No comments about Discover Puerto Rico.

No comments about Touch of Ireland.

1 comments about America's Scenic Rail Journeys: Adirondack.

1. One of the most beautiful passenger routes in North America is Amtrak's Adirondack between New York City NY and Montréal, Quebec. The line follows a north-south alignment through eastern New York state, following the Hudson Valley, penetrating the Adirondack Mountains, and skirting the west edge of Lake Champlain. This show, narrated by actor James Coburn, begins with a montage of film scenes followed by the series' introduction featuring computer- animated train. A map is used to trace the route of the train. In addition to typical lineside and on-board views, there are some nice aerial shots.

   The journey begins at Penn Station in New York City with views of the lobby and office. Amtrak conductor Rick Palmer talks about his job, greets passengers (some of whom he knows personally) and collects tickets. Northbound train #69 leaves the station with Genesis unit 702 in charge, passing under a high bridge over the Hudson River. Riverkeeper John Cronin patrols the river, and we get to see what it looks like from his boat. Conductor Rick answers a question about the ruins of the castle on the Bannerman estate.

   First stop is Tarrytown, location of Sunnyside, the estate of famous author Washington Irving who rote "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and other stories. The story is told of how Irving resisted the New York & Hudson River Railroad laying tracks past his residence, but finally gave in for a sum of money and became a regular rail passenger. Other estates include Lyndhurst; Phillipsburg Manor; and Kykuit, owned by the Rockefeller family, where many art sculptures were collected and are still on display.

   Science teacher Michael Rourke, riding on the train, explains the history of the Roosevelt and Vanderbilt estates in Hyde Park, and how the local train station was saved, while several photos and a film clip of Franklin Roosevelt's funeral are displayed.
   Another fine estate is Montgomery Place in Annandale -on- Hudson. A docent leads visitors on a summer evening tour through the lovely gardens.

   After a stop at an unnamed station, #69 continues north with conductor Craig Allen and stops in Saratoga Springs. Crystal Baker owns Hattie's Restaurant, and she talks about how much she enjoys riding the train. After she detrains, she takes us for a look inside the restaurant, shows how it operates, and discusses its background. Saratoga Springs was named after its carbonated mineral springs, around which were built several resorts. Horse racing is big here, and some race scenes are provided. Actor David Hyde-Pierce, who grew up in the area, shows us the Batchelor Mansion and other buildings and discusses local events.

   Heading out again, the route cuts through the eastern edge of Adirondack Park, the largest state park in the U.S. A photographer talks about the park over a series of his photos. Colorful hot-air balloons are launched at a balloon festival in Glenns Falls. Next, the line passes Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain, and we get a brief tour of the fort with its stone fortifications and cannons, as well as some of its history dating back to its founding by French colonists in 1755.

   Conductor Craig talks about the area and the train's crew as Lake Champlain dominates the landscape on the east side of the tracks. In Port Henry, a lifelong resident talks about sightings of a Loch Ness- like creature nicknamed "Champ"; there's even a photo showing some sort of animal with a small head and long neck poking out of the water. From Westport, a side trip is made to the town of Lake Placid, situated on Mirror Lake. A number of private camps for the wealthy were built around Upper Saranac Lake, and Charlie Ritchie was fortunate enough to have inherited his family's camp. We see a number of photos of camp life in the early 1900s; many of these camps are now private resorts. One such camp is The Wawbeek, a very rustic and beautiful place. Saranac Lake itself is like a wilderness paradise.

   Another side trip is made to the AuSable River which has carved a narrow but deep gorge (the AuSable Chasm) through solid
   shale and sandstone, and there are waterfalls and other intriguing rock formations in the area. Boat tours may be taken
   through the chasm. The tracks leave Lake Champlain and cut through forests before entering crop fields of the Saint Lawrence Valley, crossing a high bridge over the Saint Lawrence River, and entering Montréal, Canada's largest city. Only fleeting glimpses of picturesque buildings in Montréal are shown before the show concludes with a reprise of some previous scenes.

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   This show was done in travelogue style and is not your typical hardcore railfan video. There are some shots looking out the locomotive's windshield, the window of the rear coach, and side windows, as well as a couple from the nose of the locomotive as the train races along. All of the filming was done in summer and early autumn with healthy does of colorful fall foliage. Skies are mostly sunny but the area's beauty is not lost even on overcast days. Eastern New York state is rich in not only natural beauty but also history; it's not a wonder that so many rich families built estates in this area. "ASRJ - The Adirondack" makes a nice keepsake for anyone who has ridden the Adirondack train or would like to get to know the region or plan a vacation there.

