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This European Life - An Open Travelogue
Hello everyone,
My name is Miguel, I am 23 years old, a citizen of Spain and I will soon be starting a solo expedition from the United States to the southernmost tip of Argentina. I am a Mercedes gearhead, and for this expedition –being on a tight budget- I have bought is a 1981 Mercedes W123 300TD, which I will soon start modifying as a living cell for my travels. It is a pleasure and an honor to be part of this community of offroaders and adventurers –yes, there is a grassroots National Geographic feel to it-, and I hope to meet many of you wherever my wheels take me! |
Unbelievable. Just unbelievable. In this installment of my travelogue, the King of Spain writes me a letter to wish me luck!
This European Life: Royal Blessings http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/.../RoyalLogo.jpg On a side note, the second installment of my online car series is up! |
Now, on this week's installment of my blog, I get two more replies from the offices of two very inspirational figures, Ewan McGregor and from Peter Jackson!
This European Life: From both sides of the World |
This week, my adventures as an occasional car transporter, the beginning of the trip preparations, and the MONUMENTAL disapproval by my beloved family. Read on!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: The Silence before the Storm http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-138W-POPak...0/IMG_0036.JPG |
ah family disapproval, the story of many of us ;) keep on with the plans dont look back or listen to anybody !! im following
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We must have the same mother ... :( ... just keep on living the dream! :clap:
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Thanks for all the support; it's always tough to confront someone who is so dear in your own life about your own life decisions. I REGRET NOTHING!
:thumbup1: In this new installment we have maps, a shakedown trip, and a world-wide GPS. THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Three Roads http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E_kUQvkkED...0/IMG_0066.JPG |
What I wanted to write as a silly Facebook status update turned into a full-blown blog post. Departing from the usual PanAmerican preparations, I would like to share an incredibly revelatory dream I had last night... and yes, there's a G-Wagen.
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Expeditioner's Dream http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CF7zzN6IGr...ont_resize.jpg |
Keeping good health is one of the most important parts of any long journey. In this post I discuss three health-related preparations.
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Healthy as a Horse http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ktCaGQkwMM...0/IMG_0126.JPG |
Here's a thread that many of you will enjoy: THE BUILD POST. I have been saving a few pictures from the (rushed) construction of the expedition vehicle and have ordered them all together in this one blog post... Enjoy!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Building a Home http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_0133.jpg |
The Mercedes has been fantastic for these last thousand miles. I am currently writing from San Luis Potosí in Mexico, and here's everything that has happened so far!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: And I Will Drive One Thousand Miles http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_0241.jpg If you want to see ALL the pictures other than the ones on the blog, scroll to the bottom of the post to gain access to the exclusive online album! |
Inspiring!
Keep it coming! :clap: |
Great to see you on the road now!
I hope you don´t have a ventilation problem with your wagon when sleeping .... Have a safe trip. |
Thank you to you two, Pete3 and Monsieur! The wagon is going great, and so far ventilation is more than sufficient. In Monterrey is was pretty bad, so I just cracked open the sunroof. The nights can be cool, sometimes chilly to the point in which I need my sleeping bag.
On today's post, I detail the journey from San Miguel Potosí towards León, Guanajuato, San Miguel Allende and Morelia. Unbelievable architecture, rich gringos and chaotic traffic are all part of this exciting blog post! THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Spanish Colonial Galore http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_0380.jpg |
New post! My adventures chasing my grandfather's legacy in Mexico city, as well as my re-acquaintance with an old friend and a special on Frida Kahlo!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Three Names in Mexico DF http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_0439.jpg |
Great :thumbup1:
Imagined Mexico City as an incredibly busy city scarred by violence and fear - your photos make it look fantastic! |
It actually has some pretty nice, safe areas! I am lucky to be with my friend Dani and his family, who know the city well.
