3 comments about Rick Steves' Spain and Portugal, 2000-2007.

1. It is indispensible to see what to expect on a visit to Spain and/or Portugal. Since the Travel Videos cover 2000 to 2007 you can also see how things end to change over time in Spain. These are my favorite Spain and Portugal travelogues.



2. Has there ever been another travel guide more amiable, more informative, more eclectic and just plain likeable than Rick Steves? This somewhat nerdish but pleasant looking fellow will immediately win the viewer over with his charm, humor and smoothing, layback manner. However what will keep you watching program after program is his consummate knowledge of the sites and people he visits.
   
   While each journey is only 30 minutes in length Rick has a unique talent of synthesizing the many facets that make up a people and place. He leaves no stone unturned in his analysis; historical background, spiritual heritage, cultural underpinnings and political legacy are all equally touched upon to give the audience a fuller understanding of the rural and urban landscape.
   
   However not not an individual to dwell too much on the past, he provides a delightful tour of the markets, music, restaurants and nightlife. The kind of information would really want to know if you're out for a good time.
   
   The production values are also wonderful offering fanstastic visuals that are worth watching even if there where no commentary. Traveling with Rick Steves' is the next best thing to being there.
   
   This particular DVD contains six episodes, thirty minutes in length. Imagine three hours in Spain and Portugal await, better get started!



3. I bought this for my son who was going to Spain. He tells me that RS books are the best thing he has seen for touring. (He spent a summer as a student in Europe and has traveled to Japan, England, Amsterdam, etc. on business.) His fiancee speaks Spanish and was able to ask locals where they should go. The best advice they got was from Steves' book. It made their trip much more enjoyable. In the future, whenever he (and I) travel, he will have a recent Steves book to guide him to local highlights and to get the most out of his travel dollar.

5 comments about Hawaii: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, And the Big Island.

1. I loved the beautiful scenes, music and narration in this video! It showed me Hawaii's top beaches, the most famous places to surf, the shopping and nightlife, stunning mountains that are over 2 miles high and even where Hawaii's king's ruled. A book only gives you a vague idea of what to see, but after watching this I know exactly where I want to go on each island. I'm using this travel guide to plan my first trip and I can't wait for this vacation of a lifetime!



2. Having been only to Maui twice (did not have the time to visit the other islands on my trips), and eagerly awaiting a time when I can return, this DVD does a fair job of showing the beauty that is the Hawaiian islands. So whether you are planning a trip or biding your time until your next trip, for $10 this is a great buy.



3. There is a lot in this video. I really enjoyed the part on surfing. It is vivid and exciting and it makes me really want to learn to surf.



4. This DVD is fantastic because it showed me how incredible Hawaii is. I've never been to Hawaii. I didn't know anything about Hawaii before I saw the DVD. Now I'm planning to go to Hawaii.



5. Hawai'i is one of my favorite states. It's beautiful beyond compare. This DVD is the first one I've seen that does it justice.

5 comments about Hawaiian Dreams / WAVES: Virtual Vacations for relaxation.

1. This gorgeous DVD helped me very much with my insomnia, because it just has the sound of the waves and beautiful beach scenes of different varieties-- there's a black sand beach, white sand beaches, scenes of midday and plenty of AMAZING sunsets... all from many different Hawaiian islands. I grew up on Oahu and of course travelled throughout the islands so I think the choices will surprise people who have travelled in Hawaii, are from Hawaii, or who have always wanted the chance to go there. There aren't any hokey touristy vistas (so in some ways it's better than actually being at the famous beaches), or the intense crowds. These are exceptional beach choices that you may have never seen before, but none of the scenes are boring either.
   
   There's just enough to listen to and look at like a lone person in the distance, one bird that waddles into the scene and begins entertaining itself by the waves, or the waters swirling and breaking around rocks so that it begins slowly deepening and then lulling you into tranquility. For anyone who has slept by the sea you know how healthful it can be. Again, I recommend it for someone suffering any health conditions and insomnia as well, like myself, and I've been using it as a background for meditation which I particularly enjoy. You can turn the subtitles on or off which tell you what the names of the beaches are and what island they're on, and you can loop the DVD automatically so that it runs endlessly through all of the scenes. You can skip to your favorite day as well, for instance if you wanted the last day's particularly beautiful sunset. The "Hawaiian Dreams" doesn't have any pop-up ads that I've seen some people write about. Maybe the Zen ones are what they're referring to?
   
   I lucked out b/c I bought it from the director and my first DVD was damaged, maybe in the mail. He immediately replaced it and wished me a Happy Mother's Day. I have to say that he had great customer service and quick deliveries but it's the product that I've really enjoyed. I'm waiting for the Caribbean and will probably buy more beach DVD's. I read that he's doing a nature trail version which I hope is true. I would love a gentle rainstorm DVD too.



