I'm in a truck stop. There's internet access here and you have to feed
bills into the computer. After I put a $10 bill in it, I noticed it
won't give me change. Duh. My mind's truly gone.
Anyway, I might as well share some of the thoughts I had while driving.
(Bet you guys will be as glad as I will when I finally get home. Do
I hear a shut up!)
About breaking down: Anywhere in Latin America, if
you seem to be having mechanical trouble, somebody
will stop to help you. Probably 3 guys will stop and
push you over to the side while another guy stops
traffic. One of those guys will say he just happens
to be a mechanic and whip out tools and fix your car
right there. This is a hypothetical story. It never
happened quite like this. But Latin American men are
the most gallant in the world and all Latins, male and
female, are the kindest and most generous you will
ever meet. Even if there are a few thieves there.
<grin>
That's not to say that people here at home aren't.
But, I have to tell you that when I was stranded on
I70 headed into Denver, I really thought no one was
going to stop. Finally, a very nice, somewhat
eccentric, man did stop and he gave me a ride to the
next exit, which fortunately had a filling station.
However, you have to know that my heart was really
pumping getting into this stranger's car. I certainly
imagined he might be a serial killer and I was his
next victim.
Weird, huh?
As for mechanics, we found fabulous, inventive (and
immediately available) mechanics everywhere.
Alongside the road! As for parts, it's almost as hard
to find parts for a vanagon in Denver or Louisiana as
it would be in South America. In fact, in Costa Rica,
my friend found a front wheel bearing for my Syncro!
I'm sure there wouldn't have been one in Houma,
Louisiana. The only problem I see is the delays in
shipping to Latin America. But it seems to take
forever to get anything done here in the US! The
first day my van was in the shop, I called at 4 pm to
see whether or not I would need new heads. They
hadn't had time to look at it! So, of course, parts
couldn't ordered that day! My van was towed in on
Friday and I don't think any real work was done on my
van until Tuesday. All mechanics here are as booked
up as doctors. Too bad if you're in a hurry. Not
that they weren't very sweet. They bought me a
birthday cake just before I left.
Boy, will I ever be glad to get home. Travel in the
US is much more expensive. And it's too hot in the
desert to sleep in the van.
Sniff, sniff,
Jeanne
