The Doors of San Miguel De Allende

Book Description

This unusual book celebrates the colorful, sunwashed doorways of San Miguel de Allende, one of the oldest towns in Mexico. Picturesque, intellectually stimulating and historically fascinating, this arts-and-crafts and cultural center is a popular destination for tourists, expatriates, and vacationers. When photographer-writer Robert de Gast first visited there in 1987 he was particularly captivated by its doors---of mansions, houses, stables, churches, banks, studios, and stores. He returned five years later to document them; eighty of his photographs from that trip have been selected for this entrancing book. De Gast lives part of every year in San Miguel, where he continues to photograph and write.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Read IF YOU'RE into these things.......2006-04-11

but if not, you'll be bored senseless.

Interesting, I guess, but beware the title.......2005-08-28

This book was purchased as a gift for me. I am a subscriber to International Living, and San Miguel is a long-time favorite of theirs.

I mentioned this, and the way the city had piqued my interest, to a family member. She then promptly went online and ordered this book for me.

It is for this reason that I issue the following warning: the title should be taken LITERALLY, not figuratively.

It could be read either way, but this book is NOT about opening the metaphorical doors to life in San Miguel. You will not look in these pages and then find the metaphorical doors to San Miguel thrown open to your understanding and appreciation. You will not learn about expat or local life in this historical city. And you will not find yourself frequently referring back here as you plan your trip or your move.

What you WILL find, seriously, is heaps about the actual physical doorways on buildings in San Miguel.

If you WANT the world's premiere photo-essay collection about the doorways in San Miguel, then this is a five-star tome all the way. Look all you want, you won't find better. If you want info about the city and culture of this red-hot expat community, look elsewhere.

Great door collection!.......2002-08-10

If you are looking for rustic colonial or American Southwest doors then this book is a must buy. - jim

NICE DOOR PHOTOS,....BUT.......2002-03-01

If you are looking for information about San Miguel, this book does NOT provide it! Very little written...too many door photos!

"Doors" - a magnificent entry into San Miguel's culture.......2000-08-05

The photographs and text of this book are so intriguing the reader longs to visit San Miguel. So I did! Robert de Gast brings the riotious colors, history, atmosphere and tranquility of San Miguel right to our doorstep. His perception of quite ordinary sights makes them very extraordinary. I can hardly wait to get my copy of "Behind the Doors".

Behind the Doors of San Miguel de Allende

Average customer rating:

From the Publisher
Great examples of Spanish colonial architectural details...
narrow scope
Disappointed
IF YOU LIKE PHOTOS...THIS IS YOUR BOOK

Behind the Doors of San Miguel de Allende

Manufacturer: Pomegranate Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Mexico | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0764913417

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

From the Publisher.......2005-11-22

"Robert de Gast, author of the popular The Doors of San Miguel de Allende crosses the thresholds of homes in this historic Mexican town to discover their remarkable outdoor paradises--sunstruck, lushly colored courtyards, patios, and breezeways--that lay beyond them. Come with de Gast as he guides viewers to parts of San Miguel visitors seldom see and offers glimpses into the daily lives and traditions of those who live in this unique place.

"Established in the sixteenth century as a Franciscan mission, the lovely town of San Miguel de Allende has been an art and artisanal center for nearly two centuries. Its cool summers and mild winters have more recently made it a popular destination for vacationers from North America and Europe.

"A part-time resident of San Miguel since 1991, Robert de Gast is an award-winning photographer and a widely published writer. His avocations include hot-air ballooning, which he pursues in Mexico, and sailing, which he does for part of the year on the East Coast of the United States.