2. I bought this DVD along with another as part of an anniversary day. I received and reviewed the DVD with pleasure. The folks that made the DVD did a great job of picking unoccupied beaches and nice locations. Both video quality and sound were excellent. Looks great on a big screen! My only complaint is that they didn't spend longer at each beach, but they did cover every island. Worth the money.



3. I am the producer of "Hawaiian Dreams" and thanks to some customer feedback regarding our web ads and logos between the 'Day' segments, we have removed them from our "New Director's Cuts" as of March 2005 and all future dvds.
   
   However, some recent reviewers are buying used 'original' copies and writing out of date reviews. We guarantee that you will be happy with this Director's Cut from Amazon and that we will refund your purchase with your receipt if you are not satisfied. Simply call our 800 number on the DVD and/or visit our website. Also, if you have an older 'original' copy, we will gladly exchange it free of charge at our website. Your satisfaction is guaranteed with us. Now relax and enjoy our Waves DVDs.



4. I don't know what I was expecting, but this was hardly what I'd call a virtual vacation.



5. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R31L8D6OPS0TJC SEE for yourself --> VIDEO CLIP FROM DVD <-- CLICK HERE to watch.

No comments about Crusade: A March Through Time.

5 comments about National Geographic - Inside the Vatican.

1. This is an in-depth vision to all people who wants but can't get inside the walls of one of the most emblematic buildings and "treasure container" of our history. This is a great tv series collection.
   
   Luis Manuel Sanchez from Mexico.



2. Good graphics. Loved the tape. I have seen the outside of the vatican and this was a way for me to see the inside of it.



3. Anyone who's ever wondered what life is like at the Vatican need look no further than this very well produced dvd. Told in a very organised manner looking at typical major events in the lives of a number of people, the director uses these to inform and educate the audience just what goes on at as well as the history of the capitol of the Catholic Church. Even the blemishes are not covered up as there is a very frank discussion about the sale of indulgences which was a major factor behind the Reformation movement, about bad popes, about the wrongful treatment of Galileo etc. Narrator Martin Sheen does a great job as well as he describes what goes on in the build up to a Beautification, an appointment of an archbishop, an appointment of a Swiss Guard, the life of the official photographer, the council which decides on sainthood etc.
   
   In addition to very good content I was very impressed with the picture quality which is first class as well as the sound quality which comes in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound which is very rare for documentaries. This definitely enhanced my enjoyment of this dvd. This would be great viewing for RCIA's, cell groups, and other Christian study groups as a great way to find out what a "typical" day at the Vatican is about.
   
   One of the best documentaries that I've ever seen and I highly recommend it!



4. This documentary is typical of the high quality type of documentary we've come to expect from NatGeo. Inside The Vatican provides a rare and fascinating look into this church/state and the enormous amount of anonymous work that goes into making it function. This is the most inside look at the Vatican that I've ever seen.



5. "Inside the Vatican" is a must-see for anyone aspiring to travel to the Vatican. It gives the audience unique behind-the-scenes access as to how the Vatican operates on a daily basis, & why certain protocol is followed as it is there. It was an educational experience for my whole family--& a joy, especially, to share with my two young daughters. I teach Faith Formation at our parish & I plan on incorporating "Inside the Vatican" into my curriculum from now on.

4 comments about America's National Parks and Forests.

1. This DVD is outstanding for two reasons: (1) the unbelievable quality of the videos and (2) the amazing diversity of the sites it covers including Acadia, Big Bend, The Grand Canyon, Mt. Rainier, Yellowstone, Yosemite etc. Plus it has a bonus of some of the best parks in the world including Banff, The Great Barrier Reef and even the secret of Machu Picchu. What a travel guide! What a deal!



2. If you look at the "review "below, it might surprise you that according to his logic he must work for a competitor because on the same day he attacked this park DVD, he promoted a park DVD by "Finley Holiday" (according to his logic a positive review and certainly a positive review combined with attacks on competitors must mean you work for that company). Unbelievable! And the company he is promoting has 151 DVDs mainly on the national parks, but they only had a handful of positive comments. I'll repeat again - they have 151 different DVDs and they could only get a handful of positive reviews. And what is even more amazing, is that most of these positive reviews were written the same day by the same guy - and they were almost identical (search Amazon DVDs using the name "Finley Holiday" and then see the Jan 3, 2006 reviews on Bryce Canyon, Carlsbad Cavern, Grand Teton, Death Valley, Arches, etc).
   
   Regard America's National Parks and Forests DVD just read All Movie Guide comments: "This hour-long video offers viewers a tour of some of America's oldest and most renowned natural and man-made wonders, including the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Bruce Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, Crater Lake, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and other National Parks. Extensive wildlife and recreational footage is included as well, making this an appropriate primer for families wishing to survey the country's natural attractions before traveling to them." And All Movie Guide is an independent reviewer. "Anyway, I just thought I'd set the record straight for future unsuspecting buyers who really want to learn and discover our national parks."



