5 comments about Rick Steves' Germany, Austria, and Switzerland Map: Including Berlin, Munich, Salzburg and Vienna City (Rick Steves).

1. Before I moved to Germany from the States I received this book from a friend of my mother's who had spent a few years attending university in Spain and said that Rick Steve's books were what everyone at the university used. Since moving to Germany this book has been great. I carry it around with me whenever we travel because it has so much valuable information.
   
   Some of the other reviews have been extremely negative, but as someone who uses the book on a regular basis and actually lives in the country, I know that this book is great. It is less expensive than others and it gives great suggestions for places to stay. He does spend more time with Berlin and Munich, but considering these are two of the largest cities that have long histories, it only makes sense. The hotel suggestions are great, the last time we were in Berlin we opted to choose our own place that was less expensive. It was neat with all the Bears around (it was called the Bearliner), but it smelled. So, if you plan on travelling to Germany I really suggest getting this book.



2. This was the very first travel book - my mother in law bought it for me right after we were stationed in Germany 6 years ago. I'm still using the 2001 version (yes, I know that's bad!) but it's gotten me all over! The simplified maps and the hotel recommendations have kept my trips easy and fun.
   --Vicki Landes, author of "Europe For The Senses - A Photographic Journal"



3. First and foremost, to clarify, this product that you are supposedly reading reviews for is Rick Steves' MAP of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It appears that the other reviews are of Rick Steves' guidebooks! Again, this product is NOT one of Rick Steves' famous guidebooks (which I would always rate as 5 stars, incidentally!). This map is very basic; don't count on using it to find your way around a country or city. Only the major cities and towns are marked. Likewise, in the city maps of Berlin, Munich, Salzburg and Vienna, only the major thoroughfares are mapped. You should use this map only as a reference to his guidebook of the region to plan your trip. You will want to get a 'real' map that's much more detailed, e.g. Michelin, when you arrive. Best part of this map? The cool water resistant paper on which it is printed. Especially if you have small children who are apt to spill liquid, as mine did on Day One upon receiving it from Amazon!



4. I got this thinking it would get me started on planning my trip to Europe. I had a list of things I wanted to see. When I got the map I was so happy to see that all the tourist attractions were ALREADY MARKED on the map! They were clearly labeled and easy to locate and read. Great product...well worth the money!



5. This is a great high-level roadmap of Germany, but it lacks the detail needed to really explore the countryside. If you are driving through Germany like we did, buy an atlas that provides more route detail. There are so many country lanes in Germany that even a detail book sometimes misses the many villages you'll encounter along the way. If you're taking the train, this map works fine. If you're driving, look at something else.

5 comments about The Walt Disney World Trivia Book, Volume 2: More Secrets, History & Fun Facts Behind the Magic.

1. Fantastic book! What you may have thought you knew...but didn't! An interesting book of facts that help you understand the making of Walt Disney World. A must have book for Disney mania! Volume 1 is just as interesting!



2. I purchased Lou's book after I had found his website when I was planning my latest trip to Walt Disney World. After looking at his site and even signing up for the forum, I knew I had to purchase this book I'd been reading about! And I am so glad I did. The trivia is fun if you're reading alone or if you take turns reading with a partner and it's multiple choice too. Even more, the answers are found following each section with a short statement to provide further information about the correct answer. What I really love about this book is that the layout makes it a simplistic read that doesn't get boring. Even though it isn't a guide book, anyone (or any family) planning to take a trip to WDW can benefit from the exciting learning experience the book has to offer. It is a must read for first timers and fanatics!



3. The Walt Disney World Trivia Book is like the friend I've always wanted who flies me down to Disney (for free!)and proceeds to take me through every park, attraction, and resort, telling me things I never knew about my favorite place. With a loyalty only a true Disney connoisseur can possess ("ever hear of some guy named 'Bugs Bunny'? Hmph. Me neither."), Lou presents his information the way I like it-it's personal, frank, and fun. Kind of like Lou himself...drop him an e-mail, and you actually get an answer! If there is one Disney informant to swear by, it's Lou Mongello. Some of his facts I knew, some made me laugh, and some made me realize that perhaps I'm not the Disney expert I make myself out to be. All I know is that those around me will have to endure new rounds of Disney fact-spouting. I almost feel bad for them. They had assumed they were safe after our (sniff!) last Disney trip in 2005. Although I shouldn't really mourn the trip's passing; with the WDW Trivia Book, I'm there all over again.



