5 comments about Distant Shores Volumes 1-4.

1. The Shards have filmed a very unique journey across the Mediterranean Sea. We are given insigthts and perspective few will ever enjoy. From the monkeys on Gibraltar to the markets of Turkey we are introduced to fascinating people and their lands and shorelines. This DVD set is an entertaining and informative blend of small craft sailing skills, curiousity of new cultures and ingenuous filmmaking. I have limited expereience chartering three times for one week each in various parts of the Med and concur that these DVD's truly capture the opportunity to interact with the real Europeans and share in their lives and cultures off and on the water. It brought back great memories for me and will help others build dreams for their future.
   
   Paul and Sheryl Shard are the stars of this multi-volume odyssey. They built the boat, they sail the boat, they share it all with us. They are real people without rehearsal or production crew. They leave us with the feeling that "I can go there" or "I can do that".



2. This is not a dull history documentary film!
   While having the winter blues, you will need the Distant Shores DVDs to warm your heart. The Shards, a young couple, who built their own sailboat, set out to sail the oceans. In their refreshing film making style they take you along to uncommon and interesting places of the Mediterranean Sea. Spiced with camel riding through the desert, fighting off persistent bugs, sweating in a volcanic cave, or driving a three-wheeled mini car to visit a winery.
   Good inside information, good cruising tips, plus real life entertainment.
   A good bang for the buck!



3. This is a great series. The Shards take the viewer from Gibralter to Turkey the way a true cruiser does it. They give us the details sailors need to know. From proper anchoring techniques to shopping the local markets for the freshest foods. Not only post card vistas, but also windy days and rough passages. We meet both locals and other cruisers and experiance the interaction that takes place when people of different nations share a common bond. "Distant Shores" puts us in the boat with Paul and Sheryl Shard. Whether shipwreck diving in the Straits of Gibralter or searching for the out of the way wineries or hauling out the apply fresh bottom paint they talk to the viewer, never down to them. I have yet to come across a better series of sailing videos for the Mediterranean. I've watched them over and over and still learn something new everytime. I highly recommend this series.



4. My husband and I are getting ready to sail to the Med this spring in our 43-foot sailboat. We've watched these DVDs several times in preparation for our journey, and they not only whet our appetite for what's ahead but give us confidence. We can do this! We're going to see these places! The DVDs are a great way to get ready to travel, whether you're sailing or not.
   
   Paul and Sheryl do their research--they know the places to go, and provide interesting background on the places they visit. Can't wait for the next instllment in their continuing adventure.



5. The Shards do a great job showing what types of experiences you can have while cruising, more from the standpoint of being a world explorer and tourist than a sailor. They show what it is like to stand a watch and how they made some of their weather decisions, but there is not a lot of 'hands on boat technical stuff' in the series, so if thats what you are looking for there may be better sources. These videos seem to have been produced for a TV audience that essentially has little knowledge of the fact that someone could travel the world in a small sailboat and see lots of wonderful stuff and interact with other cultures. Sort of like a Sunday afternoon PBS show. Still, I have enjoyed watching the series several times and would definitely recommend it.

No comments about Great Hotels Season 3 - Episode 18: Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa.

No comments about Porthole TV DVD Classic ships: SS Norway & OceanBreeze Port: Montego Bay, Jamaica.

No comments about World's Scenic Railway.

4 comments about Travel the World by Train: Central America.

1. These are not elegant trains you'll be riding here, and you may feel a bit of sympathy for the camera crew who had to ride these trains to bring you these pictures. Forget about sleeping cars, dining cars, or bar cars, and just count yourself lucky it doesn't rain on you through the permanently opened windows. Your fellow passengers will include dogs and live chickens in this one. It's unfortunate the camera crew did not hire a helicopter --perhaps they couldn't find one,-- to give us shots of the rickety bridges the trains had to cross. But then again, they might have decided not to scare us too much. This DVD's train rides are best taken from your living room easy chair.



2. The simple soundtrack gets a bit repetitive at times but the scenery is fun. Trains have no assigned seats and no interior lights which must make some of the 5am boardings quite the adventure.

