In this article, I will review Street Wise Spanish and give you some advice on “staying safe and sound” in Latin America or a Spanish-speaking country. I will begin with my review of Streetwise Spanish.

Streetwise Spanish is not just a book. It is a guide to Hispanic culture but is also packed with the kind of Spanish that you can use in real-life situations, including the “streets.”

It is actually more of a Spanish course than a book. There is even an option to get the downloadable audio of the vocabulary words to help reinforce what you are learning.

The author, Peter Christian, is a self-described “x-Gringo” and he is a friend of mine. Although I have never met Peter face-to-face, he must have subscribed to my newsletter the very first year I started it in 2004, and over the years we have exchanged emails, spoken over the phone once, and talked about our passion for the Spanish language and culture.

The only major difference is that my passion for the Spanish language has moved me to South America (Medellín, Colombia). And Peter’s passion for the Spanish language has transported him to Europe (Barcelona, Spain).

Streetwise Spanish is an enjoyable and interesting read and regardless of what level you are on, you will still want to read this book from cover to cover and listen

to all of the audio.

One of my favorite “capítulos” or chapters in the book is a “capítulo” called “Staying Safe and Sound.” (Actually “Staying Safe and Sound” is probably my second or third

favorite chapter in Peter’s course.)

In this “capítulo,” Peter gives helpful advice on how to blend in with the locals, by wearing what they wear, and avoiding being an easy target to identify.