AUG. 31st Update: Wow! I have been featured in the website "Drive the Americas"! |
The long-waited second half of my Mexico City journal. Two police encounters, a sculpture that resembles Humphrey Bogart, and even more traditional delights are part of this week's update!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Oh, On to Oaxaca! http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1347118339 On a separate note, I took a stab at automotive journalism and wrote an article on 10 great coupes for college. Check it out! |
The road from Mexico City on to my month-long stay in Oaxaca. Ancient pyramids, apocalyptic landscapes, steep mountain roads and an unexpected job offer are all part of this post full of adventures and good luck beyond belief!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: The Road of Good Intentions http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1347226496 |
There will be an update to the blog very soon. I just opened the Export section for those who would like me to send them some stuff along the way, anything from coffee to car parts. I would like to raise as much money as possible to fund a trip to Cuba and take a look at their classic jalopies, including a mysterious 300SL Gullwing that lies somewhere in the Eastern part of the island...
ThHIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Exports http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ppatq2cekF...-P1010036A.jpghttp://concoursblog.com/media/2010/0...SLGullwing.jpg This may actually turn into a very serious business trip. If I manage to find a buyer (do you know anyone?), I may be able to save it and get it out with enough persistence and maybe some bribes. This thing just cannot sit there and rust to death. There are other treasures that I will document as well, but, for now, I estimate I will need $400-$500 to hop over and stay for enough time and run all over looking for automotive curiosities. |
Despite having access to fast internet, I haven't written for a while on my blog, so I have added a new submission to the "articles" section on my top ten regrets about my USA experience and opened the "Export" tab on the site. Not much has been happening in these last weeks other than the fact that life is relaxed and comfortable. This post narrates my daily life living and volunteering in Oaxaca, and it involves CUPCAKES and a BABY.
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: My Life as an Oaxaca Receptionist http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1348492056 |
200K USD tuition? OUCH!! Gotta love the almost free educational system in my part of the world.
Every trip into the world is also a trip into oneself. Your blog is the proof of it. Thanks for sharing and best wishes for a happy fulfilled future! |
Thank you! And yes, I know! It is too bad that such expensive tuition did not guarantee a job in the industry... *sigh* However, I could not be happier with the total record of my life. I wonder what will happen in the next 10 years!!
- - - - - - - Long time since the last post! This entry is one I meant to write a long, long way ago; I have been keeping the pictures for the last month and a half, before crossing the Mexican border. Automotive enthusiasts, feast! THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Deaming of Home http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1349809694 |
New update! Every week I go to the local food market to get a very special drink unique to Oaxaca, and try some of the local specialties, including fried grasshoppers. Care to know more? Click and read on!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: 60 Minutes at the Food Market http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1350307478 |
Alright! Long time since the last post; not much has been happening here at the hostel. I am pretty much confined to the place and I do not have much time to explore around. That will soon change next weekend, as I will take off to continue the route! Expect a special on the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) very soon...
...and talking of the dead, well, in today's post I adventure into a notoriously dangerous place where people have been killed at the hands of criminals. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Mercado de Abastos. THIS EUROPEAN LIFE ABASTOS: BOCA DEL LOBO http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmTWCnSs-9.../Satellite.jpg |
I got those pesky springs changed at the Mercedes truck dealership! I thought they would be the only ones with the right tools. Amazing low rates, too. The old springs, unfortunately, were from a 280E and left the nose way too low. Ride height is tall enough to go on rural roads. I got the oil changed and the brake pads changed while they were at it, and I will swap the cruise control unit, the emergency brake light sensor, and the exhaust hangers right on the street. Should not be any problem at all! ;)
http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...65814524_n.jpg There is Livingstone, up in a "pedestal" for proud display to customers. |
Now, this is a question for everybody following the adventure: would anyone be interested on buying something from Oaxaca before I leave? Especially now in the Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos) before it ends! I have fulfilled about three orders so far and have one week left...
http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1351895216 http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1351895219 Here are some things you may like: ceramic skulls, black Oaxacan pottery, folkloric dresses, dried (edible) grasshoppers, marzipans, skull candy, chocolate, dried fruit candies, antiques, figurines... Send me a PM! |
I finally got around to writing the entry for the glorious Day of the Dead. Much against what we Westerners do, it's a day full of celebration, joy, food and music! I really makes you rethink how one should approach our own traditions.
