Book review of My Life as a Mexican Pirate: A True Story by Mark Zolo.

Mark Zolo always took things a bit too far.  Back in the day I would check his site, Naughty Nomad, for its city reports before taking on a new international gig.  I liked to know beforehand whether dating would be possible there, and whether this would get my head cut off.

I did minimum two year contracts.  It’s a factor.  Don’t come for me.

But when I went on a week-long trip somewhere, I really could not be bothered trying to pick up girls and find a place to take them in a hostel dormitory.  The one time I went to Russia (Saik!  I’m not Russian), I was far more interested in hiking and seeing historical sites than bedding local women.  Between finding a place to stay, avoiding pros, and bringing along clothes suitable for a nightspot, it didn’t seem like it was worth it.

To Mark, it is always worth it.

For me, [traveling alone] meant doing just enough sight-seeing to stave off guilt, then bar hopping and chasing tail.

The places he’s been and the things he’s done to experience danger and pick up hoochimamas are astonishing.  As a result, this is the most bizarre and extreme travel book you’ll ever read.

I remember back in the day, he Read More