Inside book homes: Alma Libre, Puerto Morelos, Mexico

Exhausted by the heat and the crowds of tourists in Puerto Morelos, Mexico, I discovered a true oasis. The Alma Libre bookstore, located on a commercial strip at the central square, turned out to be a welcome respite from the heat and pushy salespeople. The books hung in front of the entrance encourage visitors to come in and take a look around.

The bookstore offers both new and secondhand books, in English and Spanish, as well as a good selection of books in foreign languages. There are both contemporary Mexican authors and classics available, as well as books on local history and Mayan culture, spirituality reads, recipe books, and children's literature. And, as one might expect from a tourist destination, there are several shelves stocked with lighter beach reads.

The bookshelves are interwoven and complemented by art and crafts by local artists, different from the kitsch that can be found at the local markets, as well as regional food items, including my personal favorites: chocolate and honey.

It has been around for more than two decades and for the last several years it has been run by a Canadian owner. The staff is incredibly friendly and will advise you on which book to choose. Although it appeared to be a quiet spot in a touristy neighborhood at first sight, it quickly filled up with locals who are regular customers.

I found a book on writing that had been on my reading list for quite some time. It was as if it had been waiting for me, surrounded by the books that had helped me tremendously when I first started writing: Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way and Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird.

My other finds include Victor Montejo’s The Bird Who Cleans the World and Other Mayan Fables, a poster of the Ceiba, the sacred tree of the Maya, and postcards made by a local artist.

For a brief moment, I imagined myself running such a welcoming and independent place, with all of my favorite things: books, food, and art… You can get a sense of what I’ve experienced by visiting their website. I hope to be back soon. Happy reading!