Not all gringos speak gringo spanish, but most of them wear a gringo uniform.

It usually includes:

  1. shorts
  2. sunblock
  3. sunburn
  4. dark glasses
  5. tennis shoes or (the horror !) Tevas with socks (observation due to ailie).
  6. big heavy sunblock-smeared Lonely Planet guide
  7. extra impedimenta, usually a camera bag.
  8. 1.5 liter plastic water bottle, half empty (and half full, if you want to see it that way).
  9. Fear and terror of the natives.
A non-humorous t-shirt is occasionally found as well.

The gringo uniform allows other people to spot gringos from about 200 meters away, and could actually be used in lieu of a passport.