"96 pages, size: 6 1/4 x 8 1/4". 96 full-color photographs. Casebound book, with dust jacket. ISBN: 0-7649-1341-7."--© Pomegranate

Great examples of Spanish colonial architectural details..........2005-07-03

Strolling down the cobblestone streets of San Miguel De Allende is a unique experience. From behind the unassuming whitewashed walls standing flush with the sidewalks, pierced here and there by a window adorned with a moucharabieh , one can catches glimpses of life... Music, laughs, the scent of a promising menudo in the making, a child whose eyes will follow you down the street, a kitten napping in the sun on the window sill...
In this Spanish colonial town, much of life takes place out of the passer-by's sight. Following a traditional Andalucian floor plan, the rooms, linked by a colonnaded court, open around a central courtyard, or patio outfitted with a pila , and whose lush and colorful vegetation tempers the austerity of the house seen from the street...
Through the eye of Robert de Gast, we are ushered behind these doors to discover lush gardens, antique cantera and saltillo floors,soothing fountains and all these amazing construction details that define Spanish Colonial architecture.
A great book to savor, whether you are building or remodeling in the Southwest or Mexico, or you simply enjoy great photography and architecture...

narrow scope.......2002-10-12

San Miguel de Allende is a lovely historical colonial town located in the central highlands in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. A sleepy town until a bunch of American GI's returning from the war settled there, so it was suggested and now the de facto fact. Word soon spread and the price of the real estate soared. San Miguel de Allende now boasts the second largest expatriate community found in Mexico.

This book romantizes and glamorizes the homes and hotels of and for the wealthy. Perhaps the title is more applicable "Behind the doors of the rich in San Miguel de Allende". It has beautifully photographed pictures and probably makes a nice coffee table book. If you are thinking of buying or remodeling your home in San Miguel, this book surely gives you some good ideas. Better yet, go visit there yourself and take a couple of the home and garden tours offered by the library in San Miguel.

Oh, the front page showed the hotel Casa Sierra de Nevada in the park. It is no longer that but now the Hotel Quinta Real. It no longer qualifies for the small luxury hotel (SLH) designation. Let's hope behind the doors of this hotel under new management, the service and quality can equal the beauty of this property. It would be more fun and interests if behind the doors offer more into the history and intrique of each property, not to mention the juicy stuff that is going on today behind closed doors.

Disappointed.......2002-08-10

I wanted interiors, not courtyards. Based on what little info Amazon has provided I expected interiors to be "behind the doors". As for courtyard ideas it is good but not great. Most are a little better than average. I didn't want to rate the book lower just because it isn't what I wanted and the title is a little misleading. The author's book "The Doors of SMA" is very good. It shows doors. - jim

IF YOU LIKE PHOTOS...THIS IS YOUR BOOK.......2002-03-01

However, If you would like to read about San Miguel, then this is not the book for you. There are about 8-9 pages of reading, then 80 pages of photos. Not very much info on San Miguel.
Not what I was looking for.

Customer Reviews:

A real disappointment.......2001-07-03

As an amateur photographer, interested in the black and white nude this was one of my first purchases. It was a real disappointment to say the least. The images in the book are technically well done but I continue to ask myself, "why are these people nude?" For me the images say nothing about the models nor does the interaction of shadow and highlight move me.

Interesting look at the human form via infrared film.......1999-05-04

This is a fairly traditional photgraphy instruction book. The photographs are presented in a gallery format in the front of the book. The second half shows them as a contact sheet with the technical notes added. Fairly comprehensive look at body makeup and lighting. This book strives to be artistic first and educational latter. Ms. Khornak is quite skillful in the art of photography. The infrared images are beautiful. As an educational tool, the format does not really work. Perhaps it would be more educational to have the technical details directly following each image.

Creative Techniques for Nude Photography in Black & White

Average customer rating:

Disappointed
Disappointed
Not just another "Nude" photoguide

Creative Techniques for Nude Photography in Black & White
Christopher Grey
Manufacturer: Amherst Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Erotic Photography | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Reference | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0936262958

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed.......2001-05-24

I purchased this book on the basis of a reader's review and the fact that it has an introduction by Lucien Clergue whom I respect as a photographer of the nude female form. It turns out the introduction is a very brief paragraph at the beginning of the book. The photographs range from mediocre to downright bad, most of them having been made with one studio light or outdoors under natural lighting. The poses are unispired and uninteresting save for the fact that they are of (sometimes) beautiful nude women. The printing is very contrasty with most of the highlights blown out. Whether that is the fault of the photographer's printing skills or the printing of the book, I can't say. I was deeply disappointed in this book overall.

