Tales from the Gringa

Book excerpt: There is nothing extraordinarily special about author Ruth Tolerton and her husband, aside from their individual talents as human beings. They'd traveled to parts of the world and felt comfortable on foreign soil for a week or even a month at a time. They diligently and competently performed middle-class jobs and lead middle-class lives with middle-class frustrations and successes. But in 2001, the couple finds themselves quickly approaching a crossroads, and with it, the age-old question: Is this all there is? Seeking fulfillment, adventure, and passion, the Tolertons leave behind the mundane stress of a nine-to-five workday, ignore conventional expectations, and virtually run away to the peace, tranquility, and permanent blue skies of the breathtaking Mexican landscape. Tales from the Gringa recounts the funny, impractical, and inspirational post9/11 adventures the couple shares over eight months, along with their dog, in a 1984 VW Westfalia camper known as Juanita. The book is uniquely written from the perspective of both adults and even the dog. It is timeless and endlessly entertaining for those who travel, and those who simply dream.