A Bug´s Life, VW Beetle that is

Written by Bessie about Mexico. Feelin' amused

I´ve been out and about exploring San Cristobal de Las Casas, and I´ve developed an obsession, well deepened an obession really, with old school VW Beetles. They´re everywhere here, every color, and so much fun to photograph. This town might have the highest ratio of Beatles per capita, and if it doesn´t I´m on the search for the town that does. Until then, I´m captivated.

Here are some of my favories:

San Cristobal 32

This blue one digs this church.
San Cristobal 2 20

The passenger seat of this red one is covered in cow print; The white one seems ready to party.

So if at this point you´re thinking, Bess, really, you´re going through way too much effort to see every angle of the city with a Beetle nearby. But I swear to you, I´m not! These Beatles are plentiful and seem to be around each time I think, huh, that´s a cool thing to take a picture of, or when I´m walking to the store minding my own business, and poof! There´s another Beetle I have to take a picture of - don´t mind if I do. Now mind you, there has been a selection process, and not all Beatles that reside in this town have been chosen.

And perhaps the best one I´ve seen yet:

If only I was getting paid for this...

« Two Perspectives: San Cristobal De Las Casas

Son Jarocho: What La Bamba Was Before Richie Valens »

March 02, 2008 Mumsie: Tooooo Coooooool! Okay, you cutie-pa-tootie! Let's see. How to put this g-e-n-t-l-y.......This VW thing your into? You just can't HELP yourself, Bess. It's part of your Heritage, sweetheart: Your Grandpa owned and drove one bug after another! You own MOTHER had a BRIGHT Orange SuperBeetle (rounded windshield). Your biggest brother, as an innocent infant, was actually was secured in his carseat in the back of that OrangeSuperBeetle! The whole thing is so intoxicating, isn't it, dear? I'm so thrilled to see that you're handling it so well! The excitement CAN be utterly distracting! Don't let anything deter you from enjoying this VW thing to the hilt, Bess! In the moment, dear! In the moment! (So how much didja say you're makin' on this VW pix stuff?)

March 03, 2008 Kyle: Ya, my parents had a light blue one, too.

March 03, 2008 Bessie: Haaa haaa, thanks for the history! I love it.

Maybe we'll name our first child Beetle. Then it could really be part of the family... ;)

As for the making money part, maybe I could sell a Calendar Girls calendar with all my Beetles pics. I know I'd want one, but I'm the one with the obsession.

March 03, 2008 Ben: That is stunning Bess, there is a HUGE range of years that the BEETLE was produced in Central America, it is tough to tell if you are looking at a 1940s era survivor or the clean sheet metal of the BEETLE produced up until around 2000, and I don't mean the new front engine retro machine based on the Golf, I mean the BEETLE, just an extraordinary history. I really appreciate them because of the simple design, economy, and overall Earth savings of employing the same people, factories and production machinery for decades.

Not to mention it the family history we have with Beetles...

I want you to think seriously about something now... Whenever you need a car in the U.S. again, for just a little more than what we sold your Mystique for, you could be driving a really excellent vintage Beetle (at least in the summer) Your choice of color, wheels and top(topless?), and I could help you acquire it :)

Here is the clincher... The car will not depreciate, Hmmmmmm

Love you Bess, KEEP UP THE BEETLE STALKING !

March 03, 2008 Bessie: Awesome! My brother shares my Beetles craze too! I didn't realize the history that it's the body and process after all these years. That's awesome. I have a growing photo gallery of Beetle pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bessieandkyle/sets/72157604027991496/

I just might take you up on buying me a Beetle off eBay, that is if I don't settle in their native climate to enjoy them all... Remember renting one to drive to Chichen Itza?

March 03, 2008 Ben: I just checked out the full Beetle album, NIiiiiiice... I have to say my favorite is the dove grey one :)

How many times do you think a Beetle owner in Mexico has pulled on the handle of the wrong car, followed by "DUDE, WHERE's MY CAR" or "DUuuuuude, Donde esta mi Carro???" with a really long rolled R...