3. This video impressed me very much. The music is wonderful and I really liked the way it brought me close to nature - the sound of the streams, the lush green forests, the winter snow in Yellowstone and the wild animals. It made me feel very relaxed. What wonderful places! How I wish I could go there! But it's impossible for me now because of my studies. What a pity. I miss beautiful natural places and the scenes from the national parks made me feel very comfortable and peaceful.



4. "America's National Parks and Forests" is a disappointment. In reading the product description and previous reviews, I thought I was going to get a good pictorial overview of America's National Parks and Forests. Instead, I got a hodgepodge of overexposed video snippets of completely different aspects of America's parks and forests. It flows like a very bad home movie. There appears to be no rhyme or reason for the sequencing, which moves back and forth among parks, themes, seasons, regions, and topics. In several cases, the same park is shown in completely different sections of the DVD. The narrator slurs his words. The music (something reminiscent of the 1970s), maps, and labels are haphazardly inserted. It comes across as a high school project submitted before completion. Wish I had saved my money for a more professional product. Please note that I do not work for a competitor for which another reviewer was accused.

3 comments about Route 66 - The Ultimate DVD Collection.

1. This collection is a documentary film about the legendary "ROUTE 66: THE ULTIMATE DVD COLLECTION"...filled with historical pictures and facts hosted by best selling author Michael Wallis ("Route 66-The Mother Road"), Linda Lewis (producer) and Christopher Lewis (director), Suzanne Fitzgerald Wallis (photographer) . . . . . our three DVD collection spells out the history in fine form, U.S. Route 66, (also known as Route 66 or The Will Rogers Highway) was a highway in the U.S. Highway system...one of the original federal routes, US 66 was established on November 11, 1926, though signs did not go up until the following year.[1] It originally ran from Chicago, Illinois through St. Louis, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California before ending at Los Angeles for a total of 2,448 miles (3,939 km).
   
   Route 66 underwent many improvements and realignments...most of those affected the total mileage somewhat...one of those resulted in the movement of the endpoint from Los Angeles to Santa Monica. Contrary to common belief, Route 66 never ran to the ocean; it terminated onto what was then US-101, at the intersection of what is today Lincoln Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard.
   
   In the 1950s, Route 66 became the main highway for vacationers heading to Los Angeles...the road passed through the Painted Desert and near the Grand Canyon. Meteor Crater in Arizona was another popular stop...this sharp rise in tourism in turn gave rise to a burgeoning trade in all manner of roadside attractions including teepee shaped motels, frozen custard stands, Indian curio shops, and reptile farms. Meramec Caverns near St. Louis began advertising on barns, billing itself as the "Jesse James hideout"...The Big Texan advertised a free 72 ounce steak dinner to anyone who could eat the whole thing in an hour...it also marked the birth of the fast-food industry: "Red's Giant Hamburgs" in Springfield, Missouri, site of the first drive through restaurant, and the first McDonald's in San Bernardino, California. Changes like these to the landscape further cemented 66's reputation as a near perfect microcosm of the culture of America, now linked by the automobile . . . . . what this collections gives the viewer, is a feeling that you've been there...and that my friend is the whole point.
   
   DISC ONE:
   "A Journey Down Route 66 - 1994"
   Play Feature, Scene Selection, Special Features interviews with Michael Wallis,
   Suzanne Wallis, Producer & Director, Route 66 Trailer, T.E.G. Video Trailers
   Producer Linda Lewis and director Christopher Lewis comments & Photo Gallery
   
   DISC TWO:
   "Route 66 Revisited - 1995"
   Play Feature, Special Features, Snapshots From the Road,
   T.E.G Videos, Photo Gallery and Credits
   
   DISC THREE:
   Route 66 Turns 75 - A Special Celebration 2000
   Play Feature, Special Features,Snapshots From the Road,
   T.E.G Videos, Photo Gallery, Exotic World Striptease Pageant
   and Credits
   
   Over the years, U.S. Route 66 received many nicknames, they are as follows:
   1. The Great Diagonal Way--Right after Route 66 was commissioned, it received
   this nickname because a large section of the highway (Chicago to Oklahoma City)
   ran diagonally, unlike the other highways.
   2. The Main Street of America--Advertised as such by the US Highway 66 Association
   to promote the highway. The title had also been claimed by supporters of U.S. Route 40,
   but the Route 66 group was more successful.
   3. The Mother Road--Called this by John Steinbeck in "The Grapes of Wrath", the title
   continued to be applied to the highway.
   4. The Will Rogers Highway-- "officially" named this by the US Highway 66 Association
   in 1952. A plaque dedicating the highway to the humorist is still located opposite the western
   terminus of Route 66 in Santa Monica, California. There were more plaques like this; one can
   be found in Galena, Kansas. It was originally located on the Kansas-Missouri state line, but
   moved to the Howard Litch Memorial Park in 2001.
   
