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85th out of 299 books
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Gringos in Paradise: An American Couple Builds Their Retirement Dream House in a Seaside Village in Mexico
by
Barry Golson
A Year in Provence meets Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House in this lively and entertaining account of a couple's year building their dream house in Mexico.
In 2004, Barry Golson wrote an award-winning article for AARP magazine about Mexican hot spots for retirees longing for a lifestyle they couldn't afford in the United States. A year later, he and his wife Thia
...morePaperback, 320 pages
Published
November 14th 2006
by Scribner
(first published 2006)
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In a few weeks I'm going on a vacation to Sayulita, one of the few coastal areas in Mexico that has managed to avoid turning into a giant American shopping mall and amusement park. My parents asked where I was going, and they were both so excited-- they'd just read this book, called Gringos in Paradise, about an American couple who retired there. So I picked it up.
I really enjoyed Gringos In Paradise. The author and his wife reminded me so much of my parents-- hardworking liberal New Y...more
I really enjoyed Gringos In Paradise. The author and his wife reminded me so much of my parents-- hardworking liberal New Y...more
Gringos in Paradise is a humorous account of the year (2005) Barry and Thia Golson, traded in their New York City lifestyle, by selling their apartment in the city, packing up their SUV and moved to a surfing and fishing village on Mexico's Pacific coast. After a real estate broker showed the couple some properties, they bought a hilltop plot of land in Sayulita, on impulse. The couple did not even receive a deed to the property, just a promise that that the land was theirs and everything would ...more
Liked the subject matter, but am driven CRAZY by errors in researching a book. Early on in the book the author states that Nayarit has "the only tropical jungle south of the US, and before the rain forests of Central and South America." Uh, WRONG. How 'bout the Lacandon? Ever heard of it? Guess not. I know it's just a mistake, but your book is ABOUT MEXICO. After that gaffe, it was difficult for me to believe anything he wrote, and it actually bothered me enough that I had to complain ...more
Story of a semi-retired couple building their dream house outside Puerto Vallarta, interspersed with interesting insights into Mexican culture, attitudes, language, history, etc. Although although some parts dragged on a bit, by the time I'd gotten 2/3 through, I couldn't put it down, wanting to see how their house-building adventure turned out. It made me want to *visit* Mexico again, although not *live* there!
Tom
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
would-be-retirees; people looking to move overseas
Shelves:
retirement
Great book about the practicalities of moving to and building a house on the coast in Mexico.
As I get nearer to retirement I find myself searching out more and more of these kinds of books.
The author is a very humane person who writes charmingly of his discoveries of the Mexican people and the gringos who preceded him to the "paradise" of a small town north of Puerto Vallarta.
As I get nearer to retirement I find myself searching out more and more of these kinds of books.
The author is a very humane person who writes charmingly of his discoveries of the Mexican people and the gringos who preceded him to the "paradise" of a small town north of Puerto Vallarta.
Interesting book about a couple whose retirement funding wasn't going to take them far in NYC, so they decide to move to Mexico and live in a small resort community. They learn some about cultural competencies and how to get in the flow of a different culture while still remaining consuming Americans. If you're going to move to Mexico, read this. It was a nice spring break read.
What a fun read! The story of the author & his wife's first year retired in Mexico and the house they decided to have built. Decidely light-hearted in tone, this book opens a window into rural Mexico and the local way-of-life that many of us idealize and romanticize, but rarely truly understand...and shows the reality, but still in a very positive and upbeat manner.
Able to take a variety of new experiences completely in stride - or frankly confessing when they couldn't - reading of...more
Able to take a variety of new experiences completely in stride - or frankly confessing when they couldn't - reading of...more
This is a lovely story of a Manhattan-based couple who decide to retire and build their dream house in a sleepy village in Mexico. The author's grandparents had actually lived in Mexico until the Pancho Villa revolution and his love for the country is obvious. I appreciated his respect for the Mexican people and their way of life--it gave him an added appreciation for them and an understanding of certain aspects of their culture that would probably have driven other "gringos" nuts!
Evon Carpenter
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in experiences in Mexico
Recommended to Evon by:
George Leitner
This is a very entertaining book about building a home in the small Mexican village of Sayulita. I really enjoyed reading it, however, it is obvious to me that the couple didn't do the research they needed to do before attempting such an endeavor. Sayulita is a great village; best to rent for a good time first to find out it it fits you.
Ah! A happy moving and starting over story. Too often these stories end with the movees moving home and starting over again. The Golsons try retirement in Mexico and end up with many new friends, a palatial home, and a relaxed new life in a small Mexican village. Even the home building went smoothly. Astonishing.
Having visited Mexico several times and having a
husband with wanderlust, I chose to read this book.
Readable, but not compelling. Most useful to anyone
with the crazy idea to build a house anywhere out of the
U.S.. Thought it might be really funny-it was not.
husband with wanderlust, I chose to read this book.
Readable, but not compelling. Most useful to anyone
with the crazy idea to build a house anywhere out of the
U.S.. Thought it might be really funny-it was not.
Building a house is never easy, especially in paradise...but the descriptions of Mexico were great. The healthcare system is especially interesting.
Should you read this book? Como no?
Should you read this book? Como no?
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This is a nicely written memoir of a well-off American couple who retire and move to Mexico. Wasting little time, they skillfully climb the ex-pat social ladder. Connections intact, they exploit cheap local labor to erect an extravagant trophy home, crying poor-mouth along the way.
If I were retiring, this would be interesting, but right now it just kind of makes me jealous. A little dry - wish more humor were thrown into the account.
Fun adventure of a couple who up and moved to Mexico to live off their retirement that would last in the US. Sounds like a perfect idea to me!
A must read for anyone wanting to move to Mexico, or any other less developed country than the US.
Very cute tale of a couple moving to Mexico - it gave me a lot of great tips for our move!
This was a great book. Scott and I really enjoyed it. This memoir is through the voice of Barry Golson. He and his wife moved from the United States down to Sayulita, Mexico and went on to build their own home. Scott and I really identified with the story because we have spent time in Sayulita and knew of many places he talked about.
Entertaining, engaging tale of American couple retiring to small Mexican town of Sayulita and building a house. Very much about how not to be an ugly American and open your mind to new cultures. Also an appreciation of Mexican culture and people.
This book was invaluable in helping me learn about the relaxed culture and way of life in Mexico. It really inspired me to travel to Mexico and enabled me to enjoy my travel there through an understanding I would otherwise not have experienced.
I'm liking this quite a bit. The story of a retired couple that move to Mexico and build a house. I try to imagine myself in a few years. Would I have the nerve to do something so different?
Cheryl
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone wanting to retire to a third world country
I am glad I read this book, because, despite the genial and almost too cheerful attitude of the writer, there is NO WAY I would retire to Mexico. I'd rather just keep working.
Fodder for retirement daydreams. I liked the stories about the town, the people, and expat life, but could've done with less detail about building the house.
This is a wonderfully humorous book about a couple moving from the states to build a house and live in Mexico. I loved it.
Good preparation for when I live in Mexico someday!
Oh, yup...here's my future. :)
I am ready to move!
Laine
marked it as to-read
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