Terry28 - 10-29-2012 at 04:42 PM
The Tall Mechanics of Baja
For some reason the people of Baja California believe that the taller a person is the better a mechanic they will make. This has resulted in a decided
advantage for tall people who wish to be mechanics.
The average height for males in Mexico is five feet, eight and a half inches. According to Mexican law, anyone over five feet nine can legally
advertise themselves as a "Taller Mechanico" .
This inspires great confidence in the public, and people who need car repairs of any kind will seek out these mechanics.
No one knows for sure how the system got started. One school of thought is that a tall mechanic is more intimidating than a little guy, and when he
looks down on you when hands you the bill, you are less apt to complain just because it is five times what you thought it would be.
Most researchers believe that the entire thing springs from the tradition of hanging tools from the rafters in a garage. This habit goes all the way
back to the pre-automobile, horse and buggy days. A very tall person would have no trouble reaching up and getting the right tool when needed. It
must have been a pathetic scene, watching the short ones leaping up, only to miss and fall to the floor in a heap.
Two short mechanics might resort to standing on each other's shoulders, but this was risky, time consuming, and left dirty footprints on the shirt of
the guy underneath. Most of the short guys gave up on being a mechanics, went into politics, and gained a lot of weight. You will see them on
posters at election time all over Baja.
(I stole this from Roger at Villa Bahia, in the Bay of L.A.)
ligui - 10-29-2012 at 04:46 PM
Thanks 
DENNIS - 10-29-2012 at 04:57 PM
Ahhh sooo.......Velly observant.
Mexicans seems to habitually mix personal and physical traits with their occupations and pastimes. We see the banks that are for surfers
exclusivly.....Banco Serfin, and banks for those with robust appetites and enjoy eating.......Bancomer.
Cultural differences are entertaing to observe and decipher.
Thank you, Terry....and Roger for your sharp sense of observation.
DavidE - 10-29-2012 at 09:09 PM
Banco is also the word for stool.
The kind you sit or, or...
Uh...
Well...
You know...
Marc - 10-30-2012 at 06:35 AM
