Reviews (3)

Great book on environmental efforts, relationships in Bolivia
I have to say, I'm envious of Bill Powers' writing abilities and his experience in Bolivia.Thanks to his detailed descriptions of character conversations, speeches, emotions, reactions, etc., I feel like I could easily recognize any of his Conservation International colleagues - Salvador, Smithers, Len - if I saw any one of them on the street...or deep in the Bolivian jungle.I did wonder whatever happened to the author's relationships with Daniel and Anaí - two of the author's close friends - but at the same time both side-stories were pleasantly left open to the possibilities.This book provides a highly readable, history of Bolivia and it's current political and environmental challenges.In addition, it provides a detailed look into the relationships between a "gringo" do-gooder and his Bolivian counterparts.

An Era of a Revolution Encompassing the Whole Planet
Now I have a better appreciation of Bolivia-its geography and culture. WHISPERING IN THE ELEPHANT'S EAR extends my understanding of globilization beyond our Western concerns of the East. It makes me equate the impact of globilization similar to that of the Industrial Revolution. In retrospect, the progress of that revolution ultimately involved all nations without particular attention to geography and culture.Now we hope to integrate the two without paying the price environmentally.
Simply a must-read
I thought I'd just grab a primer on Bolivia, but got a whole lot more when I picked this book up. This guy is so multi-faceted, you never know what he's going to write next. Nearly every passage in his work make you angry, make you take sides, make you pause with a sense of befuddlement. Sometimes I folded it in front of me just to let a particularly beautiful revelation or moment sink in.
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Subjects:  1. Bolivia    2. Economic aspects    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. Globalization    5. Government relations    6. Indians of South America    7. International Relations - General    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. South America    11. Sustainable development    12. Third World Development    13. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (4)

Wonderful
This book has everyhting you can possibly look for in a book and more.I never found so much information in one book.I would recommend this book to everyone...

Choose Costa Rica for Retirement
When trying to choose a country for retirement, this is one of John Howells's best books.He gives the reader comprehensive information, sensible advice and encouragement. We will refer to it again and again while in the process of moving.

Chose Costa Rica for Retirement
This is an excellent guide for folks who want to live in Costa Rica either on a part time or full time basis.Good advice about real estate, investments, how to find new friends, great places to go. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Travel / Caribbean & West Indies   

Reviews (2)

A Strong Recommendation for the Bowers Book on Guanajuato
As someone who has visited Mexico several times as I struggle with my study of Spanish, and who is thinking of moving there, I found this book to be far superior to the general run of guides on the expatriate life or retiring in Mexico. Some of the others of this genre just lack the ring of authenticity, or seemed to be aimed at people with a lot of bucks who are headed for a gated community or an expensive house in Cabo San Lucas. But the Bowers' book has that ring of authenticity and is squarely aimed at the (for lack of a better cliche) "average Joe" who is looking for a life that is different and/or better and needs down-to-earth practical advice on how an American can make this transition.
Considering a move to Mexico? Here's a must-read.
If you're seriously considering a move to Mexico, the author offers the most realistic look at the real Mexico that I've ever found. Having traveled to Guanajuato many times as my family and I prepare for a move there, this book paints a vivid picture of the city's many charms, and also at its few "warts."
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Subjects:  1. Mexico    2. Special Interest - Adventure    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY   

Subjects:  1. Atlases    2. Atlases - General    3. Atlases - U.S.    4. Maps & Road Atlases    5. North America    6. Reference    7. Travel - Foreign   

Subjects:  1. Description And Travel    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. History    4. Latin America - South America    5. Sociology    6. South America    7. Travel - General    8. Travelers    9. Visitors, Foreign    10. Gott, Richard    11. Journeys   

Reviews (1)

Beautiful photographs!
Sara Matthews' photographs portray the wine country of Chile in breathtaking detail, from dew drops on leaves to mountain panoramas. I especially liked the chapter called "The Flow", with images of flowing water, fog, and wine. Her people pictures show that she has a good rapport with her subjects, bringing out their best. This is wine photography taken to a new level. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Chile    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Pictorial works    6. Subjects & Themes - Travel - General    7. Wine and wine making    8. Wines   

Reviews (14)

Panama Travel Guide
Too---- much small detail and not enough maps, pictures and history. The print could of been a little bigger. This book would of been fine if you were going to move there. For a short visit, way to much information.

