Although we have not moved a single inch on our way to Mongolia yet, I think I can say even without the benefit of alcoholic beverages that we try to push on as much as we can. We took a temporary accommodation at Mr. Simek's car repair shop in the western part of the Czech republic and worked on car mainly during the nights when the shop was closed. Umm, there used to be a time in my youth when nights were for socializing with my girlfriends or enjoying a pub night. Now I work. Sometimes I really miss my younger years...
The problem with the car is twofold. First, the car is old and so some of the parts would prefer to die rather than being installed back into the car. As a defensive measures they use rust, easy breakage, unavailability of spare parts etc. Of course we fight back with the mechanics' strongest tool - a wide ranging selection of swear words.
The second problem is a result of the car being completely stripped for the purposes of painting the chassis. This brings the problems of trying to force into the car all the ill-fitting windows, accessories and similar parts that may not be necessary for the trip, but that are required by the local Ministry of Transportation. The car had to be painted as a result of a wide ranging welding of the chassis and this decision was made by my friend while there was still a plenty of time. And then, how it always happens, he ran out of time.
I should also say a thing or two about the country. I guess it is always good to follow many travelers who do their best to annoy the locals with their opinionated comments on the life in the country of their one week vacation. Yet it might be a bit difficult for me as I lived in the Czech republic for almost the full first half of my life and thus I collected a nice assortment of biases. Now, being back here, I feel like being in a well known foreign country. One of the facts of life here is that, as some people say, nothing seems to be possible to get done here, but everything gets done in the end. People do not smile much and the usual answer to "How are you" is fairly negative as in "It sucks". However, this answer provides as much information as the stock Canadian answer "Great, thanks" - i.e. nothing. This society is also a "form over content" society which brigs some challenges for a common law country traveler. Now, in order to use my quota of one cliche a day, I have to say that in general the people here are more or less the same as people back at home. And, as our experience shows, they are also very helpful. The countryside is lovely and there are historical buildings everywhere (with a lot of Gothic ones). If you want to visit, do so. Just do not stay here for too long if you try to reach Mongolia.
So here we are, one week into our trip, sleeping on a floor of the local car shop. But the car is getting finished and soon we will push on regardless.