Rough Guide guidebooks are some of the best on the store shelf: thorough, entertaining and with excellent briefings on things historical, political and environmental. By and large we, and the Rough Guides, think alike.
But not in the case of Carmel.
"Carmel," the California Rough Guide opines, "seems the very epitome of parochial snobbishness. Local laws, enacted to preserve the rustic character of the town, prohibit parking meters . . . planning permission is required to cut down any tree, so they sprout everywhere, even in the middle of streets; and franchise stores are banned outright." Well, really! How downright snobby can you get? Protecting trees. Offering free parking. Retaining rustic character. Tsk!