Gringos in Paradise Book Review | Manzanillo Mexico Travel Blog

Gringos in Paradise- Book Review

Submitted by Manzanillo Blogger on Tuesday, 12 August 2008No Comment

I just finished reading this entertaining memoir of two expats who retired to Mexico. I don’t usually like this kind of stuff, but this book is different. It may have struck a chord with me since it details how two Manhattan transplants picked up their lives and moved to a small beach town not far north from Manzanillo called Sayulita. This isn’t a boring guide on how to retire in Mexico, rather it is a story of the realities of living in another country, full of witty anecdotes, thoughtful observations, and honest accounts of what life is like for an expat south of the border. I stayed interested and engrossed until the very end.

The account of Barry Golson and his wife Thai starts with their first trip to the little beach town of Sayulita. Like many who have come before, they get the itch, on impulse buy a piece of land for their dream house, and go about the process of realizing their vision. However, like everything that happens down here, you have to expect the unexpected. What follows is an amusing and insightful account of the people they meet in their adventures, the always interesting mixture of the Gringo customs and Spanish traditions, and the history and culture of a people that is ever changing and resourceful. While he does not gloss over the fact that caution is good to have here as anywhere, and some are out to make a dollar off of you, Golson also details some of the most extraordinary acts of kindness from the most unexpected of places. Time and time again he proves that the Mexican people defy classifications, and even among the poorest of people you still find a passion for life, literature, the arts, and the all important family.

Much of what I read sounded exactly like the experiences we and many others have had when making the ‘Big Move.’ It’s always surprising and comforting to know that there are others who have gone through the same things, and it’s good to see it from a fresh and objective perspective.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from cover to cover, and have to recommend it to any who are interested in moving here, and even to those who already live here as I’m sure much of our collective stories are written down in these pages.