João Gilberto - White Album (1973)

Advantages: composition, vocals
Disadvantages: none

...Anybody can recognize "The Girl From Ipanema", it's a classic. But where did it come from? Where did Bossa Nova spread its roots? Pianist Tom Jobim is credited for the composition of most of the classic Bossa Nova standards, but is was João Gilberto who took these standards, and interpreted on the guitar what we now identify as Bossa Nova. By harmonizing the chords on the guitar with the traditional Brazilian Samba rhythm, Gilberto evolved Jobims' compositions and popularized the style. Gilberto's guitar playing is virtuous, but what really captures me is his voice. He sings with a "blown" quality as if he is blowing air from his gut, which produces an intimate close-to-the-microphone sound. It's possible to hear his lips smacking dryly during the pronounciation of certain words, and he has an excellent vocal amplitude, using...

Morellli 04.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of Joao Gilberto - Joao Gilberto

"Tia Maria Playse"

Advantages: It's gorgeous, it'a alcoholic, it's a sweet, luxurious liqueur..
Disadvantages: Too expensive!

...This has got to be my favourite drink in the world. And to use an American expression that I think rather fitting....Period. It's fantastic, I could rave on about it using all sorts of adjectives. but that's not going to get me a high rating, nor particularly inform you guys. :P As described on the rather lovely packaging, this drink is 'uniquely dark and intriguing' and I've got to agree. Tia Maria is a dark rum and while it looks like it could be quite dry, it's got a deliciously sweet coffee/vanilla taste to it that is so moreish. Pour it into a glass and you'll see a thick, dark coloured, wonderful-smelling liquid come out. Put the glass to your lips and inhale the vanilla/coffee smell. Sip it slowly and taste the luxurious pleasure that is Tia Maria. I can't describe the taste, I wouldn't do it justice. It's26.5% volume...

Trixie_Firecracker 18.05.2005 · Read review
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Review of Tia Maria

SHOULDN'T THAT BE COFFIA MARIA.

Advantages: It's alcoholic. It tastes lovely. It's alcoholic.
Disadvantages: Price.

...I?m beginning to think I have the alcoholic appreciation of a ten year old. Let me explain further. Occasionally I will drink beer or lager. But, I?ve never really grown to like the taste that much. On rare occasions, I will actually want to drink beer or lager in the same way, that on rare occasions I will want to drink tea. More usually however, I remain as I was as a ten year old, desperately wanting to like beer, lager or tea, but far more inclined to coffee, fizzy pop and sweet drinks. The popularity of alco-pops convinces me that I?m not alone! This is where Tia Maria comes in for me. Now I?ve grown up, (or so it?s sometimes rumoured), I want alcohol. But the ten year old in me still wants sweet drinks. This gorgeous drink fits the bill perfectly, (as do many liqueurs). This one is special though, in that I never tire of it. It...

alma 29.04.2003 · Read review
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Review of Tia Maria

Maria Full of Grace

Advantages: well acted and interesting topic matter
Disadvantages: ending is very open

...First Impressions This is a film that I wanted to watch for ages but it took me a really long time to get round to it. When I did it was well worth it and I would thoroughly recommend this film to anyone who is not daunted by subtitles or big issues. Summary María Álvarez (Catalina Sandino Moreno) is a poor girl living in Columbia she has a job taking the thorns off roses in a local factory. Her mother and sister take her for granted and expect her to work in order to support the family and buy medicine for her sister's baby. When she becomes pregnant she panics realising that she does not love, or want to marry her boyfriend. To try and escape her lot she takes on a risky and dangerous job smuggling drugs into America. And this is where the summary stops because I don't want to spoil it, but let me tell you that this is...

ali3986 31.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of Maria Full Of Grace (DVD)

Santa Maria's salsa heaven!

Advantages: affordable value carribean
Disadvantages: you will need insect repellent!

...9 hours on a cramped Thomas cook charter flight was worth it after finally arriving at the Melia Cayo santa maria.From the airport(Santa Clara) to the hotel is an hour and a half by road across an amazing dual carriageway which joins Cuba to the island of Santa Maria.This is similar to the Florida keys road seen on many tourist photographs and meanders curling around like a snake with the sea feet away on both sides from your coach. The hotel itself has modern low rise (2 storey) blocks scattered throughout the complex all tastefully furnished and air conditioned (boy do you need that!),It has two glorious free form swimming pools with a swim up bar and plenty of places to eat.You have two reservations per week at the two a la carte restaraunts (the best by far is the mediteranean where the fillet mignon is superb!)and the 24 hour pool...

