic to Bobadil, cheering for the Spanish yet anti-Catholic - and yes Irwin contradicts himself on the same page!) while (strangely) praising movies like the 7th Voyage of Sindbad (which was filmed there). Shows a lack of understanding or depth about Orientalist Art, which doesn't stop him from talking about it.
   
   The guide he suggested to buy, available at the site and in Granada, is far better- (unfortunately not available in the US) its published by Ediciones Edilux, called "in focus' in English and available online if you google it.



4. The book gives a good overview of the history of Alhambra palace and Islamic Spain. Some minor translation problems as the author try to root some of the names of the various rooms in the palace to its Arabic origin. Nonetheless, the book is well written, and is an excellent source for beginners on the Alhambra palace.



5. Page one, paragraph one has two glaring errors. First, there are indeed figurative paintings in the Alhambra. They are painted on leather decorating the ceilings of the recesses in the Hall of Kings. Second, Columbus did not present his plan to cross the Atlantic to Ferdinand and Isabella at the Alhambra but at Santa Fe, their encampment several miles outside of Granada.
   I didn't bother to read further. This book promised to be worthless.

1 comments about The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain.

1. This book has breathtaking photographs of lovely exotic Spain. A true delight and pleasurable experience. A wonderful addition to your coffee table for everyone to enjoy. I have received many compliments on this inspiring magnificent book. It would make a great gift.

2 comments about Wallpaper City Guide: Barcelona (Wallpaper City Guide Barcelona).

1. True to it's brand, this Wallpaper* City Guide featured some of the Barcelona's best things to see and do.
   
   A big, honking drawback: the map is small and as a result is utterly useless. But the guide's other content is worth it. I also loved the section for notes (with matte-finished paper for easy writing) and sketches.



2. I was not happy with this guide, it was too clever for it's own good. There was not enough detailed, practical information....isn't that why one buys a guide? There were interesting points discussed, if the basics had been there I would have rated it higher. I liked the size, that's it.

2 comments about Frommer's Barcelona (Frommer's Complete).

1. I have purchased a number of Frommer's books over the years and overall I have found them to be among the most helpful guides that exist. This Barcelona edition has been frustrating for me to use for my upcoming trip to Barcelona.
   
   The advantage that this and all Frommer's guides will give you is a star rating for various sights, hotels, restaurants, etc:
   
   3 stars = must see
   2 stars = very highly recommended
   1 star = highly recommended
   reviewed but no stars = recommended
   
   This feature is why I continually use Frommer's guides, they help me find the "priority" spots so that I can most efficiently use my vacation time. The Barcelona edition is no different, they have helped me identify the must-do activities on my upcoming trip.
   
   The downside of the Frommer's Barcelona guide is 2 fold:
   
   1) There are no pictures with in the book - a picture on the front cover and on the back cover, that is it. Most Frommer's guides have a few pages within them with a few photos. I don't buy Frommer's guides for the photos, that is not the kind of guide they make. But a few photos would have made the book better. There is however a color page included in the middle of the book, an advertisement for Travelocity.
   
   2) The bigger issue I have with this edition is the lack of useful maps. There is not a single map that shows the entire Barcelona region. There is a map of the Barcelona attractions (which is helpful), but it does not include a number of things mentioned in the guide and does not include the Barcelona airport. In addition they have separate maps of the same area over and over again, one for sights, one for hotels, one for restaurants, one for the metro system. It would be very helpful to have a map that has the metro system locations included in the "What to see" section so that travelers would know how to get to what they want to see.
   
   Frommer's Barcelona is packed with information (most of it very useful) but could use a few more pages from some useful maps and maybe a photo or two.



2. Indeed - what has happened to the maps which have been with this series of Frommer Guides? They were even detachable - but moreover they were GOOD maps!

5 comments about Camino Chronicle: Walking to Santiago.

1. A good book with a lot of history and also where you are, how to get there. A must to walkers of the camino.



2. Camino Chronicle: Walking To Santiago is the travel journal of a wife who walked across Northern Spain in 2001, following a venerable pilgrimage trail called the Camino de Santiago, retracing the footsteps of such famous historical figures as Charlemagne, St. Francis of Assisi, King Fernando and Queen Isabel. Historical notes and personal experiences and inspiration blend into a highly readable day-by-day account, and numerous legends or cultural notes on Spain about everything from bullfighting to Spanish Olives are included, with their own quick-reference index. A most enjoyable tour especially recommended for armchair travelers, and the next best experience to flying to Spain and hiking the pilgrimage trail personally.