4. My son and I love this book and we've only read the first section. We can't believe how much we're learning and how much we didn't know. We're enjoying finding out all the "little" things we never knew about Disney World.



5. Just received the Walt Disney Trivia Books, Volumes 1 & 2. I've read through both and cannot wait until my next WDW vacation. Thank you, Lou, for writing the best Disney trivia books ever. Just one question, when will there be a third?

5 comments about Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings: Evidence of Advanced Civilization in the Ice Age.

1. Well researched and argued with lots of background and technical detail. Well worth a read as it is good to understand some of the alternative theories that are out there.



2. This book is about medieval and some Rennaissance maps which are very unusual: They show continents not yet (re-)discovered. Isles now submerged. The coastal areas of Antarctica and Greenland entirely free of ice. A remarkable precision completely out of place for the Imes (times). Based on cartographical systems utterly unknown back then - and obviously completely not overstood by the copyists of ancient maps. Ancient maps which are based on source maps which were ancient in the Imes what we today consider as ancient.
   
   When I first browsed through the ads for other books in this book's back I dreaded what I got myself into. From Atlantis to UFOs you will find anything no hard evidence will be found of currently. Personally, I do not DISbelief any of that either, I just dread to read wild speculation. Because that usually turns out to be utter non-sense later. Yet, occasionally sparking the search for more knowledge. Which IS important then, after all. This shows perfectly with this book. Most of it is very 1960s state of the art scientific fact based. No wonder, as the author worked on this subject for seven years (1959-1966) - as a professor with his students and the help of the US air force map division. After the presentation of the facts on the various maps, he adds a concluding chapter - with a lot of speculation. The theories therein were valid at the Imes. Reproduced is a foreword by no less than Albert Einstein for an earlier book by the author, which theory gets new attention in this follow up book. The specifics of the main theory of earth crust shifting (as in one peace moving in one direction) due to the heavy ice caps at the poles causing centrifugal displacements sound extremely hilarious today. Yet, at the Imes, ANY continental shifting sounded hilarious, and today we know that the continents move around indeed. Just not the way, the author once suspected.
   
   Which leads me to the subtraction of a star for major dust having accumulated on this book, without getting updated with a preface or reworked altogether. This book is historic already. It has been written at Imes, humans were just starting to get pictures of earth from space, but hadn't been on the moon yet. It was published eight years before the invention of Arno Peters' superior projection of the world. When the ice ages were still pure mysteries. When the age of humans of some 195,000 years wasn't known. And when historic legends such as the supposed burning of the Alexandria library by Muslim conquerors was still believed in, i.e. hadn't been exposed as the medieval European Christian propaganda it was. (In reality, it was first Julius Caesar, then fanatic Christians who successively burned that (once rebuild) world treasure, the last Imes some seven centuries before the Muslims arrived.)
   
   All which in a way makes a point for that which the author is writing: That some superior knowledge may get forgotten/never known by (mainstream) humanity while in other areas common progress is made. He's referring to the lost source maps. I am referring to his book. His speculation about the earth has been dealt with and progressed on. His very scientific facts about the maps he has conducted has not entered general human consciousness. After the first edition, his book remained unpublished for some 20 years, till a publisher had to reprint it, whose usual readership is satisfied with less strict scientific standards. After reading the other reviews here, I may add that the paperback of 1996 indeed is in black and white. That may have contributed to the very bad reproduction of SOME of the maps, contributing to the subtraction of a star. Most are clearly recognisable, but with individual ones I felt insulted with the presentation. Luckily, some are schematized on the following pages.
   
   I am very thankful that the author unravelled the SEEMING imprecision of some old maps, which only have to get looked at within the correct cartographic system to become virtually perfect. Just not for easy long distance navigation, something e.g. Columbus didn't realize. (The same as the Peters Projection isn't the best choice for navigation.) By the way, it is known in the meanwhile that Columbus knew not only of ancient maps, but also of previous African travels to the Americas. That's why he chose his sea route starting from West Africa to catch the best current. For more on that read e.g. They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America by Ivan Van Sertima and in a way also The Lost Treasure of King Juba: The Evidence of Africans in America before Columbus. The latter suggests an additional reason for the loss of the source maps: A fleeing African King's court taking the maps with it upon Roman invasion, making sure this way that the Romans wouldn't be able to follow.
   
