Automotive World

The senora of the casa asked me if I wanted to go shopping with her today. I said sure. We picked up her girl friend and her sister, all of whom talked all at once and at blitz-schnell speed. At least I got a chance in the market see what a guanabana looks like. It´s hard to believe that the juice from such a thing could taste SO good given how ugly the packaging is.

At breakfast, I asked the senora how much car insurance cost her. Given the way drivers in VZ drive, I assumed she had maximum coverage. She said she didn´t have car insurance. I said that sounded a bit risky. However, she had an excellent explanation She said that last year they raised the rates quite high, so she dropped it. I´ve come to the conclusion she doesn´t need car insurance anyway, since she crosses herself about once every 45 seconds while driving down the street. She also provides coverage for particular other drivers by calling out ¨Mother of God¨on appropriate occasions.

I also had the pleasure of watching the tank get filled up at the gas station. All stations seem to be full-service. The gas cost about 60 Bolivares per liter, or about 12 cents per gallon! If Chavez promised that price at the pump in the states, he could get elected US President in a hearbeat! My understanding is that Chavez is offering gas to Venezuelans at cost. Even if the price to US companies is a lot more, there´still a heck of a lot of room for profit there!

Traffic in Merida can be pretty bad. Those with money buy gas-guzzling SUV´s. Why not, if gas is 12 cents a gallon?! There´s plenty of good public transportation, but not a lot of motivation for people to use it when the price of gas is so low.

The consequence is that in a mountain valley like Merida, there is morning haze which is probably just flat out air pollution. Lots of cars and trucks drive around belching fumes and smoke so there doesn´t seem to be any smog control requirements. The only positive side is that the pollution here can´t be as bad as in Caracas or the other big cities of VZ.

The cars are an incredible mix. About one third are late model stylish small things, usually made by Ford, Chevy, Renault, or even Hyundai and Daewoo. They look very spiffy. Another third are old clap traps, like 1970´s American muscle cars. Most of these seem to be used as taxis, no doubt because of the room they offer. The last third are trucks and buses and pick-ups of every conceivable size and description.

Almost all the downtown streets are one way. Because the streets are so narrow, there´s only room for one lane with usually parking allowed on one side of the street. The sidewalks are also crowded with street vendors of every conceivable commodity: fruit, cell phone rentals, batteries, arepas and empanadas, newspapers, popcorn, and more. There are a great number of pedestrians. Unless you´re an attractive young woman, you have to hustle across the street to avoid becoming road kill.

Now to dash safely across the street for a cup of coffee.
Hasta luego!