3. I had heard a podcast interview with Susan about the Camino and read her website, so my expectations for the book were very high. I think it does a good job of laying out the experiences of being a pilgrim and the unique one of being on the Way during 9/11. She is complete in her descriptions and the book is well laid out.
   Having just read a few Camino books so far I think they fall into three categories: Logistical descriptions that help you with day to day planning, Historical anthologies that explain the importance of the Camino and its various sites, and personal accounts of individuals experiences.
   Camino Chronicle is the later and a balanced book to read.



4. Camino Chronicle details Susan and Ralph Alcorn's 500-mile, 36-day trip on the Spanish leg of the Camino de Santiago to Santiago de Compostela.
   
   What makes Camino Chronicle unique and a very enjoyable read is its rich, multi-faceted approach.
   
   Author Susan Alcorn weaves journal entries from the trip with historical and cultural information, letters from home as they walk the Camino on September 11th 2001, reflective comments on the impact of the journey
   as well as practical tips on how to prepare for such a pilgrimage.
   
   The daily journal entries pull you into the experience. They're honest. Susan talks about her initial apprehension, the discomforts of the long-distance hike, the challenges of securing refugio accommodations.
   As the trip progresses, we see our hikers ground themselves in the moment, in the company of fellow pilgrims and in their surroundings which Susan describes with a clear and vivid voice.
   The side notes on local legends, such as the legend of the river of death or the chickens of Santo Domingo, add a touch of magic to the trip. Insights on local olive production or bullfighting customs add depth to the experience.
   
   Clearly, the journey is more than just a 36-day hike, and the book does a great job at describing the experience in all of its aspects.
   
   If you're considering a similar trip or looking for a thoughtful, informative and entertaining read, I highly recommend it.



5. I have been to Spain and driven through the area that Susan Alcorn had written about. I am planning to walk the Camino de Santiago in late April of 2009. I found her book to be very helpful and answered many questions that I had. You should reed her book and then buy A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago by John Brierley to carry with you. After you absorb her info, give her book to a friend so they will have a good idea of what you will go through. Ms Alcorn is a very practical and straight forward author who knows what problems we may encounter.

5 comments about Pilgrimage to the End of the World: The Road to Santiago de Compostela (Culture Trails).

1. The book reads as if you were sitting in an art history lecture -- the author writes using simple, direct, yet descriptive language. While the narrative is framed around the St James trail, it is really a book about inner transformation, not a description of the external world and the landmarks one sees during the pilgrimage. In all, the book has helped me prepare my frame of mind for the bike pilgrimage I am about to embark. The best part -- it's a short and quick read!



2. Conrad Rudolph, a professor of medieval art,has made the pilgrimage to Santiago de Campostela and knows enough about the history of the pilgrimage and the art and architecture to be seen along the way to write a book that tells not only how to prepare for the long hike and what to take but also what is to be seen and what it all means from a historical perspective.



3. For my recent comiplation of pilgrimage quotations ("Ultreia! Onward! Progress of the Pilgrim") I read all 40 or so contemporary English journal accounts available about the various routes. Rudolph's is clearly within the first grouping of 8 or so best such books (i.e. largely those written by established authors and/or academics). He is able to convey in a fraction of the pages of other volumes many interesting and important aspects of undertaking such a pilgrimage. Though not the most quotable of sources (i.e. 7 such extracted for the review volume Ultreia! Onward!) Rudopplh nevertheless is particularly good at writing about the process of pilgrimage.



4. As I write this review, I'm wearing the boots I plan to use on my own Camino pilgrimage next week. In addition to breaking them in, I've been preparing my body, mind, and heart for the long walk to Santiago. Reading "Pilgrimage to the End of the World" was an enjoyable and necessary part of that process.
   
