Reviews (1)

Fabulous photo essay of Paris then and now--finally in English!
Leonard Pitt's book "Walks Through Lost Paris" is amazing. In it he chronicles changes made to Paris in the interest of modernization during the Haussmann era (mid 19th century) and later. The changes are documented with abundant before and after photos, allowing you to literally see for yourself how Paris has evolved over the past 150 years.
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Subjects:  1. City planning    2. Europe - France    3. France    4. Guidebooks    5. History    6. Paris    7. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    8. Travel    9. Travel - Foreign    10. Travel Guides    11. Walking    12. Travel & holiday guides    13. Travel / Europe / France   

Editorial Review

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more comprehensive, engrossing and just plain fun-to-read guidebook than the Read more

Reviews (75)

Beautifully presentation, lacks specific recommendations
This makes a good coffee table book for pre and post-travel. The photos and drawings are wonderful. However, the lack of specific reccomendations for restaurants, tips on how and when to see things, and local customs is obvious If you have to carry just one book with you, this one wouldn't be the one. If you want to impress your friends with what you'll see or have seen, by all means buy it.

Best, Best, Best!
Time and again my family has used this book.It has pictures and commentary which prove extremely helpful.We've written all over it.It is the best of the guides.It has the most detail.

excellent
this book is very detailed. it is an excellent source
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Subjects:  1. Europe - Italy    2. General    3. Guidebooks    4. Italy    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel / Europe / Italy   

Subjects:  1. Calendar    2. Calendars & Diaries    3. Europe - Italy    4. Non-Classifiable    5. PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / General    6. Travel / Europe / Italy   

Reviews (15)

If you liked the Venice book, you'll like this one!
I like the way MDB writes, and this sequel has the benefit of not making her husband, Fernando, seem as obnoxious as he did in the Venice book.This book is more about food (my God, is she obsessed with food!), the villagers, and the various other characters they meet around Tuscany.In this book MDB seems to have settled into her marriage and learned how to handle Fernando and his moodiness (yay).
Pleasant read
A pleasant read, this book made me both hungry and desire to visit Tuscany. I wished I had read A Thousand Days in Venice first though. It is not a sequel but the story begins in Venice and the same characters are in both books.

Great book for a womanturning 50
I could relate to the author because I am soon turning 50.I loved her descriptions and all the people she talked about there in venice.I enjoyed the list at the back of the book of places and things to do if ever in Venice.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Cookery, Italian    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Europe - Italy    6. Food    7. Italy    8. Personal Memoirs    9. Regional & Ethnic - Italian    10. Tuscan style    11. Tuscany    12. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Editorial Review

On his only prior visit to Ireland, English songwriter-comic Tony Hawks had seen a man hitchhiking with a refrigerator. For years, he was wont to tell the tale during late-night drinking matches, and after one particularly heavy-duty night of partying, he awoke to find a bet scrawled pillowside: a friend wagered 100 pounds that Hawks wouldn't travel Ireland for a month with a refrigerator at his side.Read more

Reviews (63)

Silly, silly, silly
I loved this book from the start!I first read the book shortly after my first trip to Ireland.While my trip did not involve a kitchen appliance, we kept to same kind of 'go where the road takes us' kind of philosophy.I have given this book as a gift a number of times and every friend I've given it to has adored it.People who can laugh at themselves and make you laugh right along are a rare and wonderful breed.Wouldn't it be lovely to find and appreciate the absurd all the time?

Funny Funny Funny!
This was a great book to read as I am heading to Ireland in 3 weeks.I hope I meet as many warm and funny folks as Tony did in his travels.Light and warmhearted and a quick read.Buy it!

Share a Pint with Tony
Now that I finished reading Round Ireland with a Fridge, I miss it. I miss hanging out with Tony Hawks, the English comedian dubbed Fridge Man, and all the people of Ireland who befriended him along the way.
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Subjects:  1. Description and travel    2. Europe - Ireland    3. General    4. Hawks, Tony    5. Humor    6. Ireland    7. Northern Ireland    8. Travel   

Reviews (1)

A Virtual Monastic journey.
Lots of beautiful and new photos of old cloisters: consisting in good panaromic views and details. Well presented with a brief history of Europe andbrief theological explantions of monastic life. Descriptions are simple and short enough for the off-hand reader. The book is huge and heavy; more for desk reading rather than in bed.But it served my purpose of historico-monastic information blended with architectural purposes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Europe    3. Europe - General    4. General    5. History - General    6. Monasteries    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Religious buildings   

Reviews (4)

