Letters: Women

Book Reviews: Women

#25•The Mexican Left Turn Angelic Blues:

Coming up on our left is an ample gravel turn out to a distant building. I signal a left turn (first big booboo) and start to slow. A car going about 100mph roars past on the left, and I begin my turn. Almost off the pavement, a sudden push from behind sends us flying onto the gravel. Completely rattled but apparently unhurt, I continue forward and swing in a large circle to return to the highway where ES faces her “attacker”.... (more) by Tina Rosa

•Midlife Mavericks: Women Reinventing Their Lives In Mexico By Karen Blue

Mexico's foreign retirement communities might seem an unlikely setting for a great adventure story, but in Midlife Mavericks, Ajijic author Karen Blue reminds us that courage comes in many forms. Through a highly readable series of face-to-face interviews, Blue chronicles the stories of sixteen "Indiana Joans... ordinary women who have made extraordinary choices". In fact, the adventures this book relates is just the leading edge of a growing movement: single women moving to Mexico, overcoming their fears of the unknown and discarding old beliefs in search of new dreams.... (Full Review) by Lorena Havens

•#18: Ode to Odette

•#5: Bugs: Not the Computer Variety

Woke up with a start this morning to lightening, thunder and fierce rain, at about 5 AM, hopped in the car and drove over to cover the well -- with an assortment of poles, boards, bricks and a tarp. All around the well was slick and muddy, and all I'm thinking is - don't fall in the well -- but it's hard to see as the mounds of dirt are blocking the car's headlights and my flashlight dangling by its cord from my mouth is only helping marginally.... (more) by Dobie

•Mother's Day is a big deal in Mexico, and San Martin is no exception. The schools all get together and have a big day of fiesta in honor of the Moms, with dances, poetry, songs, a raffle and then a huge meal of birria - goat stew cooked in a brick horno (oven), soda and half size bottles of beer.... (more) by Dobi

I had heard through the grapevine at the Maya Bell Campground that one could hike to the back entrance of the Palenque ruins from the campground or road. The trail has beautiful waterfalls and wading pools and is enormously popular for skinny dipping by Europeans. So I hiked there, thinking I would not be alone. I was soon attacked by two Mexican men. I assume they were stalking me....(more) from Rachel Greenberg

•Traveling "?!Sola!?"

"I spent 3 months (march 99-june 99) traveling around Mexico alone (or "¡¿¡sola!?!" as mexicano/as were fond of exclaiming), in my Toyota one ton pickup equipped with locking tool chest...." (more) by Patt Riese

•Getting Used to Things

Traveling to Mexico is like having a fling, a stunning romance, a love affair so intense that everything becomes a romantic vision. Magic is rediscovered.... Moving to Mexico, however, is not unlike getting married. Once the honeymoon is over one begins to notice that the language and customs of our beloved are strikingly dissimilar to our own....The real work of compromise begins, as it does in all marriages, and it must be noted for the record, that divorce is a genuine option....by Teresa Kendrick

"Carl said he was interested in hearing from "people who have successfully unplugged from Gringolandia." Well, Carl, you know America has a rich history of those that left civilization..." by Lee Valenti

•Living in San Cristobal

I moved with my partner to live in San Cristobal de Las Casas, in the state of Chiapas, in February of 1997. Although we had never visited this area of Mexico, we chose San Cristobal, after much research. It fit the list of things we were looking for in a place to spend our two year sabbatical. It had a somewhat intact indigenous culture, moderate highland climate and possibilities for volunteering that would provide meaningful ‘work’. by Sage Mountainfire