Yesterday was probably the most terrifying experience we've had here.
We drove to Santiago to get some necessities we've needed for the almost 2 months we've been here.
When we got into town, our heap of crap car broke down.
No problem! My angels were looking out for us and we had a guy come repair the problem with an old tire inner tube.
He was amazingly crafty and so sweet.
The alcoholic swiggin' out of his rum flask was not so sweet. I had to keep walking away, because he kept getting way too close. I had cars honking at me because I was walking on to the road, but it was the only way to escape the guy sometimes.
I thought he was friends of the sweet mechanic. So, I asked him and he said, "No, he's just crazy."
That was good enough for Papi and I to practise our stern voices. He went away eventually.
That wasn't the scary part though. That was merely entertainment.
It was the drive home that almost had me puking with fear and my hands falling asleep from gripping on to the car so hard. White knuckling it all the way.
We're not supposed to drive at dark because it's VERY dangerous. But we wound up in the city much too long.
Off we went to The Moca, and it got darker and darker and darker. Our headlights barely lit the road, which of course has no lighting.
This road is treacherous to say the least. It's the kind of road that could be in the Guinness Book of World Records, because it's so windy and dangerous, and there we were driving in the dark.
Not to mention, our windshield wipers don't work, so our windshield has about an inch of sand and dirt on it, making lights from approaching vehicles blind us.
No point pretending we could see. We could go over the cliff if we moved an inch too far. We just stopped the car every time headlights came toward us.
Then there was the noise that was coming from our car that was threatening to break down again.
Tickity-tickity-tickity in super high speed, like a woodpecker had taken up residence in our engine.
We had filled the radiator before we left the city, which was one of the reasons it took so long to get the hell out of the darkness, but the hill over the Moca is so steep, that our poor car had to work double time.
I actually prayed and kept repeating to myself what I always tell everyone else, "Everything always works out. One way or another, it works out."
I spoke to my angels, "Please, just let us get out of The Moca."
If we were stuck at the side of the road, the first thing that would happen would be our items we just spent $2,000 on to FINALLY get set up in our house would be stolen.
Next? We'd be physically harmed, and I could possibly be raped.
It was Friday night.
Inhibitions were down because everyone was drinking, staggering along the road and ready to party. It was not a place for 2 ignorant Canadians to be broken down and left to the wolves.
When our car finally limped out of The Moca, we sighed relief. If we were stuck between the Moca and our village, at least we could call our electrician/plumber and ask for him to send us someone he knows with a taxi.
We'd pay anything for that help, but someway, somehow, we made it home.
When we stopped the car and were safe, we looked at each other without words, "Holy shit, we're alive and home."
The dogs were kept company by the Dominican Daddy, who should have just gone home after his gardening shift, but instead, stuck around because, "No! Perros y bandidos!"
Even though Mr. Majestic is horribly scary to him, he wanted to make sure the dogs were ok.
We gave him an extra week's pay just because he's so lovely and cares for us so much as to take care of our property and dogs.
Long story short of it, we need a new car.
First of all, this damn thing is 6 cylinders. We can't afford that kind of gas!!!
Second? It's a heap of shit that is so unreliable, we never know if we're going to make it to point B, never mind back to point A.
But we made it alive and safe, even if that trip aged us both an extra 10 years.
And today, in that heap of crap, we get to pick up my baby sister and crew from the airport for their visit!!!!
Shhh ... don't tell them about the adventure they're in for.
We drove to Santiago to get some necessities we've needed for the almost 2 months we've been here.
When we got into town, our heap of crap car broke down.
No problem! My angels were looking out for us and we had a guy come repair the problem with an old tire inner tube.
He was amazingly crafty and so sweet.
The alcoholic swiggin' out of his rum flask was not so sweet. I had to keep walking away, because he kept getting way too close. I had cars honking at me because I was walking on to the road, but it was the only way to escape the guy sometimes.
I thought he was friends of the sweet mechanic. So, I asked him and he said, "No, he's just crazy."
That was good enough for Papi and I to practise our stern voices. He went away eventually.
That wasn't the scary part though. That was merely entertainment.
It was the drive home that almost had me puking with fear and my hands falling asleep from gripping on to the car so hard. White knuckling it all the way.
We're not supposed to drive at dark because it's VERY dangerous. But we wound up in the city much too long.
Off we went to The Moca, and it got darker and darker and darker. Our headlights barely lit the road, which of course has no lighting.
This road is treacherous to say the least. It's the kind of road that could be in the Guinness Book of World Records, because it's so windy and dangerous, and there we were driving in the dark.
Not to mention, our windshield wipers don't work, so our windshield has about an inch of sand and dirt on it, making lights from approaching vehicles blind us.
No point pretending we could see. We could go over the cliff if we moved an inch too far. We just stopped the car every time headlights came toward us.
Then there was the noise that was coming from our car that was threatening to break down again.
Tickity-tickity-tickity in super high speed, like a woodpecker had taken up residence in our engine.
We had filled the radiator before we left the city, which was one of the reasons it took so long to get the hell out of the darkness, but the hill over the Moca is so steep, that our poor car had to work double time.
I actually prayed and kept repeating to myself what I always tell everyone else, "Everything always works out. One way or another, it works out."
I spoke to my angels, "Please, just let us get out of The Moca."
If we were stuck at the side of the road, the first thing that would happen would be our items we just spent $2,000 on to FINALLY get set up in our house would be stolen.
Next? We'd be physically harmed, and I could possibly be raped.
It was Friday night.
Inhibitions were down because everyone was drinking, staggering along the road and ready to party. It was not a place for 2 ignorant Canadians to be broken down and left to the wolves.
When our car finally limped out of The Moca, we sighed relief. If we were stuck between the Moca and our village, at least we could call our electrician/plumber and ask for him to send us someone he knows with a taxi.
We'd pay anything for that help, but someway, somehow, we made it home.
When we stopped the car and were safe, we looked at each other without words, "Holy shit, we're alive and home."
The dogs were kept company by the Dominican Daddy, who should have just gone home after his gardening shift, but instead, stuck around because, "No! Perros y bandidos!"
Even though Mr. Majestic is horribly scary to him, he wanted to make sure the dogs were ok.
We gave him an extra week's pay just because he's so lovely and cares for us so much as to take care of our property and dogs.
Long story short of it, we need a new car.
First of all, this damn thing is 6 cylinders. We can't afford that kind of gas!!!
Second? It's a heap of shit that is so unreliable, we never know if we're going to make it to point B, never mind back to point A.
But we made it alive and safe, even if that trip aged us both an extra 10 years.
And today, in that heap of crap, we get to pick up my baby sister and crew from the airport for their visit!!!!
Shhh ... don't tell them about the adventure they're in for.
there is a good reason i am paired with this perfect family
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