An Adventure from Afar: a review of "Baja Journey" by Maxine Pearlman

"Reading Baja Journey" 2023 Kristin Fouquet

I’ve been friends with Ingrid Lucia, Pearlman’s daughter, for over twenty years. Knowing of Ingrid’s unconventional upbringing, I was intrigued to gain more insight into her origin story. My chance came when I acquired Pearlman’s memoir, Baja Journey. I opened the book a day after returning from Puerto Vallarta, the magic and mystery fresh in my mind, and was delighted that Pearlman’s expedition began in Mexico. Far from the circumstances of my recent getaway, hers began with hitchhiking through Baja in the late 1960s.

She chronicles her travels throughout Mexico, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Southwestern deserts, New York, and New Orleans. Some of these are with just David, Ingrid’s father, and others with a group of travelers. Children, including Ingrid, are born along the way. Yet, this is much more than a travelogue. The exploration of her adventure extends far beyond the locales and even beyond the lifespan of her relationship with the enigmatic David. Her internal journey is a conversion from insecurity and fear to a place of immense growth, strength, and independence. Pearlman delivers her story with honesty and wit.

Don’t deny yourself this vivid experience. It could never be recreated or repeated.

Find Baja Journey here.

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