   Conrad Rudolph's book on the Camino de Santiago has four parts: 1) some historical background, 2) an account of his trek, 3) a series of black-and-white personal photographs with explanations that range from a paragraph to a page or so long, and 4) a practical guide (what to wear, how to pack, etc.). Despite its brevity (only 131 pages), Mr. Rudolph's memoir is packed with useful and interesting information. The surprising revelation that the author is a rationalist only serves to make his tale more compelling, especially considering the profound effect a pilgrimage usually done for spiritual reasons had upon him.
   
   Indeed, the Camino began as an important medieval religious pilgrimage to Santiago, alleged burial place of St. James. But it has grown to accommodate folks on quests of many kinds. What's ironic about Mr. Rudolph's journey is that despite his rationalist mindset, he walked the farthest distance of any pilgrim, faith-based or otherwise, I've read about so far. He began in Le Puy, France, went through Santiago, and concluded in Finisterre - the "End of the World" on the Spanish west coast. That's about double the walking distance from the usual starting point of St. Jean Pied de Port, a French town on the Spanish border. And I thought we religious folk were supposed to be the crazy ones...
   
   Despite his excellent account and helpful information, I part ways with the author in one key area: his firm recommendation of an external-frame pack. He's correct about the increased ventilation it offers, since the external frame holds the pack away from one's back. But according to another pilgrim's memoir, you'll sweat no matter what kind of pack you carry. Also, there are far more sizes and types of internal-frame packs to choose from. At REI I found only one model of external frame pack for sale among the plethora of internal packs - a forlorn Kelty similar to the one the author used. Bottom line, I'd say that an internal-frame pack is a better choice (I'm taking a 4,300 cubic-inch Gregory Baltoro).
   
   At any rate, "Pilgrimage to the End of the World" is a must-read for anyone contemplating, or actually preparing for, the Camino pilgrimage. Other helpful and inspirational books I used to get ready include: "Buen Camino," by Jim & Eleanor Clem, "Camino Chronicle" by Susan Alcorn, and "Fumbling," by Kerry Egan (also, check the Confraternity of St. James' website for lots of good info and up-to-date Camino guidebooks). If you choose to go, let me be the first you wish you a Buen Camino!
   
   UPDATE 9/7/07: On 7/14/07 I stepped off in St. Jean Pied-de-Port (France), and on 8/24/07 I walked into Santiago, Spain. Turned out that the boots I mentioned in the first paragraph were too heavy, so I bought a lighter Spanish pair in Logrono that served me well. My internal-frame pack was the Camino standard (although the model I had was too large and initially weighted down with unnecessary stuff) - out of the hundreds of pilgrims I saw, only a couple had external frame packs. At any rate, I recommend this book as necessary reading for anyone planning to walk the Way.



5. This is a delightful gem which captures the spiritual inspiration of the pilgrimage both historically and in the modern context. It is a marvelous book for those who intend their journey to be more than just a long cultural hike.

3 comments about Frommer's Madrid: With side trips to Salamance & Avila.

1. I went to Madrid by myself last year and relied on this book for most things. I had a great time!!!! The maps and walking tours gave me a good sense of the city to then go back and explore on my own and the night spots that I chose from the book were a lot of fun and I met very nice people.



2. Book is good, but not what I ordered. I ordered "Frommer's Madrid: With side trips to Salamance & Avila." I received Frommer's Madrid.
   Decided to keep it anyway, as I was not going to take the side trips after all.
   But I should have been advised of the different book I would be receiving.



3. We bought this book for our trip to Madrid. The restaurant reviews were mostly dead on, but the review of our hotel forgot to mention that the hotel charged 10 Euro/day for TV (Gran Hotel Conde Dueque). DO NOT rely on the maps in the book, they're not accurate and have some of the Metro stops several blocks off. We had a great time by following suggestions in the book and would buy it again.

2 comments about Northern Spain (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. Easy to follow/use with bits of information about a lot of different places in Galicia (the place we visited--only section we used). Not the book for finding restaurants or places to stay. Thin enough to carry along. Nice pictures, good general information on top sites as well as on travel in Spain itself.



2. I can't come up with anything that would be missing. A lot of information, presented in an attractive way. Many illustrations, where to eat, where to stay etc. Everything is just in there.

5 comments about Buenos Aires: A Cultural History (Cultural Histories Series).