   Want to thank VCI Home Video for releasing "Route 66 - The Ultimate DVD Collection - hosted by Best Selling Author Michael Wallis, the digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage era of the '40s & '50s...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment where there are plenty of copies available, stay tuned once again as we share so many wonderful memories of the times when we traveled the roads and highways through a young America, but remember Route 66 is still Magic!
   
   Total Time: 3-DVD-Set ~ VCI Home Video #8466 ~ (5/30/2006)



2. Not new material, but this puts several items that I already have on VHS on to DVD, at a budget price



3. This was a wonderful DVD of the Mother Road, it's reason for being built, the people and places that make it truly the Road of the Nation. I highly recommend this DVD for all the roadies out there and future roadies. There is history, plus the personal stories and interviews that make the road more real, not just a means to get from one place to another...

2 comments about Mystery of the Maya.

1. Better than expected. No movie can capture the beauty there, however. But this one is the closest!



2. The Film has nothing to say about the mysterious disapperiance of the maya's. thats what i want to hear about.

5 comments about Reader's Digest - Journey of A Lifetime.

1. This is 3 DVDs in one. The places it takes you, most likely you've already known. But what's unforgettable is that it unfolds the most amazing events about that place right in front of you - the things that made these places truely spetacular. It is about lives, cultures or the true forces and beauty of nature. Each splendidly displayed and then moved on to others. It makes you hungry for more.



2. I have watched over 50 travel videos and this is one of the best. In addition to showing the beautiful scenery of each place they visited, this video also did a very good job of incorporating the local cultures.
   
   Highly recommended for anyone planning a trip around the world, or for someone who just wants to dream about an around the world trip.



3. There's a very personal touch to this DVD. Everything from the narration to the camera angles makes you feel as if you're being escorted by your own personal tour guide on a year-long odyssey.
   
   Don't try to view the whole DVD in one sitting (It's 170 minutes long!) Instead, you might enjoy it more if you divide it up into "seasons", and watch a couple segments each evening. (The DVD is divided in a way to make this easy to do. For example: New Year's Eve in Paris, Christmas in New York, New England in Autumn, etc.)
   
   Take this armchair vacation soon. You're sure to enjoy your travels.



4. My husband and I enjoyed this trip--took you to some out of the way places that so many of these travel DVD's miss. It would be fun to travel like this for 1 year.



5. guess I'm spoiled with the personalization and detail of the Rick Steves and Rudy Maxa travel videos. The scenery was spectacular and the photography wondeful, I expected more.

2 comments about Globe Trekker: Ultimate China (Double DVD contains 3 episodes!).

1. I rented this movie from Netflix, and only half of it worked. The southwest China half was fine, but the central China half froze my computer. I'm sure you will get a fully working dvd from Amazon, one that was not already viewed by dozens of people.
   
   This is the second dvd I've seen starring Justine Shapiro. The first one was a visit to England, and I found that one ordinary and not particularly interesting. This is a different story. This is really an excellent show. Southwest China is much more interesting to learn about than England.
   
   If you think Tennessee is country, you need to see southwest China. It makes Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas look like Las Vegas or Manhattan by comparison.
   
   Justine mixes with the regular people. She rides on their sleeper trains and buses, and on horses and bikes. She eats their food, which includes dogs, snakes and frogs. She takes us to their markets.
   
   After seeing this video, there's one thing I didn't get from the England video. I really like Justine Shapiro. She has guts, she's independent, she's sweet, she's pretty.
   
   She also takes us to big cities in China, and they are very interesting to see.
   
   I found one part of the film disturbing. She has some health problems and goes to a medical center. She gets acupuncture. We see the doctor shove needles into her skin. We hear her say that she doesn't know why she's doing this. We do not hear her say that it did a bit of good, and I think she would have said that if it was worth anything.
   
   I tried acupuncture myself, and it made me sweat a stream, and nearly pass out. It is powerful, and I suspect that the doctor put way too many needles into me, and that I'm ultra sensitive to it. When he saw me passing out, he whisked almost all the needles out of me with one sweep of his hand, and I had to lay down on my back for a half hour before I could drive home. Then he asked me to make an appointment for a second visit. That was one of the funniest suggestions I ever heard.



2. I am planning a trip to China and have been trying to learn more about the people and the culture of China and found this to be an excellent source!! The discs contain 3 different episodes dealing with different regions of China. The first 2 were excellent and they interact with the locals and try local foods. They go beyond the big cities and into the heart of China and parts of the country most people will never see. I was a little disappointed with the third episode but all in all found it well worth watching if you are interested in China and Chinese culture today.