The best travel guide on Panama I have seen yet.
I have read all the books out on Panama for travel guides and with out question find this the most informative yet. She is very presise about her travels and not biased as so many other writers have been. She worked very hard to give detales I have never seen in other travel guides to Panama.
A "user friendly" and informative guide ideal for the casual tourist and the dedicated business traveler alike
Panama: The Bradt Travel Guide is a superb in-depth travel guide, packed cover to cover with everything from where to view more than 350 species of bird to fishing, rafting and hiking opportunities, prime beaches and watersport locations, top-rated locations to stay or eat, the history of the Panama Canal, an extensive focus on Bocas del Toro, and much more. On a less lighthearted note, Panama: The Bradt Travel Guide also covers "need-to-know" information concerning common diseases, what to bring in a first aid kit, natural hazards, and locations that are particular hotbeds of crime or danger. Maps, charts, graphs, and a handful of photographs round out this practical-minded, "user friendly" and informative guide ideal for the casual tourist and the dedicated business traveler alike.
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Subjects:  1. Central America    2. South America    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Panama    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / South America   

Reviews (5)

Excellent Source
I traveled to Mexico with Dr. Heusinkveld as a participant on one of her study abroad trips to the city where she wrote the book.I soon found out that not only is the book a must read for anyone interested in visiting or doing business in Mexico, but that the information that was published over 10 years ago is still very accurate in much of the country.
Most valuable next to Spanish-English dictionary
I love this book, as much for its conciseness and economy of words as well as all the sensitively considered advice and invaluable tips.
Inside Mexico
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED--should be required reading for every American so they have a better understanding of our neighbors to the south.I bought this when I first met my wife who is from Mexico.I found it very enlightening and worth every cent.It's easy to read since it is not in-depth, however, it is still very enlightening.It talks about real Mexico and real Mexicans--not the life and culture that surrounds resorts.It may need to be updated (10 years old) cause the youth in Mexico are greatly influenced by media (TV, movies, etc) today just as American youth are--however, it still provides great insight of where Mexicans are coming from. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business/Economics    2. Exports & Imports    3. International Business    4. Latin America - Mexico    5. Mexico    6. Social Situations And Conditions    7. Social life and customs    8. Travel - General    9. History / Mexico    10. Living & working abroad    11. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (8)

an attractive, helpful guidebook
This concise guide covers the bottom quarter of the Baja California peninsula from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas. It's chock full of useful data and advice cultivated over four editions. The sports and recreation sections are admirable, and there's good information on the local food and drink. The hotel listings are useful too, although exact room prices are not quoted for some reason. Instead there are price ranges with "under US$25" the lower end category. Restaurant meal prices are also missing - "moderately priced" can mean anything - but opening hours and menu descriptions are provided. None of this will be a real problem for the vast majority of visitors, but low-budget backpackers will be left guessing at times. I found the coverage of city bus services skimpy, although inter-city buses are adequately described. I sought and didn't find tips on getting too/from the airports on the cheap (US$14 per person for a colectivo to cover the 12 km to/from La Paz Airport doesn't sound like the cheapest option to me). Maybe Cabo just isn't a shoestring destination the way Thailand is - and I know Joe Cummings is very familiar with Thailand. Joe has plenty of helpful hints for motorists, but I couldn't find anything about parking. Is free, secure parking so universally available around Cabo that's it's not even worth a mention? Travelers who have used the Moon Handbooks series in past will be impressed by the resigned format exemplified in this volume. Cummings himself took most of the black and white photos, and I like the way sites are clearly labeled on the maps and not listed in cumbersome keys the way they are in Lonely Planet. However, 18 maps in a 288-page guidebook seems too few to me. These minor caveats aside, Moon Handbooks Cabo is value for money and it will serve the independent, adventuresome traveler well.

Moon Cabo Book - 3 rd Edition
My family just returned from 2 weeks in Cabo.During this time we used the Moon guide (3rd ed.) extensively. We visited San Jose, Cabo SL, Todos Santos, and east cape as well as various remote points in between and found the book accurate every step of the way. This book is very well researched and complete - although pricing was a couple of years out of date. I assume the 4 th edition corrects that.This book is a "must have" for travelers to Cabo who want to do more than just stay in a pre-packaged all inclusive resort.