1. This is not a "travel book" in the usual sense -- you will not, for instance, find anything about where to stay or eat. Rather, this is an historical, cultural, and literary guide to Buenos Aires that will make your time there more interesting and worthwhile.

   Progressing geographically through the city's most important streets, plazas, and neighborhoods, Wilson uses the observations of writers, artists, foreign visitors, politicians, academics, and others to give the reader a "feel" for both the city and its inhabitants. These observations are supplemented with just enough historical framework to provide context. Buenos Aires is a city filled with buildings, streets, and monuments that stir up a great deal of emotion in its inhabitants; what this book does is help to explain why these locations are so important and how they fit together -- geographically, historically, psychologically -- to make up the city.

   This book was along with me during my recent trip to Buenos Aires and undoubtedly made my time there more satisfying. Its only real deficiency is a lack of good maps -- there is one, but it is very general and doesn't cover enough territory. Nonetheless, I would strongly recommend this book to anyone traveling to Buenos Aires.




2. I loved Mexico City by Nick Caistor in this series but this was a HUGE disappointment. There is way way too much name dropping and quoting of other sources rather than getting the author's actual feel of the city of Buenos Aires as it is today. I understand this series is subtitled as "a cultural and literary companion" but I'd have preferred way more emphasis on the culture as it stands now and less of the literary references. It was like reading Footnotes 101.

   Stick with Miranda France's Bad Times in Buenos Aires.




3. I spent a week in Buenos Aires and brought this book with me with the hope that it would introduce me to the uniqueness of this contradictory and culturally rich city - it did not. I have not read a more disjointed, dysfunctional guide than this one.
   
   Jason Wilson uses the word 'Babylonic' to describe Buenos Aires, and in a Freudian way, that very word describes how this book reads. Wilson uses the words of other writers to express (evidently he cannot) the soul of this city. All the multitude of quotes muddles your mind and the book ends up sounding like babble.
   
   Quote after quote assails you from writers you will be sorely pressed to recognize. This book could, maybe, work best in an Argentinian Literature course where the readers would have a pejorative understanding of the writers quoted. BUT, it is not, in any way, suitable for the average, or even above average, traveler in Buenos Aires. If you want an understanding of Argentina's Culture, then you should consider 'Culture Shock! Argentina' (however it too could be seriously improved, see my review). Not Recommended



4. Jason Wilson is an editor of travel writing collections of some note, and I have much enjoyed other books in the Cities of the Imagination series (most notably Elizabeth Nash's Madrid volume), so I looked forward to the arrival of this book from Amazon with much anticipation.
   
   I was, for the most part, greatly disappointed.
   
   The book was intensively researched, and you can count on several apt quotations per page. Hardly a signicant writer about Buenos Aires in the last three centures goes uncited, and it seems as if every block on the city grid gets its moment.
   
   The flaw - and it is a near fatal flaw - lies in the organization. Wilson organizes the book rigidly according to geography, going more or less block by block around the city, and detailing who lived in this building or what writer set a scene in that block of apartments.
   
   Whereas Nash weaves the history and neighborhoods of Madrid into broad thematic stories, Wilson tells no stories. He bludgeons you with facts and literary quotations, tied together only by geography. It is a hard and boring slog, and even if you push through, you emerge with no unifying concepts that might help you understand this vast and magical city.
   
   It's a shame, really, that the book is so dull and mechanically structured, because the research that went into it clearly was extensive, and because Buenos Aires seems to offer more potential than most cities for a proper Cities of the Imagination treatment. It reads, unfortunately, as if time ran out for the actual writing of the book, and the writer delivered a data dump organized by zip code.
   
   If you drive a tour bus around Buenos Aires for English speaking tourists, this book will prove a handy reference, barrio by barrio, street by street. If you are researching your own book on Buenos Aires, the bibliography alone will save you months in identifying the books you should read. If, however, you are planning a visit to Buenos Aires and want one cultural guide that will help you understand the living, breathing city, this is not the book to choose.



5. Because the book is organized around the cafes, theaters, and other cultural landmarks of particular streets, the book was an enormous help in understanding the city. By reading it beforehand, it allowed us to prepare our daily itinerary from a cultural-historical perspective. Forget the naysayers, here is no better book in understanding and appreciating the city of Buenos Aires as Jason Wilson's book. I've given it to all my friends.