First snow of Spring!

Each of the last four or so snowfalls I've written off as Winter's last hurrah, only to be surprised by yet another. Likewise, surely today's is the last? But I'm not complaining - I love the snow.

today's haul from amazon.de

To be honest, I am only a grudging patron of Lonely Planet these days--their guidebooks have gone so mainstream that they can change places as much as they describe them, and any place mentioned in a LP guide will be, by virtue of its publication, no longer "off the beaten path". But I reluctantly admit that they are still pretty much the best for getting your feet on the ground -- I haven't found any better series -- even if they won't usually help those feet leave the backpacker/tourist ghetto.

It's always a delight to find a one-off independent guidebook or travelogue written by someone motivated only by their enthusiasm, personal interest, or unique experience. One such gem is András Török's "Budapest: A Critical Guide," sporadically in print and with an idiosyncratic website at pergolam-budapest.hu.