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Dia de Muertos http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FQrJ4jMZxY...0/IMG_0579.JPG |
...and now for some shameless self-promotion...
I actually shot a little video today in the food market I like to go to. It's 37 seconds long but it has some cool goodies! Please take a minute to subscribe/like my facebook page, as it seems to be the only medium where low-quality videos (need to be small!) can be posted without looking out of place! ;) Departing tomorrow for Chiapas and Yucatán!!! |
I am currently writing from a hostel from the overly humid town of Cancún. Today concludes my visit to the Yucatán Peninsula, so I will start writing an article very soon on that. However, for now, I shall narrate the events as they happened on my departure from my two-month work experience in Oaxaca. The trip is alive and well, folks!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: The Wonders of Chiapas http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_0687.jpg |
At long last! I am back from Cuba and I have a LOT of material to publish! I need to organize all of this writing and gather up the best shots, but for now I will leave you with an exciting tale of friendship, ruins and corrupt police. Glad to be munching on some capitalist treats as I write!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Yucatan rhymes with fun! http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMo9_Nc-oC...0/IMG_0753.jpg |
Now, it's time for the long-waited Cuban adventure. This is the first part out of a trilogy on my experience in Havana, starting with a general intro, continuing on the quest of the Gullwing, and ending with a series of cool snippets that I could not fit anywhere else. May I mention that any of the money donated was NOT used in this part of the trip, due to the legal constrains by Indiegogo and the US policy towards Cuba. Silly I have to write this disclaimer, but law is law. Pffft. Enjoy, anyway!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE Cuba Diaries http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/...p/IMG_0839.jpg |
Now it's time to make history. This European Life proudly presents one of the longest, most exciting articles of the whole saga: the story on how I went to Cuba to find the lost Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, and the long road to finding it!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Chasing the Cuban Gullwing http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N_qENkgszm...guelInside.jpg |
New delivery! A few short stories aside from the quest of the sad, sad Gullwing, the last of the Cuban trilogy. Some factual, some just plain funny: from an unsuspectingly good-hearted mechanic to a ride Casto's limousine.
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Havana Snippets http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QtpwUozI7w...640/Hamel2.jpg |
Well, this is it! December 31st, 2012. And here I am, narrating the move from Cancún to Guatemala, which will be followed by two articles on this gorgeous country with photography to match! Everyone have a happy and prosperous 2013!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Escape from Paradise Island http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6urwF1cr-h...640/Tikal2.jpg |
Life is busy! I am currently studying for the GMAT, so I am not having too much time to spend in sightseeing. Someone has to compensate for six years without math!
In the meanwhile, here's the next viral sensation in the automotive world: Abandoned Mercedes 300SL Gullwing - YouTube That's a video of the dilapidated 300SL Gullwing that I found in Cuba! |
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 http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usDVsib5p5.../s640/Cruz.jpg |
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 http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bIH1aC75iw...0/CH-Boats.jpg |
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 http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m3JiS725A7...0/IMG_1303.jpg |
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 http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J5uA843IyZ...640/Bridge.jpg |
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 http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2xtlcUdPaf...00/Volcano.jpg Remember to like This European Life in Facebook for continuous updates! |
When someone mentions Costa Rica to you, perhaps the first thing you think about are lush landscapes, beautiful scenery and paradise-like coastlines. Do you think I am going to write about these? WRONG! I have actually gone on a full-chapter delusion on how things have worked out in this magnificent little country. Read on and follow me on this PanAmerican scavenger hunt for awesome things beyond the typical!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: James Bond and the Rich Coast http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VydbrmMVpy...0/IMG_3620.JPG |
The inevitable crossing of the Darien Gap via Panama, in a short and sweet format. Not the most exciting thing in the world... but just wait what I have ready for you when I reach Venezuela.
