Across the Americas in a FJC

[Shreesh]

Hey guys,

So we are still here in Oaxaca, bustin' our rears trying to learn Spanish. It has the most number of irregular verbs in any language I have learned so far. It has been the first language I have learned simply because it is useful and not for some strange romantic reason.

Solexico, the school out here, is really excellent with very high quality and dedicated teachers.



But it is now time for us to hit the road again, after being here for more than a month - the americas await!!! With just enough Spanish to be dangerous I can certainly negotiate my bribes down.

Oaxaca is quite a stunning place and there are hardly any Americans here since the troubles of 2006. It is actually very safe and the richness of the culture is amazing.



Tomorrow morning we set out again, towards Chiapas. Maybe I should invest in a ski mask to fit in?

[VoodooBrew]

Wow, how did I miss this thread?? Por quanto tiempo vas a estar en viaje? or.... how many months will you be on this trip? And how did you swing that with work? Glad to see another good adventurous San Franciscan. One of these days I will get to Argentina... but probably by plane.

stay safe! ok, I need to get back to looking at the pics...

p.s. will you go all the way to Patagonia? My sister and BIL (from S.F. too) go there every year... they just spent the last couple of months there [they are hobby photographers] -- it's worth the extra trip!!

[Shreesh]

Hmm....



So you might ask me "What is so significant about a bottle of Margarita Mix?". Ah, but lo - what kind of margarita mix comes in this unappetizing coffee brown color?

So it isn't margarita mix - then what?

I'll tell you what - it is the excess oil the knuckleheads at Toyota of Oaxaca put in my FJ. I check oil at every fill-up and much to my dismay the dipstick read overfull. So I drained out all the oil and it measured six and a half quarts with my makeshift measure.

I put a hair more than five quarts in with the new filter in place.



And, that wasn't the least of it. They didn't know how to torque the propshaft, didn't include the spare in the rotation, etc., etc. Don't let the gleaming garage fool you - the next time you find yourself in Oaxaca pass on these clowns!

[Shreesh]

VoodooBrew previously said:

Wow, how did I miss this thread?? Por quanto tiempo vas a estar en viaje? or.... how many months will you be on this trip? And how did you swing that with work? Glad to see another good adventurous San Franciscan. One of these days I will get to Argentina... but probably by plane.

stay safe! ok, I need to get back to looking at the pics...

p.s. will you go all the way to Patagonia? My sister and BIL (from S.F. too) go there every year... they just spent the last couple of months there [they are hobby photographers] -- it's worth the extra trip!!

Well, we thought we would be back by Jan 2009, but given how 'slow' we are going it may extend by some months.

Work? What work? I worked for a small startup that was circling the drain. Seeing the writing on the wall, I split before the bowl emptied!

[potatomutato]

Shreesh previously said:

it's probably because you drove in the wrong direction!

[Shreesh]

potatomutato previously said:

it's probably because you drove in the wrong direction!

Ha! Actually that was them too - I took the picture when I picked up the car and that is where they parked it!

[Archy Chris]

Sounds like your having a great time. Look forward to your updates. Adios Amigo.

[Shreesh]

The road to Tehuantepec was dotted with Maguey farms and mountain scenery. The town itself was somewhat of a disappointment - noisy, crowded, and HUMID!

Finding a good place to stash the FJ was a problem too...

Shreesh previously said:

The road to Tehuantepec was dotted with Maguey farms and mountain scenery. The town itself was somewhat of a disappointment - noisy, crowded, and HUMID!

Finding a good place to stash the FJ was a problem too...

What tire type/size do you have and what lift type/size do you have? I really like the way your FJ sits and looks. Not to mention my jealousy for your trip

[MountainMan]

wonderful trek.... keep the pics coming... and stay safe...