One Of The Top Guides To London
There are many guides to London. From what I can see there are two good general guidebooks. These are the Eyewitness Travel (DK) guide which is the one that I personally prefer or Lonely Planet (the present book). These two books are both just around 500 pages and both are tremendous efforts. They are well balanced guides with lots of photos, maps, history, etc. Both are clearly 5 star guides.
Average London travel guide
It seems like the Lonely Planet guides are really hit and miss. Some are outstanding, but others are quite lacking. Unfortunately the London guide is not very impressive. For starters, the entire book is poorly organized and confusing. London is an enormous city, with several distinct areas, but this book does a very poor job of helping the reader understand where things are. There is almost no cross referencing to help the reader find things that are described in it. I was also disappointed with the maps, which have decent detail in some parts, but no detail whatsoever in many other parts. Finally, this book lacks the detail that I was able to find in some other guides. Overall, I was quite disappointed with this book.
The perfect London tour guide, for the budget traveller or the crazy spender.
Lonely Planet always publishes up-to-date issues of your city of choice. They cover the board and general to the minute and often times over looked hidden treasures. The 2006 London edition follows exactly with that tradition. I went to London for 4 days and there wasn't a day that passed that I didn't have something to do or experience (aside from the typical major tourist attractions). LP provides ideas for walking tours, mesuem tours, bus tours, shopping tours, and even rainy day tours. What I appreciate the most about LP are the maps and train routes that are provided in the back. London can be a tough place to navigate on foot, since a lot of roads just suddenly end or turn into something else, so a good map is key to keeping your sanity. The only limitation that I found with this book was its excerpts on other cities outside the city limits. It only offered a few agendas for day trips outside of the city. But then again, I guess if I really wanted to leave London and go somewhere else, I'd just have to buy that city's LP guide. Also, if you are looking for a hotel, London is SO incredibly large, there is no way that the LP can list each one, so do your homework online, becuase there might be better deals that aren't listed in the book. Overall, this book is an imformative read and a great travel companion. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. Europe - Gt. Britain/London    3. Reference - Guides (General)    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. London, Greater London    7. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (14)

The Best Travel Advice
This was the most helpful book I've ever used while traveling.Not only does he touch on the highlighted cities, but his advice on B&B's was spot on!Little details like how to read street signs and what you are seeing out your window when you're driving was an unexpected bonus.I recommend this book for the Ireland traveler, and I plan to purchase Rick Steves England guide for my next trip.

Rick Steves' Ireland 2005
Extremely informative.Helpful for planning the trip before leaving, and very helpful while on the trip.
A Trip Without Leaving Home
Even if you're not planning a trip any time soon this book will make you feel like you've been there.And make you start planning your trip in ernest.Great information.I wouldn't want to go to Ireland without it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Ireland    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Ireland    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Europe / Ireland   

Subjects:  1. Description And Travel    2. Europe - France    3. General    4. Provence (France)    5. Social life and customs    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Travel / General   

Reviews (3)

Truth in Labeling
This pocket size guide really does make a trip tp Paris easy. The details by Arrondissement(district/neighborhoods)are very useful. The restaurant/Bistro tips were uniformly solid. The walks were easy to navigate and enriched strolling through Paris.The most useful guide to Paris I have seen.
THE guide to pack
I picked up Paris Made Easy just before a return trip to the City of Light, and I wish I'd had it the first time around! The title says it all: the content of this book, the way it's organized, and even its size made it the one guide I used day in and day out.
The best sights and walks of Paris!
I am the author of Paris Made Easy. This handy pocket guide to the best sights and walks of Paris is all you need to make your visit fun, memorable, and easy. Inside, you'll find short opinionated descriptions of both well-known and off-the-beaten-path sights; detailed walking tours with street-by-street directions, nearby day trips - even a travel-planning section to help arrange your trip to the most fabulous city in the world!
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Subjects:  1. Europe - France    2. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel Guides    6. Travel / Europe / France   

Reviews (9)

The Best Paris Guide but With Limitations
The Michelin Green Guide to Paris is the best, the finest guide to the sights.No other guide that I have found is so complete with the history of the sights down to the smallest of detail.Once you've done the Louvre (covered completely here) and all the other primary & secondary sights in Paris, the Miche will tell you about the the police museum, the erotica museum, the hunting museum, etc.
Thorough but dull
I took three guidebooks to Paris, and the apartment where I stayed had a library containing several others left behind by previous guests.This guide is the one I used the least.It is also the one most-often left behind. OK, so everyone raves about the Michelin guides, BUT I got more mileage out of an excellent street map (The Paris Mapguide) and Rick Steves' Paris 2006 which I found was easier to use (excellent index), more interesting to read, and the commentary helpful in making decisions.Yes, my Michelin stayed in Paris, as well.

