Saturday, 22nd October, 2011

Today I'll visit a bike dealer to have my bike maintenance checked, and I've also scheduled a Child Interview. 
 

After waking up, I eat the fruit I bought yesterday night in the vicinity of the hotel, together with the bread I've bought the other day in Tikal.
I can boil water in the room, and hence prepare myself some instant coffee.
When on the road, I feel that Nescafé really is miraculous and good thing!
 

While eating this breakfast, I create a summary for what needs to be checked during the bike's maintenance.
I have to make sure that I explain it all perfectly to the dealer.
I've still got close to 50'000 kilometre of journey ahead of me, hence my favourite vehicle (Hero) will soon have over 100'000 kilometres on the tachometer


Leaving the hotel's parking lot, I rely on GPS coordinates in order to reach the dealer. 
And I arrive without any further trouble, discounting some troubles with a one way street and a traffic jam. 
 

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As I park the bike in one of the available parking lots, a giant of a man emerges from the garage. 
 

Hey, Tatsu---ya----!

It's the shop manager Jose with whom I have exchange some emails recently.
He's Caucasian

 

At his side there is another Caucasian male with a smile from one ear to the other. 
 

Oh, looking closer, it's the Polish guy I met yesterday, Jareck!!!
 

A bit unexpected, really!
 

Jareck turned back to the capital to have his bike repaired by this dealer
as something was wrong with the sound of his bike.

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Jareck turned back to the capital to have his bike repaired by this dealer
as something was wrong with the sound of his bike.
 

Jareck's website: http://www.jantarek.com/
He's immediately published me ...
 

Just like Jareck the day before, when the shop manager saw my bike, he started to noisily admire it's beautiful customisations. 
In particular, the 'Big tank' from Tour
atech, of which I had world's first made, has a good reputation. 
It goes without saying that it feels nice when people admire by own bike.
 
We enter the shop.
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They've just moved into the premises, so there is still plenty of empty space.

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The bike workshop where all the maintenance work takes place is on the 2nd floor behind glass doors. 

 

And... then … This!

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Next to the show room doors, there are permanently security guards with shot guns.
Not even in Africa I have seen anything the like, but Guatemala ...is it so dangerous around here?!
 

When I arrived at the shop it was 10am. But, after explaining my maintenance requests, getting the paper work done, leaving the bike in the garage, chatting a little bit with Jareck and the shop manager it suddenly is 12pm noon. 
 

The taxi to the hotel is organised and paid for by the dealer.
 
This type of service is a first for me.

 

I return to my hotel and start working – after all I'll have to go one a one week business trip to Salt Lake city starting the day after tomorrow. Working away all afternoon, the time for the Child Interview has come. 
 

I prepare the camera, the sponsor stickers which I'll give away as a thank you, the leaflet explaining
my journey and the charity system, the special sticker with my website etc. and then take it all to my appoint in the lobby.
 

But I can't see any kid ...

Twice a child was accompanied by an adult, but when I asked them they where not the people I was waiting for.
 

10 minutes
 
 
20 minutes.
 
 
30 minutes.


The traffic jams in Guatemala city are really bad, and there is a chance that if they'd be coming by car, they might be late for the appoint.
 
Assuming that this is the case, I wait relaxed.
 

1 hour.

Hmmm, they didn't come.

Possibly.

Or did I get the time wrong due to the time difference?!
Checking with the hotel clock though, the times are correct.


Some more waiting.
 
An hour and a half.


Maybe, something happened...

Well, for the rest of today, I decided to wait to be contacted by the person who introduced me to the potential interviewees, and hope for better luck tomorrow


Now, I'd like to let everyone now that Tatsuya Yamada will be on the radio!
 
The same World Flower Network that featured me in Morocco for the first time, invited me for the second time around.
 
Day and time schedule is as follows: November 2nd, 2011, 16pm Japan Time. 
 
Day and time schedule is as follows: November 2nd, 2011, 16pm Japan Time. 
 
 
Local time it will be 1am in the morning (not funny!)
 
 
I inform you of further details one of the upcoming days. 
 
 
I'm already getting nervous :D