Disappointed.......2001-05-24

Not just another "Nude" photoguide.......2000-03-31

It's rare to find a photo book with "creative" in its title living up to the promise, but this is an exception. Christopher Grey explains in detail how he created the innovative, sometimes abstract, black-and-white figure studies that are the focus of this book. He includes descriptions of the lighting setups, poses, backgrounds, props, etc., but also adds extra information often lacking in this kind of book: He tells us the advantages of working with pregnant models ("transient beauty [resulting] from physical changes"); outlines the perils, legal and otherwise, of shooting nudes outdoors, and the steps he takes to avoid problems; discusses the nuances of compostion; talks about his and his models' attitudes toward the shots; and generally lets the reader look over his shoulder while he makes his photographs.

This isn't a glamour guide, like many nude how-to books, but an introduction to shooting the figure from a fine-art perspective. I think it's a great introduction to the genre for both beginner and more experienced photographers, and a valuable addition to any photo library.

Book Description

A compilation of internationally comparable data and analysis on trends in the information technology sector, concentrating on OECD Member countries. The Outlook draws on a wide variety of private and official data sources to cover the development of computer hardware, components, software and services, their expanding markets, their place in the economy as a whole, their regulatory and policy environment, and theri economic and societal impacts. It provides key facts and figures for the understanding of this dynamic sector, particularly in light of the quickening pace of developments in digital technology, multimedia applications, national and global information infrastructures, and the "information society".

Book Description

Discover Exciting New Treatments for Diabetes
If you are one of the 16 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes, now you can take control and begin enjoying life again—today! This book answers your questions, dispels the myths, and clearly lays out the truth about diabetes and what you can do to manage the condition. In short, it helps you get your life back. Inside is compassionate, practical, and immediate guidance for anyone affected by the disease, including:
·The causes, symptoms, and patterns of diabetes
·Critical dietary management information to improve your quality of life
·The latest drug treatments and possible side effects
·Effective ways to harmonize the mind-body connection
·And much more!
"Two critically important components of treatment for people with diabetes are self-testing and education. Informed patients have a better likelihood of truly taking control of their situations. In this book, Porter Shimer takes you through the story of diabetes—the disease that is still the leading cause of new cases of blindness, kidney failure, and nontraumatic limb loss in the United States and a major cause of heart disease. You will find the history, physiology, treatments, and all the essential material you need to be master of you own fate." —From the Foreword by Gerald Bernstein, M.D., F.A.C.P.

Book Description

Salam Pax has attracted a huge worldwide readership for the Internet diary he kept during the buildup, prosecution, and aftermath of the war in Iraq. Bringing his incisive and sharply funny Web postings together in print for the first time, Salam Pax provides one of the most gripping accounts of the Iraq conflict and will be the subject of global media attention. In September 2002, twenty-nine-year-old Iraqi architect calling himself "Salam Pax" began posting daily accounts of everyday life in Baghdad onto the Internet. Salam daily risked retribution from Saddam's regime, as more than 200,000 people went missing under Saddam, many for far lesser crimes than the open criticism of the regime that Salam voiced in his diary. Salam Pax's sharp, candid, and often dryly funny articles soon attracted a worldwide readership. In the months that followed, as a huge American-led force gathered to destroy Saddam's hated regime, Salam's Internet diary became a unique record of the anticipation, anger, resentment, humor, and sheer terror felt by an ordinary man living through the final days of Saddam Hussein's twenty-five-year dictatorship, and the aftermath of its destruction.

