My first introduction to South America

Advantages: Vibrant, magical, compelling
Disadvantages: None!

...tended to concentrate on events in the male bloodline - to the female characters of her story. The book is particularly significant because Allende blends the magical elements in her prose with figures and events of historical importance, including the government of her Uncle Salvador Allende, the 1973 coup by Augusto Pinocet and the characters of the poet Pablo Neruda and the guitarist Victor Jara. Therefore this is not just a wonderfully written piece of fiction set in Chile but a historically relevant novel. The House of the Spirits is a superb introduction to the work of Isabel Allende and to Latin American literature itself. Of Allende's work as a whole I will venture to say that the House of the Spirits is one of her best, if not her best, work. For readers who have read The House of the Spirits and fallen in love with Allende...

Leni_84 13.06.2005 · Read review
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Review of The House of the Spirits - Isabel Allende

Espirito Santo - Rock solid Brasilian welcome

Advantages: Garden State, Breathtaking Scenery, Stunning beaches, Vibrant Cities
Disadvantages: As with most of Brasil, long distances between places, no rail network

...towns include Guarapari and Guriri, Itaunas for dunes and deserted beaches/open spaces, and Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to the North of the State, similar in size to Vitoria Places of interest - Pedra do Frade (rock shaped like Monk), Santa Teresa (Augusto Ruschi of museum of natural History, waterfall/lagoon for swimming), Nova Venecia (Elephant Rock, Granite products, Gameleira- v.old tree), Medicinal property of black sand at Guarapari to aid joint pain /skin ailments, Travelling - good road network and excellent coach service (Aguia Branca) to all main parts of the State, including overnight /sleeper option. Air travel also possible from Vitoria to some coastal resorts, but unlike the US, Europe and even some of its neighbours, Brasil is yet to offer viable rail travel to just about any part of the country. Scenery - this is...

Cyber-Mark 31.05.2008 (13.06.2008) · Read review
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Review of Espirito Santo

Life is the City

Advantages: Slick, stylish, funny, brilliantly acted and based on truth
Disadvantages: You might not like violence or subtitles - comparisons to 'Pulp Fiction'

...the feeling of reality. Regardless of this, all of the performances are stunning ? and that is a high standard to reach at any stage in your career. Director, Fernando Meirelles, has created a fantastic film that is slick, stylish, brutal, violent, but still funny. Regardless of this it has been criticised for being too similar to films such as ?Pulp Fiction?, but bearing in mind the history of political theatre (Augusto Boal was born in Rio de Janeiro) it is more likely that this film has its roots in the teachings of the 1930s German theatrical practitioner, Bertolt Brecht. (Who used placards ? similar to the names planted on screen ? and non-linear plot constructions.) The comparison with ?Pulp Fiction? also falls down when you consider that one is based in reality and the other in fiction ? making the story of the City a more personally...

ickkate 19.09.2003 · Read review
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Review of City Of God (DVD)

Getting Beyond Those Damnable Shoes

Advantages: The fascinating Mrs Marcos; includes the sociopolitical context of Imelda's life; balanced treatment.
Disadvantages: Would that even more vintage photographs and newsreel footage were included.

...of corruption and human rights abuses during their joint reign with her husband, Imelda continues to plead innocent to the charges of all forms of evil-mindedness. She declares with witting or unwitting truth that they [the Marcoses] were the ultimate victims of the killing of Benigno S. Aquino as he descended to the airport tarmac at the Manila International Airport in August 1983. (The incident would spark the massive awakening of the middle class from its political slumber, later culminating in the 'People Power' movement that heralded the final fall of the Marcoses from power with the ascendancy of Mr Aquino's widow, Corazon, to the Presidency -with a little help-or in the Marcoses' case, the lack of it-from the pragmatic Americans, of course. Admittedly, compared to the regimes of the likes of Augusto Pinochet, Kim Jong Il, Robert Mugabe, Pol...

zerbine28 01.05.2005 · Read review
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Review of Imelda (Myth, Power, Illusion)

Sorrento Pompeii and Amalfi Coast

Advantages: ideal for non flyers wishing to travel to the warmer climate of the med.
Disadvantages: NOT A TRIP FOR CHILDREN WHO WILL GET RESTLESS ON A LONG COACH JOURNEY