Great travel book
I thought this book was highly accurate in its description of restaurants and hotels in the main places people visit in Baja California del Sur.It even has info on places you mainly just drive through from one larger place to another with information on the tiny town's history, places to eat there, etc.You can rely on the information in this book.I'd not hesitate to buy another travel book by this author. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mexico    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (14)

Live Better South of the Border
Usefull information about living and traveling in Mexico,entertaining and informative

This book stinks
Ifanyone was thinking of moving to mexico, unless you were homeless, this book is dispicable. What a downer.

Don't just read it - Live it!
Mike's subtitle says it all.The book really is chock full of practical advice for living and working in Mexico.It's not a "Come on down, you'll just love it," tempter.He gets very specific about the subjects those considering relocating are and should be interested in.
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Subjects:  1. Guidebooks    2. Mexico    3. Personal & Practical Guides    4. Reference    5. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (1)

Ivan A.Backerman (CARRABELLE,FL)
Helped for my recent trip to Belize.Concise and right on the mark. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Belize    2. Central America    3. Guatemala    4. Guidebooks    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel Guides    8. Travel & holiday guides    9. Travel / Central America   

Reviews (10)

Don't waste your time!
Do not buy this book! To make a long story short, the prices are not accurate, many attractions/hotels are not listed, and a few things in the book have since shut down. Not once on my 10 day trip did I actually stay at a hotel they listed... why? Because I EASILY found cheaper hotels which were just as nice! (yes, i looked at the hotels in their book). I was especially disappointed with the Mexico City section, which was not very accurate.
Typical Frommer's Guide
Like most Frommer's guidebooks, this one serves its target audience reasonably well. Frommer's are best for travellers going to tourist orientated areas with a moderate to high budget. For backpackers on the cheap or other people that want a more complete guide to Mexico, especially off the beaten path places, I would recommend either Lonely Planet or Moon. But for the convential tourist Frommer's is a perfectly good choice.

A GREAT GUIDE-WELL WORTH IT
Don't leave to Mexico without getting this guide. It's packed full of useful tips and by the end of our 3 week trip around Mexico it became well used, both by us and by other travellers frequently wanting to look something up (we ended up letting someone we met use the guidebook after we left as they were always asking to use it). It takes you into the little known details of Mexico, educates you on the cultures, guides you through different alleys to get to a destination and the map that comes with it was great to get an overall feel of where we were and where we were planning to go to. Prices were accurate and I liked the fact that this guide book caters to both the traveller that really wants to find out what Mexico is about and travel the back road as well as catering to the tourist in us all that ocassionally wants to step out of the back roads and just be... well... just be a tourist for a day. And as usual, restaurant reviews are top notch (catering for both those on a budget and those that have a bit of money to splurge). I recommend using this book for Mexico and if you plan on extending your travel after that to some of the other countries in the region for a shorter period of time to also have the Footprint guide to Mexico & Central America as it has good info on Belize, Guatemala, etc. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Guidebooks    2. Mexico    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel Guides    6. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY    7. Travel / Mexico   

Reviews (4)

One Fine Book for a Panama Canal Cruise
I recently purchased "Panama Canal by Cruise Ship" by Anne Vipond. It is superb! I am a recently-retired submariner from the U.S. Navy and was stationed at one time in the Canal Zone. I have transited the Canal twice on Navy ships and again recently as a part of a Panama Canal study program aboard the Isla Morada. I am a serious historian of the Panama Canal from before the Panama Railroad to the present. I have accumulated much information in the form of books and over 350 old postcards of the Panama Canal Zone. But I have never seen such a "meaty" yet concise history of Panama and the Canal as Ms Vipond offers. The
Misleading Title
With the title of Panama Canal By Cruise Ship I expected the book to primarily be about the Panama Canal and what you would see from the ship as well as features of the various cruise lines servicing the Canal.What I found was that the majority of the book described ports of call that your particular ship may or may not visit.

Panama Canal by Cruise Ship
This is a very compact, comprehensive book not only on the Panama Canal but also the Caribbean Islands and Mexico.
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Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Central America    3. Mexico    4. Reference - Cruise Guides    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (3)

don't bother
I am an avid LP fan and have used their books in several other countries, but found this one to be incredibly unhelpful.We ended up stranded on a military base, sleeping in our car for a night, and the guidebook had the wrong number for the hotel we were trying to reach.Furthermore, the book seems to breeze over some of the nicer off-the-beaten-path spots, like Mazunte and Zipolite.

