Escaping a crumbling marriage and a frigid Calgary winter, ShariShapiro?a retired teacher and an Italian Jewish immigrant?flees toPuerto Vallarta (PV), Mexico. Despite the lush, vibrant surroundings,she grieves her mother's death. Since family ghosts appear whenevershe enters a bathroom, death is never far from her thoughts. Yet shelongs to embrace life again. She also struggles with issues faced byother baby boomers such as retirement.Eager for tequila todull her pain, Shari heads to a bar on Playa Los Muertos, Beach of the Dead. Here she meets Carlos, a skittish, but sexy, formerrevolutionary who mourns the death of his wife. He strongly resemblesSubcomandante Marcos, the legendary Zapatista leader, a post-modernChe Guevara. Paramilitaries stalk Shari and Carlos and the dangergrows as does their attraction to each other. Together they end upsupporting Mexico's poverty-stricken beach vendors.