little israel and copper starter

So another interesting thing in Itacare (now at least) is that it’s filled with israelis. One very cute Israeli, Tal, helped barter Zak’s and my abada (capoeira pants). Wish he was there when I rented the scooter for fortune! On our way back, he asked me, or stated, “so you’re 29.” Made my week! – perhaps made up for the broken scooter which had to be started by a piece of copper wire. Although this was somewhat exciting and romantic at first, it soon became tiring looking for this 1 inch piece of copper wire in the black insides of my fanny pack. Of course, I lost it once and Salo made another for me from street wire, having the guy who charged me R$2 to park there help him strip the wire. Of course this wire was way too tricky and long and took eons to maneuver to start the bike. Even if it did start, it would fall out and stall. All this time of course the carrying compartment didn’t lock. One day they came to the house and took the bike to replace the start w/ a key. While I was skyping zsuzs, they threw the key up to me. After this, I could no longer OPEN the carrying compartment. … All this, I paid R$40… (which I had talked him down from $50)… I was really going to give the bike back Tuesday, but bcuz of my foot, I decided to keep it and talked him down to R$30/day… I think that’s a lot and I’m so horrible at bartering, but I havent’ found a single other place. i guess i should b happy for the lesson in how to hotwire a vehicle.