Terrible
The problem with this guide is that it was written by two people: Danny Palmerlee's advice was spot-on, but Sandra Bao's section was awful.Incorrect maps, serious errors and bad hotel advice.It's as though she were never there.She clearly relied on hearsay without checking things out first hand.Avoid this guide and get a more general Mexico book written by more authors.

Exciting and I can tell...accurate
Full of great information (including all the GOOD stuff...maps, vaccinations, requisite travel paperwork, great restaurants and places to stay...) written with a great deal of passion and facts, and because it's a Lonely Planet publication, I trust it is accurate. Great bus reading! Will definately take a copy with me to mark up, just too valuable to leave at home. Highly recommended. Asta luego! :0) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mexico    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (7)

Read Paula instead
I read this when it first came out, and after reading Paula this summer (her earlier memoir written during her daughter's critical illness) I went back to it to see how Allende had managed to cover so much of the same territory in a way that was fresh enough to merit a second memoir.And the answer, unfortunately, was that she hadn't.My Invented Country provides some interesting information about the people and country of Chile (often in the form of sweeping generalizations that I suspect are no more uniformly true than any sort of broad characterization one could make about Americans), and does so with Allende's characteristically sharp and funny prose (I particularly enjoyed her explanation on why it is unwise to faint in a Chilean supermarket).But the parts that I recall as being the most interesting--the political history of Chile and her own decision to go into exile--are covered so much more completely, and in so much more compelling a fashion, in Paula, that reading My Invented Country after Paula feels like being told the same story repeatedly by a storyteller who has lost interest in the tale and no longer thinks the details are very important.My best recommendation is to skip this one but do read Paula:a brilliant, moving and often very funny memoir that closely examines Allende's life and the loss of her country and daughter.

Probably her best book after The House of Spirits
My Invented Country is Isabel Allende's best book after her first title The House of Spirits. I have read most of her titles always in Spanish and with this book I was engaged immediately by its beauty of language. Isabel's writing is almost poetic. She has the ability to craft sentences and produce descriptions like very few authors can. I enjoyed her descriptive narrative of both her country Chile and of her life experiences that have made her the person she is today. REading this book is a must for all Allende's fans. It will help you understand her previous books better. I have now started to read the House of Spirits again which Iam enjoying even more than the first time as I do now understand where her ideas were coming from. Thanks Isabel Allende for sharing with us your amazing story.

I wouldn't bother. It's nothing like Paula
I absolutely loved Allende's memoirs about her daughter - Paula - so I was expecting a lot from this book. It was nothing like Paula and hugely disappointing. It wandered with no point at all. It was hardly funny and seemed to be just a lot of thinking out loud and navel-gazing. In this way I found the book slightly arrogant - she presumed that everyone should want to hear about the slightest details. I found some of the information about Chile interesting but generally I got the feeling that Allende wrote this book more for herself than her reader. I stopped reading 3/4 of the way through. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Americas (North Central South West Indies)    3. Authors, Chilean    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Literary    9. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001    10. South America    11. Biography & Autobiography / Literary    12. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (12)

really detailed, good social commentary
I am about to leave to study abroad in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. I bought this book, as well as the Lonely Planet guide. I think the Rough Guide is far superior to the Lonely Planet one.
Interesting but unnecessarily negative
I recently travelled to the Dominican Republic and purchased this guide for my trip based on the online reviews.
very useful guide
I used this guide to travel in Santo Domingo, Costanza and Samana and found it to be very useful in trip planning.First of all, it helped me to identify Samana and Constanza as great places to visit without the heavy tourism.It was also packed with information on practically every town we passed on the way and offered good hotel and restaurant recommendations.My only criticism is that it seemed the author probably traveled by car and the information on public transportation wasn't quite as thorough as in Lonely Planet guides.However, the sheer volume of other information and the easy to use layout made up for that.Overall, a very solid guide for both pre-trip planning and travel within the DR. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Central America    3. Dominican Republic    4. Guidebooks    5. Reference - Guides (General)    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Travel Guides    9. Travel & holiday guides    10. Travel / Caribbean & West Indies   

Reviews (15)

