“There are many spokes on the wheel of life. First, we’re here to explore new possibilities.”
Ray Charles
At the end of a long week of searching, I’ve let go of my ideal van. Deep breath__
Day 1: Jojo and Charli welcome me into their home in Berlin. It is the best neighborhood, because my friends are there, dealerships are plentiful, & there is cheap Turkish food. I visit 4 dealerships, 2 of which were fake addresses. Auto Leo is my first stop, and although they don’t have any vans, they tell me they will search for me. My phone gets loaded with data, so navigating is easier by the end of the day. At night, I scroll through endless options on apps, Facebook Marketplace and Ebay. No van today, but what did I expect?
Day 2: Waifted to South Berlin, with a transit card loaned to me by Charli. A charming converted Renault Kangoo is the best option so far, from a couple that traveled to Spain in it. However, friends discourage me from getting it because it is small and unreliable. I trudge to half a dozen “dealerships” afterwards, all wrapped in chain link fences with small garden shed offices. They speak German, Arabic, Turkish or Russian. I speak in mimes or using Google Translate. I return to the home base empty handed, & exhausted.
