Yesterday's Train: A Rail Odyssey Through Mexican History

A great idea on how to venture into Mexico via various train trips mainly focused on how these trips are journeys into Mexico's soul. The author also blends in enough history without overwhelming us all. It certainly turned me on to some areas of the nation I've missed. I also liked how he was able to blend the politics of today with the past and on how so many times throughout history Mexico missed the boat. Plus add to that his obvious love of Mexico, he never allows that pointed criticism of political leaders to descend into the typical "we're superior" Yanqui stance. The only thing I never get about most travel essay writers, and he is no exception, is how they can travel all over a nation and miss, or never comment on, events involving hundreds of thousands of locals held almost weekly. I'm talking the impact of soccer on Mexican lives. I know this is off on a tangent but I found soccer matches esp. involving America, Chivas, Cruz Azul or Guadalajara brought me more insight into the Mexican psysche than many other better known explosions of color and emotion (i.e., "festivals").

Any gringo who has traveled extensively in Mexico will enjoy this read. It captures the essence of this wonderful place, and recognizes the differences of how things work from north of the border, without degrading the Mexican culture. I rate as one of the best books of travel in Mexico.