   Other seemingly hilarious elements on the maps are explained as making sense - when the original source maps get considered, not the knowledge lacking later copyists -, such as mythical beasts presented in some territories.
   
   If anybody knows a more recent source about these maps, please leave a comment. For example I am amazed that it doesn't strike anybody, such as the author as odd that some land masses are free of ice, yet on other maps the sea level is DROPPED or equal to today. There are some "odd" climactic conditions making this half way possible, yet I would like to clearly know about the specific scenario at hand. (Or wether this ancient map making knowledge is supposed to have existed THIS long that it covered different fundamentally changed world climates.) And about other confirming or challenging information which has accumulated by now. Such as a bathymetric comparison of the Aegean Sea proving wether the once depicted additional islands are really there, i.e. submerged. One confirming fact I DO know is that residues of American cocaine and Australian eucalyptus have been found in Egyptian mummies, as the Western edge of Australia is presented on one of the maps as well. It has also been found out that the Egyptian culture is much older than presented in 20th century orthodox egyptology, so the question of who might have come up with the now lost source maps isn't really such a mystery anymore (and is not restricted to the admirers of "Atlantis"), especially considering that the maps were obviously centered on Egypt.



3. What Hapgood is suggesting is almost beyond belief. Yet, he presents his well-argued case with clear documentation. I just don't see how anyone with an open mind could dismiss his argument without serious consideration.
   
   The problem is, the ramifications of what he is saying are staggering. If what Hapgood suggests is true, we will have to rewrite the history of mankind.
   
   I'd have given it 5 stars if the writing were better. Many will find it dry, but it is well worth the read.



4. Maps was a refreshing perspective on a topic which is very much under-researched for whatever reasons.



5. Great stuff in this book.
   
   Talks of an ancient civilization that certainly knew what was going on...
   
   Great start in finding out the truth about the world before we came around!!!

5 comments about Hammond World Atlas Fifth Edition.

1. Purchased the atlas for my Father for Christmas. He really likes it. We chose this atlas because it was one of the newer ones published and the pictures were excellent. It looked like it was very clear and consise with its contents.



2. The atlas was bought by me for my lady friend. We tried to buy a world atlas locally but not a single bookstore had one. Going to Amazon.com meant I got a $59.95 atlas for $37.77 shipped...can't beat that! On top of that, Amazon.com was ahead of projected shipping time so it got here in good order to be given as a present.
   
   The lady enjoys it very much. As she watches a TV show or news, she will find herself curious about the place being discussed. This atlas lets her find out all sorts of good stuff and she's very happy with it.
   
   My decision to go with the Hammond World Atlas was due to the more expensive ones showing reviews where the publisher was taking a lot of shortcuts in quality and the atlases were not as up to date as the Hammond. Why pay $200 for something that isn't up to grade when $37.77 will get the job done? If a person needs more information than the atlas has, they can always go to the library or the net.



3. I also bought this one as a gift and was pleasantly surprised: it features high quality print, detailed maps with correct spelling (I have reviewed a few sections), beautiful panoramic and satellite images as well as vignettes on current global events. The price is very reasonable for what you are getting. Ordering one for myself!



4. You can't say the Satellite Photo Section and the Map Section are "compelely revised".Those sections are almost the same as the 4th edition.
   Saitama city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan(a big city near Tokyo which consisted of the three old cities several years ago) is not yet on the map.
   I hope a map of the southern Italy is added to this atlas and show the famouse world cultural heritage town "Alberobello".
   Newly added "the countries of the world" section is a very good reference part.



5. When I purchased the Hammond World Atlas I was very excited. Few days later when I received this book I was very disappointed when I open the box the cover corner of the book was damaged it look like it has been used.

1 comments about Top Trails Yosemite: Must Do Hikes for Everyone (Top Trails).

1. Wilderness Press originally conceived of the 'Top Trails' series as a set of hiking guides to the best trails in an area. This purpose sets these volumes apart from typical hiking guides which tend to fall into two categories: comprehensive guides to all trails in a region, or descriptions of short day hiking opportunities in an area. The idea was to give visitors to a region quick access to the best hiking and to facilitate ease of use. Perhaps no area of California needs a 'Top Trails' guide as much as Yosemite and very few authors are as qualified to write one as Jeffrey Schaffer.
   