ROYALP 18.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Melia, Cayo Santa María

Hotel Maria Isabel Bogota

Advantages: There comes a day when you can leave the hotel.
Disadvantages: Too many to mention.

...being out of business. Apparently this kind of logic is lost in Hotel Maria Isabel. All I can say is: If you're American or European, or a South American who just wants to be treated like a person, don't stay at this hotel....

Joeled 09.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Hotel Maria Isabel Bogota, Bogotá

Church of Santa Maria Dela Salute

Advantages: Away from the Tourist Hoards of St Marks.
Disadvantages: None

...Just returned from our annual anniversery trip to Venice and noticed that no-one has done a review on this church as yet. Just Jump on Vaperreto Number 2 outside St Marks. As you stand by the water at St Marks you can not but notice a large Church on the opposite side of the Canal which is the Church of Santa Maria Della Salute, I am afraid I did not take any photos this year as the main dome is covered in scaffolding, in fact there seemed to be more buildings this year that were being worked on. This is not a critism of Venice, by its nature restortaion work is a necessity. It was on 22 October 1630 that the Senate of Venice decided to build a Church to Honour the Madonna to mark the end of the Plague which had devestated Venice. So the first stone was laid on April 1st 1631, what a change from here where it seems to take...

poshtroika 16.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice

S. Maria della Spina

Advantages: A really little jewel you can't miss...
Disadvantages: The most important part of it it's his exterior view

...All of the people in the world has already name Pisa because of the tower. Not so many people knows the other interesting things Pisa has to offer. It is a mix of various architectural styles grown up as time passed by. I live there, so before I start with my review about the church, I just may give you some suggestions in the case you'd like to visit Pisa. My first thought about Pisa was that I didn't like it a lot. A quite calm city to live, but not so typical, very different to my born city. However my opinion has changed in this three years I spent in this place. Its main buildings were started in the medieval age and some in the Renaissance. Campo dei miracoli and S. Maria della Spina are middle age oriented, also if with a lot of Arabic influences. It hosted a lot of famous personalities: it's Galileo Galilei born city...

katychan 05.01.2006 · Read review
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Review of Santa Maria della Spina, Pisa

Jamaican Coffee?

Advantages: great on its own or as a mixer.
Disadvantages: can be sickly

...What is Tia Maria Tia Maria is a liqueur spirit with the distinct taste of coffee. It is produced by Pernod Ricard and is made in Jamaica using Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee beans. The main ingredients are coffee beans, cane spirit, vanilla and sugar. Pouring the drink. I have my tumbler at the ready with a couple of ice cubes placed inside in order to chill my drink slightly as that how I generally like my spirits. When poured the liquid is dark brown in colour but not of a thick consistency or guppy but it does cling slightly to the sides of the glass, just enough so you can see a faint coating whilst looking at the glass. Taste Devine blend of alcohol and coffee with a lovely sweetness, move over Nescafe wish could have this in my coffee mug instead. Have swirled it around in my mouth to get the benefit of the full...

Julieshobs 31.12.2006 · Read review
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Review of Tia Maria

Review of Villa Maria Chardonnay

Advantages: Excellent value. Retails at around $10.00
Disadvantages: None. Well made product

...Villa Maria Chardonnay is a very well made New Zealand chardonnay. It matches well with many foods including chicken, swordfish, and red snapper. It has a lovely bouquet of lemon and honey with light traces of oak barrel ageing. It is full bodied and velvety in texture and the finish is very lasting. It has less tropical fruit aspects and less oak than chardonnay from California. At it's current retail price of less than $15.00 per bottle I feel that it represents real value to the consumer. This is a well-structured wine that is compatible with many foods including goat cheese.I have enjoyed the Villa Maria Chardonnay on many occasions as well as their Sauvignon Blanc. The wine shows a consistency in style in each vintage and is very dependable. Consumers could pay more for chardonnays from France and California, but Villa Maria...

cgjazaz 26.02.2003 · Read review
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Review of Villa Maria Chardonnay, Marlborough