...) Then...Six nights stopping in Sorrento (4 Star Grande Hotel Ceasare Augusto) Followed by a four day journey home...stopping off in Rome, Lake Maggorie, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium, on the way. (All Half Board). I have checked the itinery for 2008 and the Sorrento trip (2008) looks even better than 2007. Hotels and routes have been changed and the itinary has slightly altered (In my opinion FOR THE BETTER).. Probably from passenger feedback and the wonderful dedication of the driver Darryl who "TAKES ON BOARD" any comments and suggestions which will make the trip more enjoyable the following year. (At the end of the review I will highlight the major changes so you can compare the 2007 with the 2008 itinery) The JOURNEY TO SORRENTO! Be under no illusions!!! this is a long, long, journey! Three and a half days to be...

alliedprawn 12.09.2007 (12.01.2008) · Read review
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Review of Shearings Coach Holidays

Ecuador - First Time Outsider

Advantages: Team full of spirit, Unlikely qualifiers, Explosive team
Disadvantages: Might lose all games, Unpredictable as Scotland

...people, I'd put my money on Ecuador to pull out a lot of surprises at this World Cup, and their explosive style of South American football could cause havoc for the other teams involved. The named squad has a few familiar names which are sure to create a great football atmosphere in this years World Cup, the squad is... GOALKEEPERS Daniel Viteri José Cevallos Oswaldo Ibarra DEFENCE Marlon Ayoví Iván Hurtado Augusto Poroso Juan Carlos Burbano Raul Guerron Ulises De La Cruz Geovanni Espinoza MIDFIELD Alfonso Obregon Luis Gomez Cléber Chalá Alex Aguinaga Nicolás Asencio Wellington Sanchez Edmundo Mendez Edwin Tenorio Walter Ayoví FORWARDS Carlos Tenorio Iván Kaviedes Augustín Delgado Angel Fernández The group games to watch are as follows, 03/06/02 20:30 Italy vs. Ecuador 09/06/02 15...

Lewis 29.05.2002 (03.06.2002) · Read review
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Review of Ecuador (National Team 2002)

MELANCHOLY MOMENTS

Advantages: 17 cool tracks by Sting
Disadvantages: CD Cover Sleeve doesn't contain song lyrics

...it?s about a friendship and a love so strong, that this person would lay down their life for another. This is another of my favourites from the album as the musical background is very ?muted? with some basic guitar and percussion providing a complementary background to the listener, allowing you to concentrate on the range, depth and tone of Sting?s voice. So, this gets 9/10 from me. THEY DANCE ALONE (CUECA SOLO) ?Another woman on the torture table what else can they do They're dancing with the missing They're dancing with the dead? This is a political offering from Sting focusing on the crimes of the Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet who ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990. The women are dancing alone because their fathers, sons, uncles and brothers are all missing, and if they?re missing they?re probably dead. This is thought...

fantasybeliever 27.08.2004 · Read review
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Review of Best Of: Fields Of Gold - Sting

Chile In Winter

Advantages: A relatively gentle introduction to South America.
Disadvantages: For such a big city it lacks a little in visitor attractions.

...Santiago and right throughout the country. Thankfully the legacy of Chile's dictator Augusto Pinochet's evil regime (1973 - 1988) is not as obvious. The Chileans by their nature are a good humoured people and the atrocities that their country has had to withstand from its own has not knocked their spirit. We met one friendly old man who had no English, we had little Spanish, who spoke about Pinochet with a glaze in his eyes. The very fact that he was willing to talk to foreigners about the most despicable Chilean ever was enlightening. We were touched and truly felt as if he was sharing his pain with us. ACCOMMODATION Trying to pre-book accommodation on the internet for Santiago is a near futile exercise if you are operating on a small budget. Most cheaper places that offer a reservation service tend to fill up weeks in advance...

indiecater 10.01.2003 · Read review
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Review of Santiago

WANNA RIDE.......

Advantages: SEE OP
Disadvantages: SEE OP

..., Jacinto, Augusto, Eusebio, Torres, Coluna, Simones Do you know how long it took Matt Busby to finally capture the ?Holy Grail? of the European Champions Cup, 12 years! From 1956 ? 1968! If Munich hadn?t happened it may have been sooner. Anyway on with the game? What did you say? Where?s Dennis Law? He?s injured, did you forget! Stop moaning we?ve still got Charlton and Best! He?s good, Eusebio, shame he?s on the other team! Alright, alright, I?ll shut-up now. Blimey, it?s hot tonight; I wonder if it?s anything to do with all these fans, there must be at least 100,000 here! I couldn?t have picked a better formation myself, 4-3-3 Best, he was great against these a couple of years ago in Lisbon, scored a hat-trick y?know, Kidd and Aston up front, Charlton, Sadler and Crerand in midfield and Foulkes, Brennan, Dunne...

amandaaspinall 16.12.2002 · Read review
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Review of Manchester United