Wide-Eyed Wanderers: A Befuddling Journey from the Rat Race to the Roads of Latin America & Africa [Paperback]

Richard Ligato (Author), Amanda Bejarano-Ligato (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 23, 2005

Stuffing their tiny 1978 Volkswagen camper bus full to the pop-top roof, Rich and Amanda Ligato set out on the road trip of a lifetime through Mexico, Central America, South America, and Africa. After quitting cushy corporate jobs the couple left their comfortable home and said goodbye to lives that felt just a little too guaranteed, insured, and sealed for their own protection. They set out to discover first-hand how other find joy in life. Three year and 60,000 miles later...they returned home and did the unthinkable.

Product Details

• Paperback: 308 pages
• Publisher: Pop-Top Publishing (May 23, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976175606
• ISBN-13: 978-0976175605
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #993,948 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Amanda and Rich Ligato have spent a decade living life to the extreme.

National Geographic Adventure magazine said of their journey, "The Ligatos' tale is a textbook lesson in not waiting until your number comes up. The couple decided to create their own lottery jackpot, a six-year savings program that would fund their dream: a road trip to the bottom of South America, up the coast of Brazil, into a shipping container, and across the Atlantic Ocean to Africa."

Since then the Ligato have cycled around Asia, motorcycled through India, meditated in Thailand and hiked to Everest Basecamp.

When not on the road they call Chula Vista, California home.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing journey, August 23, 2005

By 

Carol White "Author - Live Your Road Trip Dream" (Wilsonville, Or USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wide-Eyed Wanderers: A Befuddling Journey from the Rat Race to the Roads of Latin America & Africa (Paperback)

The Ligatos have accomplished a goal that most of us only dream of. Their 3-year adventure is both heartwarming and nail-biting. They tell their stories with such clarity and passion that you can't help but get wrapped up in their adventures.

Being totally non-mechanical, I was fascinated with their tales of keeping their old VW running -- but they met such wonderful characters because it, that it wouldn't have been half as much fun in a more modern cruiser!

This book is a must read for anyone who has ever dreamed of just taking off and letting life happen. A truly great read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars amazing, September 11, 2010

By 

mrbscienceman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wide-Eyed Wanderers: A Befuddling Journey from the Rat Race to the Roads of Latin America & Africa (Paperback)

This book is amazing! I would recommend this to anyone who likes adventure books like "One Man Caravan" or "Jupiters travels" or fans of "Long way Round"

this is not just a book about traveling in a vw van, it is about living life rather than just existing.

If this book does not make you want to make some changes in your life after reading it, then you probably would rather watch tv than read this anyway.

Buy this and rethink everything.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Truly Fun Adventure, August 14, 2005

By 

B. Damon - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wide-Eyed Wanderers: A Befuddling Journey from the Rat Race to the Roads of Latin America & Africa (Paperback)

A truly fun adventure in which the reader experiences life on the open road, exploring new countries and cultures, and gets a taste of what it would be like to live a more simple life.

Informative, fun, and inspiring!