Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1.0 out of 5 stars
So boring, 21 Jun 1999
By A Customer
If you still want to visit one of the exiting places the author has described in a way that made you fall asleep right away, do not follow his recommendations on tour companies described at the end of each chapter. They are for senior citizens who have to spend their money rapidly before they pass away. Don't waste your money on this book too. There is so little in it about the art of traveling, any senior arm-chair traveler could have written a book like this.
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2.0 out of 5 stars
The information about Portugal is outrageous., 15 Mar 1999
By A Customer
The Book is mainly a guide of adventure trips organized by travel agencies (outfitters). It is not, essenciallly, a description of «Travels along the Edge». The reader does not know if the author actualy experienced the travels or has organized information given by outfitters. Regarding the trip my country (Portugal) the information is superficial, incomptle and vague. Furthermore, the given cultural, historical and social backgroung is, to say the least, offensive to my country. The author - we do not know if he has actually been to Portugal - says for instance, that «there are not many things that a Portuguese is willing to die for. Certainly not democracy: The country lived placidly for eigth hundred years under a sucession of kings and dictactors (...) Nor empire: Ordered to fight to the death in defense of the colony of Goa, Portuguese soldiers laid down their arms at the first sign of the aproaching Indian forces. Nor even manly glory: In Portuguese bullfigth the bulls horns are dulled and padded (...)». He then concludes that the only thing Portguese are willing to fight for is...wine. This opinion - regardless it's outrageous character - reveals a great ignorance: The author simply does not know basic facts about portuguese history. For instance: that the Portuguese have always managed to maintain their independence from Spain during eigth hundred years, a bigger and stronger country; that we have in our history several popular and democratic revolutions, that we had a colonial war during more than ten yers, were thousands of young Portuguese were killed and finally that a nation's corage can not be measured by the size and type of bulls horns.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Important book 4 those considering overseas adventure travel, 22 Aug 1998
By A Customer
This book describes possible travel adventures in five quadrants of the world (North America, South America, Europe & the Middle East, Asia & the Pacific, and Africa). Each quadrant is broken down into 8 travel adventures which take place in different states or countries. The travel essays (which are short) consist of either some of the author's experiences (very helpful & enlightening information) or a historical or cultural story about the area (not very helpful, in my opinion). At the end of each travel essay, the author 1) compares different outfitters, 2) let's you know what to expect (i.e., physical and mental demands as well as necessary skills, if any), 3) lists books for further research on the area, 4) gives a breakdown of the outfitters (cost, phone#, length of trip), and 5) indicates the physical challenge, mental challenge, and skills ratings for the trip.At the beginning of the book, the author has some very helpful chapters about choosing a trip, choosing an outfitter, and getting ready for a trip. This book was very helpful for me in starting research for an overseas adventure trip. It describes all kinds of activities and trip variations. It really got me thinking and planning. The descriptions of the outfitters were very helpful too (I have found a web page for nearly each outfitter--that would have been helpful to include in the book); with so many outfitters available, it was helpful to have a few well-known names to begin with. Most of the reading was quite entertaining and informative. I'm glad I bought this book. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a well-written/organized book which describes numerous activities/trip variations which are possible in a variety of interesting destinations around the world. I did not give it five stars, because I was disappointed in a few of the chapters which had historical/cultural stories instead of the author's or another traveler's impressions of the region.
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