Had to get this in for Ned and Lise before they hit the Italian coast. Sorry there are no pictures, but you can skip it, just like in driver's ed, there will be a test.
Jim’s advice about driving is to always pay attention. People do the darnest things! Just because it is your lane does not mean that other people will not be in it. People will pass on curves to appear suddenly on your side of the road. Everyone does their best to make their trip a straight line. This may mean they are in your lane coming from the opposite direction. Motorcycles consider the white line a passing lane. If people see your car in front of them, they will speed up to pass, even if they are turning off immediately in front of you. If you are trying to pass a car and someone comes up behind you, you might as well just let them go, because they will pass even if it means hitting your from behind.
Obey all traffic signs such as: Do not run into a truck from behind just because you are going up hill. (there is an international symbol for this) or fog decreases visibility. The worst is when you get a gang up of international signs. First it is deer bounding over the road, then rocks falling from above, then the roadway is crumbling beside you, next the are bumps and finally the most frightening symbol of all: the exclamation point. You can be sure it is not going to be a happy surprise. In the mountains you will often see the words, “tornada” or “tornade”. You do not need to head for shelter. It means there are a series of hairpin turns. Most are 180 degrees or they do not qualify.
You will need a navigator. As an English speaking person it is hard to do it alone. On the east coast we at least recognize a round about. You people in the rest of the country may be in for a shock. Google map directions are ridiculous and inaccurate. I.E. In one minute take the first exit at the round about on to Via Gran Sasso. In two minutes take the second exit at the round about on to SS 16. If Google gives you a name it will not be listed. There are other things that look like triangles, not a traditional round about. I am pretty sure Google considers them a round about as well. As you come into a round about you will see a list of 4 - 10 place names. Do not panic if you do not see the name you want. It may be at the next exit from the round about. Remember, you do not have to pay to go around a round about. Go around as much as you like.
The autostrada signs are green. Town names are blue. Industrial parks and nature preserves are brown. Black letters on white backgrounds are probably businesses. The most important name to you will undoubtably be on the bottom of the sign post. Keep your finger on the map where you are at all time. You will not be able to find your place again in an emergency. As in the United States, roads are often marked with the furthest destination on the road. So the road to Pescare or Rome may say something like Bologna, Bari or Pescare, Rome.These towns are in opposite directions, but if you don’t know that it can be confusing. It is not too bad with the big towns, but with the smaller towns you may need to look a long way up or down a road on your map to find the town that is listed.
You will be the slowest car on the road. Alfa drivers are by far the most aggressive. You will get lost, but that is part of the adventure. You will probably get found again. The word you must know is “dove”. It is pronounced Doe ( a deer) vey (as in oi vey). It means “where.” You can imagine why this might be useful. People are very helpful, especially older people with nothing to do.
There are lots of tunnels so keep your lights on day or night. There are also lots of bridges, but tunnels are popular. (less problems with the falling rocks) If you do not know which way to go, go someway with a look of confidence. You can always turn around later.
People do not pull through parking places. Everyone backs out. If you can pull through: do it. People will park anywhere including under no parking signs. If you look at the guard rails you will see that they are all dented at the point where a car would lose control on a curve.
You will be driven crazy by children sitting on their driving parents lap, or possibly holding the wheel, or sitting on the lap of the front seat passenger or sitting with their face only inches from the windscreen. You will see children standing in front of their parents who are driving a Vespa. You will see bikers hanging on to motorcyclists. You cannot do anything about it, except try not to hit them or let them hit you. No matter what it will be your fault that the airbag went off and killed the unseat-belted 30 lb kid.
But in spite of all this bad press, you can do it. You need someone who can read a map and spot a cafe in time. The cafes on the autostrada are quite good. They sell all kinds of interesting Italian stuff as well as hideous children’s toys. To buy a cafe or pastry, you need to go to the cashier and tell her what you want and pay. Then you take your receipt to the pastry person to get your croissant, and then to the barriste to get your coffee. Only foreigners eat them at the same time. Most people are done with their pastry by the time they get their coffee. It is a little confusing, but mostly people are very helpful and they know in a second you are not Italian. Your accent is terrible and you are not dressed well enough. They may also recognize you as that driver who was going so slow. Lastly, it is possible that the Carbinieri will stop you for going only 20 km over the speed limit. It makes them suspicious. (yes this happened to us)
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