   This book is divided into seven chapters: one for each region of the park. Each chapter lists 5 to 8 hikes ranging in distance from the 1/2 mile walk at Bridalveil Falls to a 33 mile excursion among the High Sierra Camps. Obviously, some of these trails are more suitable for backpacking, a feature that distinguishes this book from others in the 'Top Trails' series. All the great hikes are included. Readers will find route descriptions for Half Dome, the Tuolomne Grove of Sequoias (my favorite grove in the park), Clouds Rest, Hetch Hetchy Resevoir, Glacier Point, and many more. In all, there are 45 trails and routes described here.
   
   What makes this book so good are the standard features found in other 'Top Trails' guides and the expert commentary of Schaffer. Each chapter begins with an overview of the region, a trails summary page listing distance, difficulty, and some highlights of the trails, followed by detailed trail descriptions and carefully drawn maps. Schaffer is one of the top cartographers in the west and his maps are second to none. But in addition to these standard features, Schaffer also offers an extended commentary on the geology, geography, and plant and animal communities found in the park. His theory that Yosemite Valley's rock walls were formed by faulting and vertical fracture planes, not solely by glaciers, is explained in these pages, along with the evidence for it, so that non-specialists can easily understand what they observe as they hike. This sort of expert commentary adds immeasurably to the joy of hiking. That is why I strongly recommend this book by Schaffer. It can enhance any vacation to Yosemite.

3 comments about Lonely Planet Iran (Country Guide).

1. These are some excerpts from the new edition from the section entitled 'The National Psyche':
   
   "Iranians are the most surprising people. Where you might expect them to be austere they are charming; rather than dour, they are warm, and instead of being hostile to foreigners, they are welcoming and endlessly curious".
   
   "Iranians are not frightening people. They are generally warm and welcoming to an extent that can be embarassing to Westerners."
   
   "...the Iranian system of courtesy [...] makes Iran a haven for travellers - you will be treated with unfailing politeness wherever you go."
   
   Now compare this with the attitude taken by the racist idiot who wrote the previous (third) edition and one realises what a huge difference it makes when the guide authors actually appreciate and enjoy being in the country about which they write.
   
   A welcome (and IMO absolutely necessary) new edition of the guide. Lonely Planet has shown shrewd judgment in replacing the previous one as well as its author.



2. There have been some rumors concerning a previous edition. I have just been to Iran (in September 2006). The 2004 edition is as witty and informative as any Loney Planet book. When compared with two German books for travelers it is a notch above the others. I haven't found any insensitive or belittling remarks only the usual sarcasm, just as the description of Ahvaz: "Unremitting Iraqi bombing during the Iran-Iraq War didn't beautify it and subsequent redevelopment has faild to offer much inspiration." Some telephone numbers and addresses are however outdated.



3. Great to refresh my memory of a visit some 35 years ago in preparation for a re-visit later this year

5 comments about New French Country: A Style and Source Book.

1. Really a wonderful book - both beautiful to look at and informative. Very interesting reading, as well as artistically lovely with wonderful, colorful photography. I am not a decorator or designer by trade, but go to this type of book for creative inspiration, and this one was a winner.



2. I can see this book is going to sit on the top of the coffee table book pile for a long time to come. Aside from the fabulous photos of French Provincial homes, Dannenberg delicately picks apart the details that make a typical Provincial home and garden. It does the job so much better than we sitting in another continent can grasp from a few photos in a book. It teaches us how to copy this style and really appreciate the quality of each piece of furniture, artwork or chattel we acquire for own little pretend patch of France.
   I love this book!



3. The book was very informative. It gave me many ideas on how to include my furnishings with a French feel.



4. This is one of the best books on Country French that I've found. The illustrations are wonderful, whether you prefer the older designs or are looking for something with a more modern feel. I loved just looking at the pictures and getting a feel for the colors and styles. This is a book I'll return to again and again to get the feel of the French countryside.



5. I purchased this book as a gift and had done a lot of research looking for just the right one. I loved the book from the moment I opened it and was very excited to see not only beautiful pictures but loads of ideas and design elements that were very helpful. The receiver of the book was also very thrilled with the design elements and help that the book brought to help with decorating her home in the french country style. Loved It.

1 comments about Culture Shock! Philippines: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! Philippines).

1. I found this book to be extremely informative. It is centered on western ex-pats living in the Philippines, but it is highly useful for anyone traveling there. It is nicely written and also includes some Tagalog phrases/translations that are not well known among non-Filipino. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a general overview of Filipino culture, society, and history.
   
