Maiden Voyage
When we found out we were coming to Rome- and as diplomats, no less- it was a no-brainer that we would keep my husband’s car. Although not as comfortable as my Volvo wagon, Erick was insistent- the black mercedes would be our car in Italy. With great sadness, we sold the Volvo and became a single car family.
Truth be told, I haven’t driven since we arrived. It’s scary out there. Chaotic. Absolutely insane. Terrifying. Not. Worth. It.
The buses are GREAT…
Until now. Today, I bit the bullet. With fear in my heart, three sets of keys, two bags, my cell phone, and a GPS system, I was out the door. Ready to go. Practicing my deep breathing before I even got to the garage. The narrowest garage and driveway you’ve ever seen in all your life with no visibility when you are pulling out onto our narrow one way street.
Con calma, per favore.
It took me longer to drive to pick up Clara from school than it takes to walk, but that’s not important. What is important to note here is that as soon as I was in the flow (if you can call it that) of traffic, it made sense. The chaotic dance of motorinos, trucks, pedestrians, drivers making up lanes that don’t exist, and cars double parked on the street seemed sensical and normal.
Why did I get in the car in the first place, you might ask? My mission was to get Clara into swim lessons (that were not close to our house- at all). Now, that met with complete failure. I couldn’t even get Clara into her swimsuit, much less the pool. But the triumph of driving in Rome overshadowed the minor glitch that is Clara’s stubborn nature right now.
Because I’ve got a new lease on living here! I’m driving…
May 7th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Congrats on facing your fear!
May 7th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Yay you!
And itsn’t is fun how things that make no sense from one perspective suddenly become crystal clear from another?
May 7th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Good for you! Brave one…
May 7th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Wow! You are one brave mama!! Congrats on overcoming this fear! I would have been terrified too! (Oh and Josh may not make it to his upcoming swimming lessons either - and I live in the same town where I grew up and have to drive less than a mile…)
May 7th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Go girl. That’s very impressive. I drove in Florence but I don’t know about Rome….
May 8th, 2008 at 5:11 am
Congratulations! In the 21 years I’ve lived in crazy traffic countries, I have never driven a car. I relish my summers at my mom’s, driving a car (though I’m often embarassed to drive her particular luxury brand car, especially in the ecofanatic town she lives in).
Now you have to try out Napoli! Not even the street lights stop drivers there!
May 8th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Good for you! We contimplated renting a car when we were in Italy but after watching the craziness in Rome decided we would stick to trains and the metro. I love that you can walk most places you need to go, what a healthy way to live.
May 8th, 2008 at 10:04 am
It’s been a long time but I was there and remember quite vividly the traffic situation. Brave woman, you are…
October 17th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
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