Panchita

Monterrey is great fun… I just spent a couple of days there, bouldering in La Huasteca, later getting wasted and bouldering skyscrapers (pictures coming soon).


The most exciting adventure, however, was meeting “Panchita”, the first car I’ve ever owned...

First of all I called in response to some offers in the newspaper. It was unbelievable to see how people interprete the shape their cars are in… after a pretty long bus ride to look at a car that was described as “in good condition, except for a little bump”, I was shocked to look at a wreck that had obviously gotten hit by a truck, far from being ready to hit the streets, and offered to an incredibly high price.

In the end I found “Panchita”, a 1991 Chrysler Shadow with automatic transmission. I immediately fell in love with her, and took her home for a bit less than a thousand Euros. After the first two kilometers the reverse gear didn’t work anymore, so I had it fixed, just to find out that now the normal gears didn’t work anymore. I hit the gas to find out when the stupid thing would shift up… a bad idea in Monterrey, with 30 speed limit and police everywhere. I got pulled over in no time, and only avoided the 750 Pesos ticket by shaking the officer’s hand after hard negotiations (with a 50 Peso note in my hand). By the way, the guy who is responsible for Monterrey’s street design must have been totally stoned, wasted, stupid, or just evil…

And don’t worry, I found out what Panchita needs to be happy: some nice words, a little tap on the glove department, gentle pressure on the gas, and she’s a nice girl. Just look at her, isn’t she a real beauty?