Best advice, although a little out of date
My husband and I just returned from a 16 day trip to Belize, and this was definitely our favorite guidebook on the trip! We bought this book as well as Fodor's Belize, and together they were the perfect combo. The Moon book was right-on for budget travelers who want to be more than a tourist--the authors' sense of humor & interest in getting to experience new cultures really made the book. We used the local buses for transportation and tried to stay in places under $50 US (which isn't hard in Belize!), and this book was right-on with recommendations and descriptions. The only negative was that it is getting a little more out of date in regard to lodging, restaurants, and prices, but that's why we bought the Fodor's book as well (Fodor's Belize 2007 edition). Overall, this book is 5 stars, and because of it, we had an awesome trip!

great handbook
i found this handbook absolutely fantastic during my 4-weeks' travel through belize! the authors really know their stuff. every recommendation was great. i found it much better compared to the lonley-planet non-up-to-date version.

An Award-Winning Guidebook
It's fitting that this 6th edition of Moon Handbooks Belize has won the prestigious Lowell Thomas Award granted by the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) in the Best Guidebook category. Joshua Berman has done a splendid job adapting and updating a previous edition by Chicki Mallan - Moon Handbooks Belize has been reborn! It's a state-of-the-art example of Moon's new book design, and you won't find a better guide to Belize than this. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Central America    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Belize    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / Central America   

Reviews (27)

Moon Costa Rica handbook
This book divides Costa Rica up into areas, and is very easy to follow and read. I have bought several other Moon handbooks, and have always been quite happy with their accuracy when I've gone on my trip.We won't be going to Costa Rica until June, but I am sure I'll be ready.

Take this book with you.
Very helpful book! It was 1 of 6 books I bought to help me decide whether I wanted to live in Costa Rica for retirement.It was very comprehensive and 1 of my favorites with up to date information.

Other people DON'T have this one.
EVERYONE has LP Costa Rica.In the month I was in Costa Rica I saw only one other person with this book--if you want to know where to stay, avoid the LP places and stay in the tiny places this book rec's.
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Subjects:  1. Central America    2. Central America - History    3. Costa Rica    4. Guidebooks    5. North America    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Travel Guides   

Subjects:  1. Reference - General    2. South America    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Brazil    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / South America   

Reviews (5)

Adventures through the Pongo on a raft
What I like about Matthiessen's account is that he has no clear destination (e.g, through "some remarkably bad planning, I crossed the Andes nine times in five months")., and hence open to adventure and experience. He writes of what he sees and what affects him. He also is reflective about how he effects the local residents or native Machiguenga guides. I have some sadness that the tribes he encountered (1960's) may no longer be there. He writes honestly, not claiming superiority, for example he takes pistol shots at crocodiles. His adventure down the Urubamba was particularly compelling ... would he find the giant crocodile bones, would he find the lost city ruins? Along the way he manages to accomplish something remarkable (the traverse of the Pongo), and as any proud adventurer, tries to understand if his adventure was historically unique. For bird watchers, there is an added enjoyment of trying to identify some of the birds he describes along the way. This travel journal sets a standard for other adventurers and for my own daily journals.

Adventures through the Pongo on a raft
What I like about Matthiessen's account is that he has no clear destination (e.g, through "some remarkably bad planning, I crossed the Andes nine times in five months")., and hence open to adventure and experience. He writes of what he sees and what affects him. He also is reflective about how he effects the local residents or native Machiguenga guides. I have some sadness that the tribes he encountered (1960's) may no longer be there. He writes honestly, not claiming superiority, for example he takes pistol shots at crocodiles. His adventure down the Urubamba was particularly compelling ... would he find the giant crocodile bones, would he find the lost city ruins? Along the way he manages to accomplish something remarkable (the traverse of the Pongo), and as any proud adventurer, tries to understand if his adventure was historically unique. For bird watchers, there is an added enjoyment of trying to identify some of the birds he describes along the way. This travel journal sets a standard for other adventurers and for my own daily journals.

Eye openning
Matthiessen always teaches,in a quiet sober way.The extent of hisexperience coupled with a wonderful style has always made his subjectfascinating.The Cloud Forest is no exception.Fromornothology,Buddhisum,indigious peoples,spirituality,the environment,to hisfiction... on every subject he gives the reader a clearinsight.Quammen,Lopez,Finnegan,Mcgune,Proulx et al,all in one.Simply the best. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Essays & Travelogues    2. General    3. Nature    4. Nature / Field Guide Books    5. South America    6. Travel    7. Nature / Essays    8. Travel writing