1 comments about Spiral Jetta: A Road Trip through the Land Art of the American West (Culture Trails).

1. Many art historians have written about the great modern earthworks of the American West and Southwest, but this is the first travel book to do so. What sets this book apart from others of its kind is the quality of the writing and the personality of the author, Erin Hogan. Hogan, an avowed urbanista from Chicago, writes with real comedic flair about the road trip she took in her trusty VW Jetta to visit the legendary Spiral Jetty, Lightning Field, Double Negative, Rodencrater, and Donald Judd's Chinati Foundation in Marfa (almost all of them funded by the Dia Foundation). Writing in a picaresque mode, along the way she encounters some pretty hairy and scary characters straight out of the old Wild West, but gone wrong, terribly wron. While her discussions of the formidable works of Judd, Smithson et al are excellent and accessible for general readers, the account of her accidental discovery of a folk-art site known as Hole 'n' the Rock is absolutely transcendent, right up there on a par with Perelman, Benchley, Woody Allen. A fabulous read. I hope we'll be seeing more from this talented writer--and soon.

2 comments about 101 Road Tales (The Faces of Motorcycling).

1. I've been reading Clements articles in Rider magazine for years. With this book I don't have to wait for the next issue! Great stories for the motorcycle rider.



2. If you liked his columns in Rider magazine, you will like this book. Every page is to be enjoyed. Just plain good reading.

5 comments about Waterproof Costa Rica Map.

1. This map split at the seams within the first couple of times of laying it out.



2. This map has a lot of small places on it and was a BIG help driving in unfamiliar places that do not have road signs. We were able to tell we were on the right road by looking at the small town names and catching the town names off the churches once we were going through the city. Also we were able to see what town was coming up to check the rare signs with distances to the next larger place.
   
   This map is way better then the free map you get in Costa Rica. That one is detailed - but not as detailed as this map. It omits a LOT of small back roads, small cities and even medium sized cities and this map has many of them included.
   
   The map is easy to read and the waterproofing was great.... we were not there in the rainy season but had a 6 year old with us (enough said!)
   
   We did not do a lot of remote driving, but when we were driving we were certainly referring to this map.
   
   Ours did not tear or split at the seams at all - and it was pretty abused during our travels.



3. I just returned from Costa Rica and this map was great. Much better than the map provided by the rental car agency. It's durable design makes it tear proof. The country is divided North and South so everything is large and easy to read. The roads to the tourist destinations are in good shape(no potholes like I was expecting). Driving in Costa Rica was easy, although there are a lot of trucks and busses that slow you down. I would recommend this map to anyone going to Costa Rica both for planning before you go and for use on the road.



4. I have to second the two-star review by Amanda. While the cartography is good (easy to read, nice colors), the map itself is extremely fragile along its folds. Even when I first opened it there were perforations that were large enough for light to shine through. These, of course, turned into splits. Probably okay for a short trip, but don't expect this to last you a long time. Maybe try Waterproof Travel Map of Costa Ricaor National Geographic Costa Rica Adventure Map, both of which are waterproof as well.



5. Got the map within one week - Fast. It's a good product and much better than the "rental car company map" and any of the other C.R. maps I've seen. You may not need a map this detailed, but if you're driving around a lot, I'd recommend it.

5 comments about The Holy Land: An Oxford Archaeological Guide (Oxford Archaeological Guides).

1. Recommended to me by an archaeolgist long active in Israel, I found this book quite helpful in appreciating a number of sites (and sights) I recently visited (and saw) in the Holy Land. For folks who are looking to learn more about various ancient sites than the typical tour guide can offer, this will be well worth its price. In addition to its being informative, I found the personality of its author evident and engaging.



2. Very informative with good descriptions. The language is a little difficult to interpret at times and I wish there was a little more history with each site, but overall a great guide.



3. A must if you plan on going to any of the historical areas of the Holy Land. Much superior to any of the "name" travel guides, incredible detail and historical perspective.



4. Great description of both the sights and the surroundings of all of the different areas of the Holy Land. Provides background to understand the significance, as well as other importance in other times.



5. This book is filled with the knowledge of vast experience and travel. If you want a book that doesn't just give the religiously naive and superstitious what they want to hear (like so many do), then this is your book. Excellent in several ways.

1 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.

4 comments about Michelin Scotland Regional Map (Michelin Maps).

1. I constantly get asked about good maps to plan out trips through Scotland. Michelin really gives you a good one. Large so 'baby boomer' eyes can see all the details. It's clearly marked so it's very easy to use, with a trip times chart. I especially liked they have the outer isle marked well. Some maps of Scotland will skimp on these. So if you are going to Lewis or Skye then this one is hand.
   
   So if you are planning a trip, remember is Whisky without the e, and a neep is a turnip and a turnip is a pumpkin.
   
   Slainte Mhor!!



2. The map was quite legible, and seemed accurate. But it was very unwieldy, due to its large size. Trying to unfold and fold it in a small car just didn't work.



3. This map is HUGE and I would not be able to recommend it as your in-car navigational tool. I'm trying to use it to plan a driving vacation in Scotland. The tourist attractions are not particularly well marked. For example, the mark for a castle or historic house is a VERY small black outlined rectangle with no other color to it. Archaeological and historical sites don't seem to be listed at all.
   