   This book is an excellent reference if you are going to visit the Philippines and a MUST read if you are going to live there.

5 comments about Fodor's Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan Peninsula 2008 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. My girlfriend and I took this book with us on our trip to the Yucatan and it proved to be an excellent resource! The reviews and suggestions were spot on and up to date. Unlike many guide books this one is updated annually which Is very important in a country like Mexico where things change quickly. I also appreciated the personal input and data for sites, activities, restaurants, lodging - it was great having personalized traveling advice. I also like the way the book is laid out making it easy to navigate. This guide was our constant companion and advisor and proved an invaluable resource. The trip would not have been the success it was with out this book! Also pick up a copy of the thriller A Tourist In The Yucatan great beach read!



2. We just got back from a week in Tulum and Cancun. Visited major archaelogical sites in the area, including Chichenitza. This guide states that visitors can climb the main pyramid at Chichenitza though that has not been the case since 2005 when a tourist died from a fall there (the guide includes an old photo of two tourists descending the steps). The restaurant recommendations in Tulum were also quite touristy and did not represent the best food available there.



3. We found a few little gems that were worth the price of the book, most notably, a little museum in downtown Cancun. We were the only ones there and we loved it.



4. I looked at Fodor's, Frommer's, and Lonely Planet for the Yucatan. I found that Lonely Planet concentrated more so on backpackers, and Frommer's was much harder to navigate. Overall, Fodor's was the best. Some parts are outdated, which is natural in a high tourist environment like Cancun. Some restaurants have been replaced with others, and some prices have gone up than what's listed. Navigation is very easy through the book, the reviews were quite good, and suggested itineraries were very helpful.



5. In addition to the outdated info about climbing the pyramids at Chichen Itza, this book also recommended the ruins as Coba as being lightly visited. I just returned from a trip to the Yucatan in Jan 2008 and by 10 a.m. Coba looks like Grand Central Station in Manhattan. Extremely crowded and the narrow paths through the site only emphasize the crowd. Also the Avalon Grand Cancun was listed as beachfront. While technically correct, there is no beach access since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. The Caribbean comes right up to the hotel wall. Closest public beach access is a 20 minute walk and is not open 24 hours a day.

5 comments about Washington Wines and Wineries: The Essential Guide.

1. While this book may be very informative, it looks and reads more like a textbook and lacks the excitement and entertainment value of its subject matter. The book could be significantly improved simply by adding color pictures of wine labels and/or the wineries themselves rather than black and white pictures of only a handful of labels (which makes the book look dull and cheap). Prior to actually reading the book, I originally purchased it as a gift for out of state friends to give them along with a mixed case of Washington wines as they are unfamiliar with wines from the Pacific Northwest. However, after reading through the book, I decided to find another book that would give my friends a better sense of Washington wine country as well as a visual journey of this beautiful region through pictures.



2. Paul has a great deal of experience with the Washington Wine scene, and it shows. This should be called the Washington Wine Encyclopedia. The book is full of very current and relevant information about the blossoming (and Booming) Washington Wine industry, and the top 25% (His Opinion) of the wineries. I found the history portion of the book fascinating.
   
   If you have any interest in the Washington wine industry, this is a must read!



3. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WASHINGTON WINES, HAD BETTER GET A COPY OF THIS BOOK. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MR. GREGUTT KNOWS THE WINEMAKERS AND THE WINERIES HE WRITES ABOUT. HE HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS, AND IS A RELIABLE RESOURCE FOR THIS INDUSTRY. KEN D.



4. This is a great, unconventionally written wine book. Paul Gregutt covers Washington state by talking about the history, the top vineyards, the varietals, and the top wineries. He gives ratings to wineries instead of specific wines. Sometimes it feels like his praise is too strong because he does not specify which wines are good values versus just plain good wines. But overall this is a great reference guide. If you are looking for a buying guide, stick to Robert Parker; if you want to learn about wines in Washington, this is where to start.



5. If I could sit down with Paul in a tasting group I am assured that I would be utterly amazed by the amount of information he has tapped into that makes him so vital to the Washington wine industry. As a writer, investigator, connoisseur, & diplomat of all that is worthwhile in the Washington Wine realm. Rest assured you will have the upper hand on a vast extension of information from the distant past to our now proportionately thriving world of grapes in the Scabland's to the valleys in the Yakima, Columbia, & Walla Walla wine regions. Enjoy, MD