Seriously Large monastery somewhere in a place no tourists visit. |
No need to photoshop this one of Monte Alban. |
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'60s vintage effect for comparison |
The road from Puebla to Guatemala has been traveled by others but I had serious doubts about the van's abilities during the great descent from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean. How trustworthy were the brakes that I fixed over the course of 2 months while moonlighting as an Industrial Electrician? It turned out I fixed the shit out of those brakes. The moped is another story.
Van wasn't allowed in Monte Alban |
Who built it? Well, there are better histories already written than what I can come up with so educate yourself. In 1000 years people will ask who built New York.
Picked 3 foreigner hitchhikers up out of Oaxaca. |
New Talisman |
I am newly established in an apartment in downtown Xela, the van will probably be stolen soon as no matter what disclaimers I offer the Guatemalans, they all want my 40 year old moped. They actually think it will run for more than a week on these river rock roads. It would be in pieces in a few days if I tried to ride it around, but it barely starts for some reason so I can't ride it and I don't want to ride it since my van has been nearly ruined by the roads and speed bumps. The moped would probably last about 3 hours before falling completely apart. "No hay suspension" I say and point to the lack of shocks. And they nod but I see pure mechanical lust in their eyes, they all ask, "How much?" and I say, "It's not worth any money here, it would be scrap metal in a week. Please buy a Honda 125 or a Suzuki, they have suspension and good brakes."
They nod and say, "Yes, but how much will you sell it for?"
And I try and try to convince them that as much as I want to ride it and they want to buy it, the moped can not survive in Guatemala. The very fact it is in Guatemala actually is some kind of insane alignment of stars as I know this Vespa brand was not imported to this insanely mountainous region since it has only one speed and has no torque and can not climb any serious hills. so Vespa crossed this whole area off its list in 1972 and anyone with half a brain would just buy a dirt bike or a cool Honda 125...and not a weak Vespa Ciao.
"Si, pero, quantos quieres?"
"I DON'T WANT TO SELL IT. IT CAN'T BE RIDDEN ON THESE STREETS. LOOK. NO SUSPENSION. NO BRAKES. NO SPEEDS."
"Yes, but if you sell it, tell me so I can buy it."
On and on. I know what they are thinking because it's the reason I keep the moped; it's vintage and rare and obviously crafted as a thing of beauty, but it will never survive in this particular city. Maybe if I go to Guatemala City or Antigua there are some flat areas there. But here it is useless. It's possible they see the pedals and think they can simply pedal it like a bike when it runs out of gas and that is technically true but you go about 1 mile hour when you pedal it and it's like riding a clown bike and you still will be rattled to death on the rock roads and speed bumps. It's absolutely out of the question so my feet will be getting a work out, which is why I chose a centrally located apartment.
And that's where I leave you for now.