You very well know that a complete life is the best life!

__________________
[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

Being a ' starving artist ' rather sucks .

GO for it Miguel ! .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Truer words were never spoken! I am getting tired of economic limitations knowing that I have the talent to do so much more!

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At long last, after a month of rest and a few amazing experiences, I have retaken my writing duties. This is the first one out of three articles I plan on writing about Guatemala: the first one on Antigua, the second one of Lake Atitlan, and the third one on Guatemala City or just a classic set of "World Snippets". Hope you enjoy this first delivery!

This European Life: The Flavor of Antigua

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[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

No kidding. I've known great artists, who could barely eke out a living, and I've known mediocre ones, who made a great living. If you can combine your artistic talent and abilities with some sound business knowledge, you're bound to do well.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

A wondrous tale, so well told. The beautiful photos, interwoven with such a riveting story, told with so much empathy, and keen powers of observation of the human condition, speak of a life being very well lived. It is an honor to consider you a friend, as you relate adventures that will define your character as you traverse life's trails and blaze some pathways of your own, Miguel.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Fixed my vacuum locks today! It's nice to see all five pivots working properly... same thing goes for the cruise control, which I will test tomorrow (thanks to James Dean for the quick rebuild!).

In a nutshell, this is how I see Antigua...

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of tortillas, rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway;
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself,
"This could be Heaven or this could be Hell"
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor,
I thought I heard them say...

Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (Any time of year)
You can find it here

Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
"Relax, " said the night man,
"We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave! "

There are TONS of foreigners who visited and decided to stay. And I do not blame them, this town has a certain magical charm to it!

__________________
[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

A week-long visit to one of Guatemala's most scenic natural wonders, Lake Atitlán! The expedition will continue on the 1st of March, down through Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. A whole new continent awaits!

THIS EUROPEAN LIFE:
By the Lakeside

__________________
[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

Well, for my dearest automotive fans I have compiled over 20 cool finds in this article on the funky machinery rolling the streets of Guatemala!

THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Cars of Guatemala



Nate, I think the one in the picture has your name in it!

__________________
[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

Nice Miguel .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

In this episode of This European Life, Miguel whines about the GMAT, drives through a forest fire and crosses the sketchiest border in Central America. Stay tuned for an adventure that will twist your stomach, make you clench your firsts and perhaps bring up a little bit of puke to your mouth!

THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Eastbound and Down

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[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

Having fun still I see Miguel ! .

I could fill a book with Road Horror Stories from the shorttime I lived there , I was lucky to get out alive , it was much fun though .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

My border-crossing experience pales in comparison to you driving an aircooled VW through war zones! Boy, that must have been tough!

__________________
[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

It was...... interesting , often very exciting , often the exciting bits were very much NOT fun ! .

After I arrived in Guatemala City , I sold off my VW Typ III abd bought a raggedy old 1937 Harley - Davidson Motocycle , it was a 61" C.I. " KnuckleHead " with suicide shift and I rebuilt it (the frame was broken in three places) then rode it all over the country , including to the Salvadoranian Border , this was in 1976 during " the Troubles " ~ I'm ever so lucky and happy to still be alive .

I'd love to go back again but prolly never will sad to say .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I'm thinking of taking a long road trip, too. I just can't decide which war zone I'd like to do it in . . . .

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

As long as they have a Walmart and they let me circulate on the highway at full speed in reverse, we are all good!

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Nicaragua is a truly stunning country! From its colonial towns to its fresh water shores, it has become one of my favorites so far. Luckily it is still relatively unexploited, so it allows for a more integrated experience when visiting! Most certainly, I shall return to Nicaragua and Cuba. Not that the two of them are socialist, or anything...

THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Reasons I Like Nicaragua



Remember to like This European Life in Facebook for continuous updates!

__________________
[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.