   === Paul H! in AtasCal

No comments about The Shell Seekers.

No comments about Riding Texas - The Hill Country.

1 comments about Globe Trekker: Mexico City.

1. Having been born in and lived in Mexico City, I wanted to take my Hungarian wife and our children on vacation there. If anything, this video was a complete turnoff. Very low budget and amateurish. So much time wasted on a bizarre, homeless man who collected and hung decrepit dolls. Very silly and pointless. Was this supposed to be Mexican culture? No explanation of Mexican art by Rivera, Siquieros, or Kahlo. Mexican architecture (pressed concrete) is world famous, but not a word here. Nothing on world-famous Mexican beer, just a silly tequila shot session. This video also wasted time on the dumbest imaginable activities at the Zocalo. Not a word on the famous "Zona Rosa," Colonia Polanco, Fine Arts Palace, or the many other palaces in the city. Only shreds of information on colonial architecture.

   No practical advice, no "survival and safety tips." I wish that I hadn't shown it to my wife. I WILL NOT show it to my children. My wife is already completely turned off and I am embarrassed. A complete and utter waste: a farce of a joke. Twisted, mangled rubbish, wrapped in poor taste. I wish that I had never seen it myself.

   (It gets one star because I cannot give it ZERO stars).

2 comments about Turks and Caicos Islands: Hidden Treasures.

1. Some good historical info about the islands as well as a general overview of all the main islands so you can choose where to go.

   The shots are beautiful!

   We decided to go and had an absolutely wonderful vacation!

   It looks just like the video!!!!




2. This video should be sent out free of charge as it is nothing more than an advertisement. The amount of information on the Turks and Caicos is minimal and the video has advrdtisements for other vacation spots such as the Dominican Republic and Jackson Hole. It is a total waste of money. There is a one star rating on this review of this video because in order to write a review, one has to choose a rating and the lowest rating is one star.

No comments about Fodor's Singapore: Video Guide with Travel Tips and Pocket Guide.

1 comments about Globe Trekker: The Philippines (Travel and Experience the World).

1. There is a lot packed into this 50 minute video of the Philippines. I have been there twice and I still look at this video on the parts of the Philippines that I have not seen yet for ideas for my next trip. The traveler in this video is Shilpa Mehta, whom I have not seen in any other Globe Trekker video - but she does a really good job covering a variety of facsinating things. She starts off in the northern part of the country in the city of Baguio where she goes to a faith healer that performs surgery on her with only his bare hands! She continues north to Sagada where the hanging coffins are and nearby is the 8th wonder of the world, the breath-taking rice terraces. Going south, next is the town of San Fernando where the locals have a ritual around Easter time where some people choose to get nailed to a cross to honor Jese Christ. Some of the stuff in this video is shocking and eye-popping! Shilpa then heads south to the chaotic, conjested city of Manila to sample some of the nightlife. Further south is the beautiful island of Boracay; one of the 7107 islands of the Philippines. Here they show you what the beach is like as well as the wildlife on the island and activities such as scuba diving and horseback riding. The next stop is Bacolod on the island of Negros, follwed by Davao and Lake Sebu on the island of Mindanao. This area as well as the next stop is less travelled by foreigners and definately has a different culture than the north. The last visits are Puerto Princesa, El Nido and Signapan Basin on the island of Palawan. Here there are many opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking and exploring caves and underground rivers. Shilpa also visits the Tau't Batu tribe in the remote rainforest on this island.
   
   Of course not everything can be covered in this country in 50 minutes, but this video does a great job of showing bits and pieces of this very diverse country. Covered are things only found in this country and maybe only a few others, like religous ceremonies, the amazing rice terraces, cockfighting, bravely sampling local delicacies like bat, balut and durian fruit. The video is very accurate about important information such as certain hazards to look out for, the high and low tourist seasons and other travel conditions that you should expect.
   
   I recommend this video for any traveller to the Philippines, unless you are going to park yourself in one place during your visit or spend a lot of time in a hotel. It will give you a great visual idea of what you are going to experience during your visit to this great country.

No comments about Washington D.C.: Our Nation's Capital.