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Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
Sara Verrall’s Mexico Amiga! is a captivating memoir that describes four consecutive winter escapes to Mexico with her Swedish husband, Jan, whom she affectionately calls “My Viking.” The memoir takes readers on a journey that ignores the typical tourist trail and traverses the Pacific coast: Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo, and Barra de Navidad. It then dips into the Gulf at Campeche, the turquoise lagoons of Bacalar, and the highlands of Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende. The book explores every aspect of the experience, from the ritual of mezcal to the municipal markets, the quirks of Airbnb lodgings, and the surprising luxury of Mexican coach travel. Paired with lush descriptions of whale watching and monarch butterfly migrations are the boisterous Carnaval parades. The author offers candid, practical tips and an informal glossary, creating a travelogue that reads like a long, sun-drenched letter from a witty and wise friend who wants to make you fall in love with Mexico as much as she has.
Sara Verrall writes about her travels in a way that makes me want to pack and be on the road. The humor in Mexico Amiga! gives the memoir a unique beauty. Whether Verrall is describing the “mañana” pace of a Tulum police station, where lunch trumps theft reports, or a detox course that left hotel neighbors convinced they were hearing torture, she brings the story to life with a quirky voice and a perspective that spots the eccentricities in what she observes. The memoir is filled with adventure in the form of the overnight ferry crossings with biker gangs, tuk-tuk rides, and swimming with pelicans. The cultural immersion deepens through the experience of the Day of the Dead, encounters with shamanic smoke rituals, and artisan mezcal producers in Oaxaca. Complemented by colorful pictures, this memoir teaches that some of the most beautiful things happen in unexpected moments: a wrong bus stop that leads to an architectural gem, a stolen bag that leads to resilience, and how language barriers suddenly dissolve into shared laughter over pineapple pinjadas.