Best guidebook to Paris
Last summer I went to Paris and used the Michelin Green Guide. It was excellent. Everything was well-researched and well presented. Background information was solid. My only complaint is that it just focuses on Paris. Day trips outside the city are briefly overviewed. Farther attractions, such as the Loire Valley, are not even mentioned. Overall, I would highly recommend this guidebook! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - France    2. Guidebooks    3. Paris (France)    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. France    7. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (12)

Great Planning Book
This book showed me a great view of what to do and see in London. I have been slowly planning my trip for awhile and this book is the cornerstone to that planning. The only thing I wish though was that they showed more pictures of the things in the book.

Good solid travel guide
Frommer's does a solid travel guide, and I will definitely purchase these again.I especially like that they come out with new books every year that are always up-to-date.

Low quality information
Have listed at least one non-existing restaurant in London. The other suggestedrestaurant had a different name from the one specified in the Guide. We almost went hungry. Do not buy this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. Europe - Gt. Britain/London    3. Guidebooks    4. London (England)    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel Guides    8. London, Greater London    9. Travel & holiday guides    10. Travel / Europe / Great Britain   

Reviews (1)

They serve a useful purpose
As a Zagat survey participant myself, I do understand that the responses can be manipulated.One person with a lot of time on his/her hands could respond to the surveys more than once.On the other hand, sheer numbers of responders probably keep the overall averages relatively honest.I don't think you will find another one-volume survey of Paris restaurants that has as many entries, and is as well-organized and cross-referenced.
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Subjects:  1. Europe - France    2. Food Industry Services    3. General    4. Restaurants    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel - General    8. Travel Guides    9. 21st century    10. France    11. Restaurant & pub guides   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Benelux Countries (BelgiumNetherlandsLuxembourg    2. Europe - Benelux Countries (BelgiumNetherlandsLuxembourg)    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel Guides    6. Europe    7. Travel & holiday guides    8. Travel / Europe / Benelux Countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Austria    2. Europe - Germany    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel Guides    6. Austria    7. Germany    8. Travel & holiday guides    9. Travel / Europe / Germany   

Reviews (1)

Fantastic book!
As someone who was raised in Lake Geneva, and one who went to school with the author, it was a delight to see these great pictures of a Lake Geneva that I have been away from for too long of a time.I would highly recommend this book to everyone. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Subjects & Themes - Travel - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - United States    4. United States - Midwest - East North Central (General)    5. Places & peoples: general interest    6. Switzerland    7. Travel / United States / Midwest / East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI)   

Reviews (3)

Good Map for a hard to navigate city!
I have travelled through much of Europe and I am a pretty good navigator.Usually armed with a good guide book and a map I can learn my way around in no time.Venice presented a particular challenge because of the canals, and narrow streets, alleys, plus the unique naming system. While I still was not often sure if I was going the right way, this map definitely was an asset and was the guide to the city that I have seen.

Highly overpriced poor map
This map was a terrible disappointment. It leaves out whole important sections of the city (the Giudecca, even the Lido!), gives only the main streets (thus making it much easier to get lost in an already maze-like place), and leaves out vital information found on standard tourist maps, such as water-bus (vaporetto) routes and opening times for museums. My advice: save your money and get a decent map for a few bucks when you get to Venice.

You will still find a deadend
Regardless of the map you WILL find a deadend in Venice - turn the corner and there is no more - either a wall or a canal.Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Austria    2. Europe - Italy    3. Maps & Road Atlases    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Italy    7. Maps, charts & atlases    8. Reference    9. Travel / road maps & atlases    10. Venice    11. Venice (Italy)   

Reviews (3)

Same Merde, Different Day
I recently read A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke. I ended up liking it quite a bit, so I ordered the sequel In The Merde For Love.
Laughed out loud at least twice per chapter
Note: This book also goes by the title "Merde Actually". I read Stephen Clarke's "Merde Actually" and laughed so many times that I had to read the prequel "A Year in the Merde". Both are hilarious, colored with stories that will have expats shaking their heads in agreement. I'm not sure that you'll find these books funny if you've never spent time in France, but I'm certain you will enjoy them if you have.

