And we still own a car... in ARGENTINA!

Merida Espectacular!

Last I heard, we are still the owners of our Chevy Meriva in Puerto Madryn.  We had a fantastic deal worked out with the used car salesman. We bought the car for $8500 in September, and he agreed to buy the car back in June for 20% less.  Fabulous.  We'll take it.  We asked to get the deal in writing, but we were told by our friends that is not how things are done in Argentina, and it wouldn't matter if we did.  We were informed that the señor was very trustworthy, and a man's word was more important than a written agreement.

Gracias Mariana!!

We did everything the dealer said with the help of Mariana and Luciano.  We got the car maintenance.  We paid for insurance.  We obtained blue cards, so we could legally drive the car.  Everything. 

We have had a few experiences with car salesmen in the US who meet the slimy stereotype, so we were always a little apprehensive.  Two weeks before our departure, our Mariana called the dealer, and he confirmed that that he would buy the car back for $6000.  He took a little more than the original agreement of 20%, but we always expected an extra cut (taxes and fees or whatever), so we didn't make a fuss.  

On the day of our flight at the arranged time, Adam took the car into the shop to finalize the details.  The dealer sat him down and told him that the economy was different now, and he could only pay half the price for the car.  WHAT THE CHE BOLUDO?  Adam heard a saga...  Our friend Luciano seemed unfazed.  "This is Argentina," he said, "What do we expect?  Things are really bad now."  It was hard for us to understand how things changed so quickly in two weeks.  We looked at the numbers, and they told a different story.  

Thank you Mariana y Luciano!  We couldn't
do any of this without you!

Every Argentinian with whom we shared the story told us the same thing.  "That's Argentina!!"

Well...  the car is in the process of being sold back to the trustworthy car salesman for less than 50% of what we paid, and we have no idea where the title is.  AHHH!!  If I remember correctly, it is in an envelope, high out of reach, on top of a kitchen cabinet in our first home that Adam evacuated in haste due to the bird mite infestation less than a month after my accident while I was still being treated for meningitis in Buenos Aires.  WHEW!  It is probably still there.  Geez Adam, how could you have missed it?  Maybe the mites ate it?  

The good news is ...  It is Argentina.  I am sure someone can make a "new" title for a few pesos.  Sometimes the system can help you, and sometimes it can hurt.  You have to take advantage while you can!  Now THAT is Argentina!

And we love Argentina!!  Antonio y yo con nuestras
camisas de ARENTINA!  MESSI!!
Mundial!  World Cup!
We were up early to watch France vs. Argentina
Saturday morning, and we were all crying at the end!