Watch out for this guy in the Tobolandia parking lot at the Chili Cookoff...

First he wanted to clean my car, which was already clean with blacked tires, and then, when I returned from the chili cookoff event, he wanted money for "watching" my car...!!!



As you can see, he was blocking my way and demanding money.

He has been in Ajijic for years, washing cars, directing traffic and anything else he can think of to make money. VERY persistent!

Oh yeah, remind me again why I parked on the carreterra...

You will find him every Wed. at the tianguis in Ajijic, Carretera and Revolucion, directing traffic.
A real PIA for at least 20 years or so, around here. Been known to key scratch vehicles in order to get "polish work".
I wouldn´t trust him any further than you could throw him.

Saw him today and he said he will watch my truck, spoke to me in English, I spoke to him in Spanish and said thank you and when leaving he was going after another incoming vehicle with foreigners. I wanted to have some fun with him but didn´t.

He was like 10 years old when we arrived in 2001, he lied from the time we knew him , already was a little con artists.. My husband and I went after him after we found out he had been rude to a friend of ours and to this day he does not come near us.

Ah, Antonio. Used to see him all the time when we lived on upper Colon. Drinking beer, carrying his beat box. First met him when some friends encountered him near Superlake. First, he does a crappy job washing cars. Second, he becomes obsessive and will follow or track you down to extract money from you. Third, he's very rude.

He is, however, quite persistent at finding ways to insert himself into positions where he can appear to provide some service and extract donations. Blocking traffic on the carratera on market day, parking at superlake or on lower colon on weekends. In the end, you should be nice but firm with him and avoid him at all costs. Everyone else is quite nice in comparison...

dixonge wrote:In the end, you should be nice but firm with him and avoid him at all costs. Everyone else is quite nice in comparison...

I agree with you on all counts.  In this encounter I just wagged my finger and said, "No, no" when he approached my wife through her open window.  He gave us a very menacing look which I have never experienced with other locals.  The entire incident was captured on my dash-cam.

He's why some of one of the first things I learned to say in Spanish after arriving here were "No tocar mi coche".

No need for that when "fuck off" works just fine with him. Pardon my language. He no longer even approaches me.

We also encountered Antonio in 2001, at SuperLake and let him know what would happen to him if he even touched our car. Never a problem in the next decade or more. He has to be 'managed', as he is almost impossible to avoid.

The elderly man at Superlake they call "Abuelo" can manage him. I heard him once tell off Antonio and called him a "hijo de puta" - he just shrugged and giggled. I'll bet the story is not far from the truth anyways.

I had forgotten about "Abuelo". Yes, he did seem to have some control over 'Tonio' when he was a kid.

Wow. It really doesn't matter what your origins in life are.
I first encountered Antonio in 2011 when we moved to Ajijic from San Pancho. He is rude, pushy and arrogant. Having also told him to F. off at that time, we now have a respectful understanding and he crosses to the opposite side of wherever I am walking. He's a grifter that is best avoided.

The best I heard from the little puke many years ago was that his baby had cancer.  I told him in less polite terms that he did not know how to make a baby with a girl.

doc holiday wrote:The best I heard from the little puke many years ago was that his baby had cancer.  I told him in less polite terms that he did not know how to make a baby with a girl.

You didn't by chance tell him to F off did you? From what you describe, it sounds like you told him much worse.

Yes he will not come near me...Sadly he behaves like the little kid that use to be my neighbor from hell and is only 9 years old. When he was 8, I caught him drinking beer and smoking a cigarette. My former apartment now sits empty, but maybe some day they will move or....Obviously this poor kid has no future and this is thanks to his parents.

RVGRINGO wrote:We also encountered Antonio in 2001, at SuperLake and let him know what would happen to him if he even touched our car. Never a problem in the next decade or more.  He has to be 'managed', as he is almost impossible to avoid.

So what did you tell him that would happen to him that he could comprehend and be so fearful of?  

Just curious B, as i know you don´t resemble Hulk Hogan

That clown has been a plague since I moved here in 2008 (and long before that I've learned). My one and only encounter with him outside Farmacia Guadalajara when I first arrived was enough. He hasn't approached me since and I don't much resemble Hulk Hogan either. Tone is everything with "Tonio"......

Clue:

What do most young boys fear the most?

Catholic priests??

Nope.....

I actually paid him to wash my car last Saturday at the Fest. Paid him in advance. He didin't do it. He's a total PIA.

Good one Bob