Lee Foster (fostertravel.com)

Bruce Whipperman's Mexico Books

I had the pleasure last week of having dinner in Berkeley with the noted Mexico guidebook writer, Bruce Whipperman, my friend of many years. Bruce has just come out with a new Oaxaca book as part of his longterm partnership with Bill Newlin of Moon-Avalon. It has been a joy to watch this publishing partnership unfold in the last decade. Whipperman has the passion to do all the careful field work in Mexico. Newlin has the publishing support to print and distribute the volumes. The vision began with Pacific Mexico, and has been segmented into Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Acapulco, and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, as well as Oaxaca. If you plan to travel to Mexico, Whipperman's books would be a good guide choice. See on Amazon the new Oaxaca.

New Article on Chile's Easter Island

12-20-06

From my recent Chile research I have also developed an article about Easter Island.  This is one of the most moving places on earth to experience, partly because of the poignant parallel between the decline of culture on Easter Island and our own worrisome situation today on earth as a whole.  The Easter Islanders were alone in the middle of the Pacific, building their huge sculptures.  However, they got carried away.  Their ambition exceeded the carrying capacity of their environment.  They collapsed.  We have a similar worry today for the earth as a whole.  This metaphor struck me while on Easter Island, as you can see.

Here is the location of the new Easter Island article permanently on my website.  I will be getting photos and an audio slide shows up also, but that will take some time.  See Easter Island at

www.fostertravel.com/CHEAST.html

Chile's Wine Country

I have developed a new travel article on Chile’s Wine Country.  This is one of the more exciting wine producing areas on earth.  The climate opportunity is like California.  The Chile technology is modern.  There is a spirit of experimentation in the air.  I had an opportunity to visit two major wineries and talk with the most knowledgeable wine person in Chile.
You can see the article permanently on my website at
www.fostertravel.com/CHWINE.html
Here is the beginning of the article for your perusal:
VISTING TWO MAJOR CHILEAN WINERIES NEAR SANTIAGO
By Lee Foster
Touring wineries, traditionally a popular activity in California and elsewhere, is also possible in Chile, which is one of the more exciting wine regions in the world today.
Two of Chile’s quality producers, Vina Concha y Toro and Vina Undurraga, can be visited in separate half-day trips from Santiago.  Both are in the Maipo River Valley just south of Santiago, but one is southeast and the other is southwest of the city.  Each has a hospitable guided touring and tasting program for a modest fee at a handsome facility.  Reservations for a visit must be made a day or two in advance.  Tour operators, such as Sportstour, can arrange a guide and transportation, which is advisable.  Lunch at an interesting nearby restaurant can be included as part of the outing.