Travel to Central America

The Panama Hat Trail

Format: Paperback
Author: Tom Miller
ReleaseDate: 01 November, 2001
Publisher: National Geographic
Rating:

Great Reading for Lovers of Hats or Travel or Both
Douglas's account of his travels among the Kurdish People of the Middle East. My lifelong interest in travel literature began when, as a child, I read Supreme Court Justice William O. Miller's book is a good read on traveling in Ecuador (where the best panama hats are made), written by a professional writer in this genre (ON THE BORDER, TRADING WITH THE ENEMY: TRAVELS THROUGH CASTRO'S CUBA). This "hat classic" (my opinion), is Miller's first-hand account as he follows the making of Panama hats from the growing and harvesting of the plant material (cardoluvica palmata), through the process of its curing and preparation for weaving, the weaving itself, the various markets along the way, the chain of distribution of the hat bodies, their exportation around the world, the making of finished hats in a North American hat factory, and the sale to a San Diego retail hat store. The story ends when the final customer buys a panama hat in the retail store. Reading this book cannot help but seal one's appreciation for this materiel de resistance of the straw hat business.

Great Book !
His descriptions of the countryside and life in Ecuador are very accurate. Being an Ecuadorian I really enjoyed the way the author captured the personality and idiosyncrasies of the people he meets along his journey.

very pleasant journey
Tom Miller is an excellent traveling companion, informative, friendly, sympathetic to his hosts.

Related products:
click image or link for details on these Central America travel books.

	Lonely Planet Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands (Lonely Planet Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands)
	In Focus Ecuador: A Guide to the People, Politics and Culture (Ecuador (in Focus))