   If you love trains and love travel in Central America, as I do, you'll learn not to combine them after watching these highlights of train travel thru Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Jamaica.




3. As someone from the Pacific who has had a lifetime dream to travel Copper Canyon, and who has already visited Yucatan, this DVD is not only repetative, it is downright boring. It does not shows nothing of value of the thirteen hour trip through the canyon, nor of the trip from Mexico City to Yucatan. Frankly a waste of money --- If Amazon was closer, I'd return this for a refund and buy a good Mexican travel guide instead! I certainly won't be buying the other 9 in this series to qualify for a carry on travel bag!



4. I did not like this video trip. Most of the video was showing faces of people inside the train. Not enough video on landscape or interesting scenary. It could have been much more interesting since it travelled through some exotic places.

No comments about Yellowstone: Fabric of a Dream.

No comments about Adventures in America's Western Parks: Glacier and Zion & Bryce.

5 comments about T&T's Real Travels in France.

1. I'm the other half of T&T's Real Travels, so feel free to take my review with a grain of salt. But you'll find that Paris & northern France are perfectly seasoned on this DVD ;-) We filmed all the classic Parisan tourist spots, but we also explored the neighborhoods, enjoying cafes, shopping at boulangeries, & talking with locals. Paris is an amazing city, & if you can't get there yourself, this DVD is the next best thing. We also visited the historic chateaux of the Loire Valley, & we ventured off the beaten path to Carnac, home of thousands of ancient stone megaliths. We wrapped up the DVD with the Normandy beaches that saw the D-Day invasion. Sobering & thought-provoking, these memorials, cemeteries, & museums were a vivid reminder of the sacrifics of the Greatest Generation. Every American should see these places some day. From the frivolities of French food to the turning point of modern history, our France DVD is ideal for armchair travelers & those planning their next trips. Viva la France!



2. After seeing how these people did Antarctica, I had to check out their France DVD. Wow! Now I really want to go to Paris! The city is so beautiful, & they show all the best parts. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, cafes, picnics (yum! French food looks delicious!). Then they go around northern France to the Loire Valley to see the great castles. They go to this place I'd never heard of & walk around a bunch of amazing ancient stones, like Stonehenge, but even older & bigger & you can even touch the stones. Later, there's the Mt. St. Michelle church, & all the WWII beaches & cemeteries. Really beautiful & moving. I have to go to France now!



3. C'est un tres jolie video. It's like returning to my favorite place, Paris, again & again. J'taime la France. Merci!



4. this is a very poor amatuer production, poor sound track, poor camera work, poor theme in general.



5. As one of the principals behind T&T's Real Travels, I want to share
   some thoughts about our productions and clarify what to expect when viewing one of our DVDs.
   
   First and foremost, we truly are independent travel filmmakers. We're
   more like reality TV or Cinéma Vérité for travel. We offer a unique blend of travel storytelling and insightful, entertaining tips. What we are not is a typical, slick, scripted television show. Most travel shows only focus on the ideal aspects of travel. They only look for the best possible filming conditions and don't show the experiences of an average tourist. We highlight parts of travel that other shows miss. Our DVDs aren't meant to replace other travel programs, but compliment them.
   
   In France, we visit popular destinations such the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, and Mont St. Michel, but we also go where most cameras don't. In Paris, our story is unveiled in scenes such as stuffing four adults into a tiny hotel elevator, how many steps it takes to climb the Arc d'Triomphe, and the "fun" of taking a Seine cruise with a hundred screaming Italian teenagers. Outside of Paris, our visit to the megalithic stones at Carnac is a great alternative tourist destination. Our incredibly stormy day at the D-Day beaches makes for some wild footage, practically reliving what D-Day must have felt like for the WWII heroes. Moments like finding a footrace in the middle of Bayeux (causing a debacle getting to our hotel) are classic real travels. We strive to "keep it real" while always showing our passion for seeing the world. We hope you enjoy our DVDs as much as we enjoyed making them. Bon voyage!

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No comments about Cruising the British Virgin Islands.