March 04, 2008 Bessie: HAAAA - I'm sure that happens all the time! No exaggeration, today Kyle and I were walking and saw THREE red Beetles parked in a row, and as I go to take the picture, a green one drives by and gets in the picture. No Joke. THEN, around the corner, you wonder what's there? TWO more red Beetles. Seriously. Wow. No wonder that one Beetle has every different colored part on it. I might do it too.

March 04, 2008 Kristine: Ok.... remind me never to take my children to Mexico. I think we all might come away bruised from that dang "slug bug" game. :)

The only thing that would make those shots better is to have Kyle draped across the hood, you know... for your calendar... hehehe. Maybe dress him in those Three Amigos costumes...

March 04, 2008 Kyle: Ya, they would seriously be punching each other every minute. We seriously can't walk a block without seeing at least one beetle.

March 04, 2008 DADDIO: RRRMMMM...RRRMMM...FEEL THE CLUTCH! SHIFT THE GEARS! RIDE THAT AWESOME ACCELERATION UP THE HILLS! HONK THAT FUNNY LITTLE HORN AND PUT A DAISY INTO THE DASHBOARD VASE AS YOU WEAR A TIE-DYE TEE SHIRT AND SING OLD GRACE SLICK SONGS OUT IN THE ROCKY COUNTRYSIDE. TRY NOT TO STICK TO THE OLD VINYL SEATS IN YOUR SHORTS ON A HOT DAY. TRY NOT TO DING THE PROTRUDING FENDERS AND DELICATE BUMPERS AS YOU PARALLEL PARK IN THE CITY. LISTEN TO THE WLS TOP 40 HITS ON THE AM RADIO. REMEMBER TO FILL THE GAS TANK IN FRONT 'CAUSE THE ENGINE IS BEHIND YOU, DUDES! AND WHEN THINGS GET ROUGH, JUST TURN OFF THE KEY AND COAST TO A HALT. THE ENDURING REDUCED CARBON FOOTPRINT ECONO PEOPLE MOVER WITH PERSONALITY AND NOT A SINGLE ONBOARD COMPUTER. WONDERFUL!!!

March 04, 2008 Bessie: Lucky for Kyle the Beetles don't all come with hippies. We'd be having quite the time here if that was the case... ;)

March 05, 2008 Linda: As I told you in an earlier post....!!!!! expect to see beetles. Yours all seem to have roofs. The ones that I remember from our trip to Mexico had sawed off tops thereby creating a convertible (minus the ragtop!) Further history....... my first (and last!) attempt to learn stick shift was in a 60's beetle. Part of that transmission probably has a monument build to its demise near Lake Shore Drive.....as grinding gears along the lakefront was my speciality.

March 06, 2008 Den Sue Czurylo: Your photos are great. Keep up the good work and enjoy!

March 24, 2008 Dave: haha nice beetles..especialy the last!
i have a 1976 blue 1200L

March 24, 2008 Bessie: I'm jealous - I'd really like to get behind the wheel of one!

March 24, 2008 Kyle: Want to donate it?

June 06, 2008 Abby The Niece: Cool Beetles, Bessie. I've been wanting to go with you ever since you started. I can't wait til you get back. I have my step-brother, Royce, and Ben here. I'm showing them your cool website. Thanks for putting it together.
Abby and Ben Kimbrough, And Royce Ferneau.

June 09, 2008 Bessie: It's a shame you didn't fit in our bags! I heard that when you saw the Beatles there was lots of slug bugging! Sadly that doesn't translate super well into spanish.

December 21, 2008 izzat alameddine: guys you are owsm beetle rules and there is another country wit large beetle ratio Damascus-Syria middle east

December 23, 2008 Kyle: Nice! I totally want to go there now.

September 28, 2010 sue: how long do beetle engines usually last?

February 15, 2011 izzat alameddine: hay kyle bessie since you are in asia pass by lebanon its a great country you will love it

February 15, 2011 izzat alameddine: beetle engine can last for years if you take care of it
(oil change )i have a 71 beetle it run very well

April 13, 2011 Nestor: I had the same experience in SCDLC, but I do think Oaxaca had even more beetles.
I put together a collage of the beetle pictures I took
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nestorlacle/2321012707/

A Bug´s Life, VW Beetle that is

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