Customer Reviews:

not a baathist.......2005-01-29

obviously the individual who wrote a previous review on Pax's baathist links is the type of moron who skips over a books introduction... please take the time to read this excerpt:
"...Those who thought his blog was unduly critical of Iraq's `liberators' made dark insinuations about his parents'
Baathist connections. Eventually Salam blew his top, advising
his detractors to `go play Agatha Christie somewhere else.' His
mother, he said, had been a sociologist at the Ministry of
Education, but had given up her job when she was told she could
not make progress in her career without becoming a Party member.
His father had been an eminent economist, but had made a similar
decision when faced with the same choice. `You are being disrespectful to the people who have put the first copy of George
Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four in my hands . . . go fling the rubbish at someone else.'
In fact, the conspiracy theorists' preoccupation with his family's supposed regime connections misses one of the most compelling attributes of Salam's diaries: he directs his vitriol in all directions. In the last days of the war he managed to describe the Fedayeen, the Baathist loyalists mounting a guerilla defence of Baghdad in the space of two paragraphs as `sickos', `chicken s**t' and `creepy f**s'. If he has been less than reverential about Iraq's occupiers,
he has been harder still on their Iraqi critics..."

a stero-type baathist.......2004-04-04

very well expected, the son of his father. read more about Adnan Janabi, under Saddam Oil Bribes.

Random threats from an unarmed Iraqi.......2004-03-09

Salam Pax's book (and indeed his blog too) are very interesting, exciting and funny. His little digs and endless sarcasm are amusing but also get across the message that he dosen't feel 'liberated' nor does he feel the need to be thankful to the Coalition for freeing his country.

His blog is fun, informative and thankfully has continued despite months of living in a dodgy police state and under a state of war and then (if that wasn't enough) several months of anarchy!

I can only hope that we can see the second book listing his adventures in the post saddam Iraq. Good luck Salam!

Was a great blog, crappy book.......2004-02-06

Salam Pax started out well. Then he got commercialized. The tone of his writing has changed dramatically, and the influence from the anti-war crowd has all but consumed his writing.

I'd love to tune back in years from now after he's been forgotten, to see if he returned to writing from the heart.

next best thing to a trip to Baghdad-and funnier.......2004-02-04

What is going on in people's minds while the politicians and leaders use their own peculiar vocabularies to justify whatever?
Salam, thank you, thank you for letting an Iowan get a view without the doublespeak.
Not many people could give the absurdities that end in bombs and invasion the kind of authentic black humor that Salam does. I laughed out loud a lot. The book reminds me of "Catch 22" despite the differences of culture, author's voice, time and place.
Salam is the author with whom I'd most like to have coffee. Or wine-he can pick. I'll pick up the bill.
oh, p.s. for you nitpickers about the title ordinary: If a bomb had killed Salam, I bet his name would have been collateral damage.
read this book.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Canadian Journal of History, published by University of Saskatchewan on April 1, 2001. The length of the article is 878 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The History of Diplomatic Immunity.(Review) (book review)
Author: Keith Neilson
Publication: Canadian Journal of History (Refereed)
Date: April 1, 2001
Publisher: University of Saskatchewan
Volume: 36 Issue: 1 Page: 207

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

The destruction of the Colombian Legation at Lima, Peru, February 18, 1933;: "a disgrace to history"

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The destruction of the Colombian Legation at Lima, Peru, February 18, 1933;: "a disgrace to history"
Lester Hood Woolsey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

A journal of the sojourn of the Axis diplomats at the Homestead

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A journal of the sojourn of the Axis diplomats at the Homestead
Fay Ingalls
Manufacturer: The Homestead
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

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THE PHEASANTS OF THE WORLD. BIOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY [F6]
P. Johnsgard
Manufacturer: Smithsonian Institution
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WQB902

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THE PHEASANTS OF THE WORLD. BIOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY. SECOND EDITION [H2 ]
P. Johnsgard
Manufacturer: Smithsonian Institution
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WPMC6I

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