JULY 11 TIMELINE OF THE VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

JULY 11  TIMELINE OF THE VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

It's the end of an era for automobile fans worldwide. Volkswagen has officially ceased production of the Beetle. On Tuesday, the last ever 'Bug' rolled off the assembly line at the VW Plant in Puebla, Mexico. Here is brief timeline of the illustrious auto's history:

1935. THE DREAM. German chancellor Adolf Hitler was insanely jealous of the success of the 'Model T' in America. Eager to replicate this in Germany, he created a car company. Hitler gave the engineers clear instructions: Create a people's car (Volk's wagon) that can drive 100 km/hr. yet also provide seating for two adults and three children.

1938. THE CAR. Three years later, the first car rolled onto the streets of Wolfsburg. Hitler loved the rounded, aerodynamic shape and called it a car for Jederman (Everyone.) The head designer was Ferdinand Porsche, who would later found his own successful auto brand. NOTE: Germans refused to use the boring name (Type #1), and it instantly nicknamed it the Kaifer (Beetle).

1945. THE RESURRECTION. During the war, the factory produced jeeps for the army. After the war, the region fell into the British Sector. To jump start the local economy, the Royal Army resumed production of the Beetle. Beetle-mania ensued. Production skyrocketed and Volkswagen became a symbol of the new Germany.

1955. THE NEW PLANT. With North America accounting for 40% of Beetle sales, VW decided to open a new factory overseas in Puebla. An amazing love affair resulted. Mexicans bought Vocho's at a staggering rate. As brightly painted taxis, they became a symbol of Mexico City.

1968 THE MOVIE. The third highest grossing film in 1968 was Disney's 'The Love Bug." It starred comedian Dean Jones as a washed up racer who finds a magical car named Herbie. #53 raced into our hearts, resulting in an uptick in sales. NOTE: Of the four sequels, only "Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo" stands up.

1972. THE RECORD. Buoyed by enormous popularity at home and abroad, the Volkswagen Type #1 produced its 15,007,034th car in 1972. This number is significant because it meant the Beetle had replaced the 'Model T' as the most produced car ever. It still holds this record, but the Toyota Prius is closing in!

1994. THE RE-VAMP. The 1980's saw sales for the Beetle decline, due in part to fierce competition from Japan (Toyota Corona) and the US (Ford Pinto). In response, engineers at Wolfsburg decided to modernize the Beetle. The original shape was kept, but everything else was updated. The result was a sensation. People loved the little touches...like a vase holder!

2003. THE END PART ONE. By the turn of the century, Puebla was the only Volkswagen factory still making the original 'Type #1" Beetle. Environmental issues (Bugs are polluters) resulted in a city-wide ban in Mexico City, and shortly thereafter VW announced the Type #1 was over.

2019. THE END PART TWO. All of which brings us back to the present. Newer models have pushed the Beetle off the coveted assembly lines at a Volkswagen plant. Three years ago, the DUNER BLOG predicted the boom of Mexican car manufacturing, and we were right. So far in 2019, has Mexico produced 1.37 million cars, a new record.  

JULY 8 HAND GESTURES WITH DIFFERENT MEANINGS OVERSEAS

JULY 6  HAND GESTURES WITH DIFFERENT MEANINGS OVERSEAS

Summer is in full swing and that means High Season for international travel. If you're headed overseas, the DUNER BLOG has some advice for you: Keep your hands in your pockets. Here's the problem: Americans can only speak English, so when they encounter a language barrier, they often chose to communicate with their hands instead of with words. Unfortunately, our common gestures can mean something completely different in another country. Here are five examples:

THUMBS UP. This gesture dates back to Ancient Rome. Emperors would use their thumb to signify whether a gladiator lives or dies. Two millenniums later, it's still great to get the "Thumbs Up." However, in parts of the world without a Greco-Roman heritage, the gesture has the opposite meaning. Fortunately, tourists don't go to West Africa, Iraq and Iran, so it's safe to use this one. The only confusing thing is Europeans start counting with their thumbs. So if a waiter gives you the thumbs-up, he is asking if you want one beer.

PEACE SIGN. When anger arises, many Americans offer the sign of peace...displaying the index and middle fingers. Also known as the 'V' for Victory, it's been used by politicians as well. It's okay to use this gesture, just be careful to always have your palm face outwards and don't go up and down. In Britain and Commonwealth countries, that means 'Fu** You!'  Richard Nixon was unaware of this and unknowingly told a crowd of Australians off!

A-OKAY. When you connect your thumb and index finger, it looks like the letters 'O' and 'K.' Which everyone knows is short for Okay. This gesture makes sense in nations that use the Latin alphabet. However, this common hand symbol has naturally evolved into other connotations in places without these two letters. In Japan, it means a coin, or money. In Greece and Turkey, it represents the 'Evil Eye' and is a curse. Definitely avoid using it in Brazil, where it means butthole. NOTE: White Power is trying to hijack this gesture.

CURLING FINGER. Mae West was the first sex star of the Silver Screen. When she wanted you to "come up a see her," Mae would curl her index finger. This popularized the gesture as a common way to ask someone to come closer. Again...just because Americans use it...does not mean the rest of the planet does. In the Philippines, it's used only for dogs. Likewise in Singapore and Malaysia, a curling finger is a de-humanizing gesture.

GOOD LUCK. When Americans want something good to happen, they cross their index and middle fingers. It dates back to Medieval times, and somehow helps humans ward off pagan spirits. Yet the simple gesture can also somehow refer to a woman's legs, as is the case in Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, crossed fingers means 'You're a slut!'

Enjoy your travels, readers. Just remember to use words and always be polite!