Adventures into Mexico

Moving beyond the tequila-soaked clichés of Mexican tourism, this multifaceted book explores the influence and experiences of Americans in Mexico since World War II. The authors trace Mexico's growing role as an important refuge for Americans seeking not only sun and fun but an alternative cultural and social model. Delving into the rich and varied worlds of political exiles, students, art dealers, retiree/artist colonies, and tourist zones, this work illustrates why large numbers of Americans have been irresistibly drawn to Mexico. Specialists in literature, anthropology, history, and geography bring their unique perspectives to the stories of these migrants, offering a fascinating interpretation to all those interested in modern Mexican history, border studies, tourism, and retirement in Mexico.

Nicholas Dagen Bloom is assistant professor of American history at the New York Institute of Technology and has written extensively on urban affairs.

Introduction Chapter 1: A Drink between Friends: Mexican and American Pleasure Seekers in 1940s Mexico City Chapter 2: Resort to Exile: Willard Motley's Writings on Postwar U.S. Tourism in Mexico Chapter 3: Gringolandia: Cancun and the American Tourist Chapter 4: The Beat Trail to Mexico Chapter 5: Dangerous Journeys: Mexico City College Students and the Mexican Landscape, 1954-1962 Chapter 6: American Merchants and Mexican Folk Art: The Buying and Selling of Oaxacan Wood Carvings Chapter 7: Bridging the Cultural Gap: Adaptation to Mexico Chapter 8: The Lake Chapala Riviera: The Evolution of a Not-So-American Foreign Community Chapter 9: To Be Served and Loved: The American Sense of Place in San Miguel de Allende Further Reading