I just reviewed some numbers that have come from this trip to date. I left Denver, CO the day before Thanksgiving 2008, so have been on the road for just about 12 weeks.
Total Miles: 9200
Countries: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica.
Gas: $30.00 got me 1000 miles, on average. (Gas was most expensive in the US, but not by a lot).
Cost of living: US $100.00 per day, Central America, (excluding Costa Rica), $30-40.00 per day.
Costa Rica was maybe 10% - 20% less than the States. While rental rates and property are still inexpensive, the cost of living is high. Beer, food, utilities, smokes, a movie, a cell phone, etc. are similar, or more, than in the States.
Harley Davidson, Mac, Canon, all have a presence in CA, though not everywhere. But if you own this kind of hardware, (as I do), be prepared to pay upwards of 25% more for any accessories, supplies, or parts you may need for them, in comparison to the US.
Looking at the larger picture of trade issues between CA and the USA / Euro countries, there are negotiations going on now between them all to get some kind of balance but I have read the discussions aren't progressing well. Here is a section of an article in World Trade magazine; , "Even laggards such as Haiti would be forced to reduce barriers to entry and reform their economies if Central America and the Caribbean embark on long-stalled plans for economic integration, a prospect that may get a boost from the slowdown in the United States.
"When times are tight, that can be an imperative for more economic integration," says Richard Feinberg, a Latin America specialist at the University of California, San Diego. Ruccio agrees: "In this economic climate, we will see more discussion of a Central American common market." Ultimately, Central America may join South and North America in a Free Trade Area of the Americas, which would extend NAFTA all the way to Chile--a far-reaching trade agreement that would revolutionize business in the hemisphere...
The article is here: state of the economies in CA, if your interested.
I have to ask then, after consideration of this article, "Why are we building walls along our borders rather than deleting them?
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Hey Brother,
ReplyDeleteWas great to spend a few days with ya. Was sad to see ya hit the road. But a man's got to do what a man's got to do. Hope all is going well. To bad the weather wasn't a little warmer when you left. But I'm sure your gear helped out . I had a nice ride out of Chicago to Milwaukee. Woke up this morning , and someone busted out the drivers side window of my truck and got cash and tools. So I'll be looking for a window tomorrow. Hope you were able to get your shift linkage taken care of, in a short time. Take it easy and get some pics of New Orleans , on here. Today is fat tuesday, party time there. Til next time be safe and God bless bro.............
"Woke up this morning , and someone busted out the drivers side window of my truck and got cash and tools. So I'll be looking for a window tomorrow".
ReplyDeleteThat's fd up. Hope ins. covered something...
The linkage was a pain in the ass, but only took about a half an hour. Sometimes I cant believe my luck when the shit comes down, things always seem to work out.
So, you got your wiindow popped, I had a I-Pod shuffle stolen from a Target parking lot, the HOG's kickstand spring fell off and the shifter rod snapped, all in the USA, in the last two weeks...
New Orleans is a trip... I am looking forward to leaving as much as I was getting here.
La paz hermano.