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE A Man. A Plan. A Canal. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EzYVW-iT9o...anyWindows.JPG |
A recapitulation about the last few months from the start of the expedition, in 8-bit video game form. 50% complete, now let's go for the other 50%!
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I was involved in a dreadful accident with the car, I came out unscathed but the poor wagon is not even suitable as a parts car. I took some time yesterday to write a detailed account of the accident and my concerns for the future of this trip... at this point, I am on the fence about interrupting it and go back home to see the family and earn some money.
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: The Most Dangerous Road http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NKZWjbAScn...0/IMG_0203.JPG |
A little late, but the accident stopped things so suddenly I had to take a break to recover. The article about my experience in Venezuela was so lengthy I had to divide it into three parts. On this first part, I narrate everything ranging from my departure from Medellín to my arrival to the town of San Cristóbal... enjoy! :)
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE THE GREAT VENEZUELAN ADVENTURE, PART ONE http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xvJyqqp-zz.../Barichara.jpg |
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One... two... and third release of my doings in Venezuela. Wrapping up the adventure now! Following next, will be a series called "Red Plate Diaries" on the process of setting up my import/export company, "Oliden Group", and a tour around Spain looking for cars!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE The Great Venezuelan Adventure (III) http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HjonN2Wzs7...600/Isetta.jpg |
The expedition is officially over. This post, one of the most emotive I have written in a while, addresses the change from PanAmerican adventurer to a new encounter with my birthplace. Deciding to stop was a tough decision, but one that I do not regret, nonetheless. Re-discovering home is something I needed to come to terms with, and now it has been the best time to do so.
From here on, I will be posting my adventures as I hunt for vehicles all over Europe in a series of posts called "Red Plate Diaries", named after the particularly colored dealer plates in Spain. I am sure you will enjoy my European tour as much as you have enjoyed my adventures on the PanAm! My business, Oliden Group, has a facebook page where you can keep track of the vehicles (and other products) I will export to the USA. Who knows? Maybe you'd like to buy one! :) This European Life: A New Beginning http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cNKMZqXX1H...0/IMG_0216.jpg |
Well... now that I am back in Spain not much has been going on. In my recovery I have founded Oliden Group, shipped my first G-Wagen (due at the end of this month) and dedicated myself to polish up my automotive journalism. Having shared the classroom with many a hipster, I though it was about time to write an article on hipsterdom and vehicles!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: The Top 15 Quintessentially Hipster Cars http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PhXuNrmDE_...0a1f97f4_7.jpg Expect an article at the beginning of this month narrating the Mercedes Gelandewagen odyssey, from its purchase to its arrival to the US! |
Oh, hold on! What's this? IT'S A NEW UPDATE! 8 months later, I am back in the game and stronger than ever. This European Life travels again, and will be on the road soon!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Spanish Quicksand http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wUcWP6LDLp...0/IMG_0420.jpg |
Talk about four intense months. In less than half a year I have moved to Dubai, worked in China and lost my job. Still in a better position than when I started, but not without its share of hardship. It never gets easier!
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Llorente of Arabia http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GqF_cm8xUd...urjKhalifa.jpg |
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Are you ready for a trip down Memory Lane into the Cave of Wonders? This European Life: Cuba 300SL Gullwing Galore http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ik6lR1hxQ3...0/IMG_0933.JPG |
Interesting reading your experiences in Dubai, a tale which I've heard so many times.
Hope you found something better, onwards and upwards. |
Thank you James! Over time, one learns to get over that kind of stressful experience and keep things simple. Which leads me to... an update! Last year's hardship with a big surprise at the end.
THIS EUROPEAN LIFE: Times for Reflection |
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