Who We Are...
After living and working in
Seattle, Washington,
for twenty
years, we
decided to quit the rat race and head south for more sun and further
adventures.
In 2005 we left our jobs, sold our things, and traveled throughout Mexico for eight months.
After returning to the United States and taking a coast-to-coast trip, we decided to make La Paz our home in 2006. We like La Paz because of the climate, the natural beauty, and the fact that it's "real" Mexico, unlike some of the more aggressive tourist destinations. The people are nice, the city seems small yet has a lot to offer, and in our short time here we are fortunate to have become friends with people from the foreign community and paceños (people from La Paz) alike.
A brief history of the store...
Allende Books was started by Diane Carmona and Phyllis Patton in 2007, and was originally located on Allende street. It was, and still is, the only English-language bookstore in La Paz.
Diane and Phyllis had the original vision for the store, and struggled to make it a reality. Their early success is a tribute to their persistence, and to the willingness of the English-speaking community in the area to support a small, independent bookstore.
In 2008, Phyllis decided to pursue other ventures; and Diane decided to move Allende Books to its current location, where it shares space with the bed and breakfast hotel, el ángel azul.
We purchased Allende Books in May 2009, and are enjoying doing work that makes us happy!
What´s in a name?
"Allende" is the name of a Mexican national hero, Ignacio Allende, a general who fought for the independence of Mexico from the Spanish during the early 1800's. Originally a captain in the Spanish army, he came to believe in the vision of an independent Mexico. He fought alongside Miguel Hidalgo in the first stages of the struggle, and succeeded Hidalgo as the leader of the rebellion. Allende was eventually captured by the Spanish authorities and executed for treason.
"Allende" also means "beyond," although it is used more frequently in prose and poetry than in spoken language.
© 2009 Allende Books. All rights reserved.