No comments about 7 Days ESPANA.

No comments about Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica - 2 Disk Set (Part 1 & 2) "Escape to Caribe Sur" and "Down to Manzanillo".

1 comments about Historic Travel US Enchanting Life In The Southwest.

1. The best thing about this DVD is the footage of Native Americans' around teh turn of the century living in the southwest and trying to keep their culture alive. So much of what we see in the media about Native Americans is such a stereotype taht it is enthralling to see them as real people. The rest of the clips are beautiful - with lots of footage of the beautiful vistas in the southwest. A great DVD.

No comments about Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Season 2 - Episode 2: Puerto Rico.

3 comments about Iceland's Viking Horses.

1. I brought my Mom on a trip to Iceland last year. She kept saying how much she loves to think back on the trip so I purchased this for her. She says she looks at it often and feels like she's back in Reykjavik.



2. I found the actual segments on the Icelandic horse beautiful but there were too many scenes with the host that were painful to watch. He seemed unprepared to understand the culture -- the worst part when he sidetracks from the horses to make fun of Icelanders' belief in hidden people. I was also disappointed in how little information was presented about the horses considering the length of the video. It came across as a slapdash and amateurish production.



3. A must see before you travel to Iceland!
   The scenery shots are stunning!
   The host makes you feel like you are there with him.
   I loved the interview with the historian and the ride through the canyon where the ancient Icelanders conducted their first parliament.
   I learned a lot about the history of Iceland.

No comments about Great Hotels Season 3 - Episode 24: Halekulani.

No comments about Adventures in America's Western Parks: Great Train Rides, Lodges & Inns.

2 comments about American Trains-Metra Milwaukee District Cab Car Ride: Ride the cab car from Libertyville into Chicago.

1. This is a must-see for Chicago-Metra commuters as well as passenger rail fans in all cities. I don't own any other train ride videos, but bought this one because I grew up in the Chicago burbs riding these trains.

   You're riding in the cab control car at the front end of a Metra commuter train pushing it's way to the city. You'll get a quick overview of the route and brief view of the engineer and his controls, then it's straight forward out-the-window cab view for your ride from Libertyville into Chicago. The sound and picture quality are excellent.

   You'll get plenty of station stops, opposing traffic, reduced speed and whistle blowing. But what really makes this DVD worth watching over and over is the casual commentary between the filmmaker, engineer, and Metra PR spokesman - three down-to-earth, conversational rail people you'd like to know. You'll hear history and stories of the line today and how it evolved. Watching this DVD makes you feel like you're taking a train ride with the boys, and you're right up front. Pop it in on a Saturday morning, put your feet up and enjoy the ride!




2. I admit, I bought this mostly on a whim, and then only after having left it in my Amazon shopping cart for about 6 months. I'd previously bought my son some Pentrex videos -- "Great American Train Rides" or something like that -- and they were pretty boring. So, I had some reservations.
   
   When I first put it in to watch, I thought, "This can't possibly be just an hour of looking out the window." Well, it was -- and I absolutely loved it!!!
   
   As another reviewer pointed out, one of the best parts is listening to the impromptu commentary given by the engineer, a Metra PR spokesman, and the cameraman. (I was a little afraid it'd just be some b.s. corporate propaganda).
   
   They told a great story about a maintenance truck that had accidentally gone onto the wrong track (or, right track -- wrong railroad), and someone pointed out that this guy was clearly from out of state, as any railfan from the area would have instantly noticed the mistake, as the ballast is different on the Milwaukee tracks versus that found on UP / CNW. And I thought, "Wow! I guess the rock IS sorta pinkish on UP." And from that point, I was hooked.
   
   Sure, it's not without its faults. I could have done without the bird mess or dead bug or whatever it was splattered across the left side of the windshield. And, it was somewhat amusing that while the run started in Fox Lake, the cameraman apologetically noted that he didn't have much time to get the camera set up, so the cab view doesn't start until Libertyville. (However, we do get a shot of the train leaving the siding at Fox Lake, so how did he manage that?)
   
   Coincidentally, the one time I rode Metra's MILW-N line, it was from Libertyville, so this was perfect for me.
   
   And, the cameraman does insist on pronouncing "Rondout" as "Round Out", even though the engineer says it correctly at least twice. However, the cameraman went on to say that he grew up in northwest Indiana, and I went to elementary school in Valparaiso, myself, so it was like being with an old friend.
   
   I have read that the Mayfair station is a good place for railfanning, but this makes it abundantly clear, as the platform is just south of the UP-NW junction.
   
   And, you pass three running F40Cs, for those that are fans of that type. Two are pulling trains, and one is a simple engine move. And, there are more in the yard near Western Avenue.
   
   Finally, yes, it does go all the way to the bumper at Union Station. I was a little dismayed to see the approach tracks were all torn up with construction, but that's not the fault of the DVD, by any means.
   
   In conclusion, I do highly recommend this one.

No comments about Roma The Eternal City.

No comments about Land of the Maharajas - The Land of Death.