   I'm using the map, guide books, and the internet to find the required information. It is too late for me, but if your purpose in buying this map is the same as mine, I would keep looking for a map geared for the tourist.



4. Definitely thorough, but it's also incredibly huge! The details are spectacular, but I don't know how practical it will be for taking in a vehicle.

4 comments about Wyoming Atlas & Gazetteer, Fourth Edition.

1. This atlas is a great book to have on hand while driving through Wyoming, especially via the backroads. It's a must-have for any traveler and resident.



2. This was very well made, for an atlas. The format and legend was easy to understand, and it certainly helped my not so great navigational skills.



3. DeLorme has done it again! Stellar mapping and attention to detail make this a grand publication. Two thumbs up!



4. The Delorme atlases/gazetteers are valuable references especially if you are traveling the back roads. Compared to a regular road map, there is much more detail to find your way just about anywhere in the atlas coverage area. If you need a lot of detail, you can then purchase topographic maps. Special features are also noted. Get one of these for any state where you plan to explore off the beaten trail. I already have atlases for five states, and the collection will surely grow in coming years.

5 comments about Frommer's The Carolinas & Georgia (Frommer's Complete).

1. This travel guide is just okay. It doesn't go into detail at each destination, just an overview. I expected details especially in Atlanta, Charleston, Savannah and Charlotte. I did not find this book helpful.



2. We were greatly disappointed in this travel guide since the information was out-of-date. We spent a great deal of time locating a highly rated and recommended restaurant only to find that it had closed years ago. Other recommended restaurants also did not meet the expectations according to the review criteria. We tossed the book aside and relied on recommendations of the locals.



3. If you need lodging and restaurant information in the most of the cities in the coverage area, this is a good guide. It has details on price, location, menu's and more but lacks the originality to take you to the little known local joints that have the best pancakes or killer catfish. Very good for the business traveler and the vacationer that is not interested in straying too far from the obvious choices or experiencing the local culture. If you want to get away from it all.....keep looking



4. I'm used to travel books with a lot of pictures, but the more I travel the more I see how the pictures from the books are not the same in reality. This book is a good example how only two cover pictures and well written text can manage you to want going to this far away place.



5. I planned to go to NC, SC and bought this guide. You will get an add. map and find a structured book, with lots of details and useful recommendations.

5 comments about Sign and the Seal: The Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant.

1. I think Hancock found the Lost Ark and how it arrived in Africa



2. The authors search for the Lost Ark of the Covenant often puts him at odds with the scientific and religious establishment. The phrase "In for a penny, In for a pound" has never been more apt. There are many things in the bible and ancient history that just don't add up and most people are afraid to cite the obvious. The author fearlessly goes where most researchers are afraid to go.
   It is certain that the Old Testament is a chronical of amazing events. These stories were already ancient history when the bible was compiled. I agree with the author that there was a civilization that had attained a sophisticated level of technology, the remnants of which, are responsible for the sudden appearance of the roots of civilization as we know it
   
   I disagree with the reviewer who calls this type of inquiry silly. it is important to have an open mind and to risk being ridiculed to get at the truth.



3. Graham Hancock is a master at storytelling and this is non-fiction to boot. If you're an Indiana Jones fan or a fan in general of religious artifacts and their extraordinary powers, then this is definately one book you don't want to miss. At least in Indy is/was fictional, made up, and good. Here Mr. Hancock weaves the non-fiction in a adventurous way, so you feel like you are actually there with him doing the research. Let me tell you, I am a believer! If the vatican doesn't have it, then this is definately where the ark is!



4. Following the trail of the mystery was almost as exciting as reading the The Da Vinci Code and knowing it was a real story made it inspiring. Although the ending in Brown's book was more satisfying than in this one, the search for facts to support his theory did inspire me to write my own detective style historical book Noah's Ark, Discovering the Science of Man's Oldest Mystery. So thanks for the information concerning the Falasha Jews and opening my eyes to an exciting style of investigative history writing.



5. An excellent book, very well-sourced. I was gratified to see Hancock citing evidence/clues/references from a very wide selection: scholarly papers, published Freemason lore, Arthurian grail lore, the Biblical account, Jewish lore, Josephus, interviews with scholars and experts, etc. You have to give the man credit for backing up his theories with evidence.
   
   I am less comfortable with his section on what the Ark was. As he disallows that it manifested the power of God, he suggests magic or lost ancient engineering knowledge instead. Frankly, I find the Biblical account more believable. But this section takes away but a little from the overall enjoyment I've gotten from this work.
   
   Prior to reading this I knew nothing about the history and spirituality of Ethiopia; I now feel better versed in it.
   
   I have read a review that because the author wasn't allowed to see the Ark in the St. Mary Church in Axum, this work is diminished. What could he do, save attempt to break in? This would instantly take him out of the field of historical researcher and into the realm of crackpot. So, no, the book isn't diminished simply because the work is open-ended.
   
   Well worth reading. It pushes pop culture and Indiana Jones far to the back of your head.

No comments about Metro Stop Paris: An Underground History of the City of Light.