Starts off strong...
Starts off strong.It's almost as funny as the first one.The visit with West's new girlfriend's parents is quite funny.I loved working through his struggle to build and employ and run his salon du thé.But the last 50 pages were totally anti-climatic.It gets weak and I just didn't care what happened when he left France. (when he realized France didn't need him anymore.) I think I was disappointed he wimped out and went for the girl. I also couldn't understand why he was supposed to keep it in his pants and not sleep around but it was perfectly okay for Alexis to live with another fellow?And speaking of sleeping around, I guess it's easy for Paul West to do. Were we to conclude that even though he could have great sex with beautiful women, he really just wanted to be with Alexis because of love? This should be a good thing, I just didn't care if they got together in the end.I would have voted for the affair with the married TV reporter...she was interesting.I loved the first one.I liked the second one.I will buy a third one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. British    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. Europe - France    5. Fiction    6. France    7. Tearooms    8. Travel - Foreign    9. Travel / Europe / France   

Reviews (4)

To plan yout trip
Eyewitness Guides are beautiful, gorgeously illustrated books on glossy paper that are perfect for planning a trip but not so good for carrying along with you. But they don't need to be! I used the guide to Andalusia to plan my 5-city itinerary, including a stop in Ronda which I'd never heard of but ended up being one of the highlights of our travels. This guide gives you a general view of the sights to see, with many photos and maps. But especially in a country like Spain, the wise traveler makes his or her first stop the tourist office--there's one in every city and many towns. That's where you get your map, the info on walking tours, a schedule of museum openings and closings, etc.
Lovely but not so informative
As is true of DK's Eyewitness books, this book is full of fantastic pictures.It's great to wet one's appetite, but doesn't really have enough meaty information to help one prepare to visit Andalusia.It's one saving grace: great maps.I recommend this book, but not alone.This is a great companion to The Rough Guide to Andalucia.

Insight Guides-Andalucia
I love these books.They give brief informative descriptions along with tantalizing photos in all areas.I like very much the historiccal timeline in the beginning of each book.Although brief, it gives a great sense of what was going on throughout time in the particular location.This book starts with all history from 1000 BC.I love the pictures and cross sections as well as the brief and concise snippets on many interesting towns, sights etc.It gives a very strong visual and overview of many places so you can decide where you may actually want to visit. Of course there areth erequisite reccomendations for restaurants, hotels and travel options.These are also brief and you may want a different book or travel agaent for more suggestions in this area. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Andalusia (Spain)    2. Europe - General    3. Europe - Spain & Portugal    4. Guidebooks    5. Seville (Spain)    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Travel / Europe / Spain & Portugal   

Reviews (41)

an enchanted Africa
Karen Blixen's wonderful writing actually reminds of another Dane, Hans Christian Anderson, for its magical quality and ability to make the most ordinary things latent with mystery. Africa becomes a fairy-tale world in the Dinesen's book, and the setting for her great love withDenys Finch-Hatton. One feels her love of him and of the countryside, and especially her devotion for the people who live all around her. A truly beautiful and mystical writer, who could see beyond the surface of things, she has the skill of imparting joy as well as tragedy.

A Breathtaking View of a Vanished World
I've long been fascinated by Isak Dinesen's life and with this book she lovingly describes the very heart of it, her sixteen years running a coffee plantation in the African highlands.She tells the reader almost nothing personal; but her descriptions of this vanished place and time are nothing short of magic.By "erasing" herself from the landscape, you are really and truly experiencing her life there.It was a mesmerizing experience and I hated to finish the book.Fortunately, it's now mine and I can re-read it any time I want to!

Denisen's Mastery of the Memoir
Denisen's ability to take you into Africa and make you know it as she did is astounding--she captures feelings very difficult to describe, and makes you want to see Kenya for yourself, the Hills of Ngong. She is a story-teller, yes, but she does not tell her stories in any way conventional; much of the time you have no idea as to the chronological order of things. Yet it doesn't matter, because she is conveying feelings and emotions which are not limited by time. And when time does come to play a role in her stories you are informed of it as is necessary. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to experience life as it should be experienced, confusing the primitive life of the Natives with the sophisticated Europeans come to visit Isak on her farm. Through the course of the novel, conflicts arise, celebrations take place, nature's best is described in full detail, and living things die as is natural. Denisen ends her work as beautifully as she began it, and you feel as though you have been through something really important when you finish. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1895-1963    2. 20th century    3. Authors, Danish    4. Biography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Classics    7. Country life    8. Description And Travel    9. General    10. Kenya    11. Literature - Classics / Criticism    12. Social life and customs    13. Biography: general    14. Dinesen, Isak    15. Fiction / General    16. Homes and haunts    17. Travel writing