It had to happen eventually …... the coming of the much promised car – Pierre the Peugeot!!
On the 24th March, the proud new parents met Pierre for the first time. Of course, not without a few birth-pains and a very long labour (four months is pretty long for a Peugeot). Armed with an insurance certificate (in order to get a reasonable premium of course we had to import insurance history proof from Oz), roadworthiness certificate (essential for new cars these days – just ask Toyota), our TomTom and a good modicum of 'hope' we set out once again for the dealership. This time re-directed to the Administrazione where an entirely new bunch of people ignored us. All in Italian, an hour or so later we are introduced to all the cute behaviours of Pierre by a delightful mechanic chap who drove the gleaming new(ish – remember it had sat there for four months) car to the car-park and handed over the keys.
At that point, I installed the TomTom (as shown doing so in the photo) and leapt into the vehicle to drive off. If you click on this photo to see the large version, the astute observer may notice a red light shining through the windscreen. That was actually the brake light of the car that backed towards me, unseen until, we having travelled precisely one metre, he nearly ran into me. So our first Italian accident was avoided (just) within one metre of assuming driving control.
Italian new cars are little different to Australian new cars because the first thing you see when you turn them on is a warning light that says that you are desperately low on fuel. You can't ruin profits by putting more than a thimble full of fuel in the new car at delivery. So task #1, after waving to the chap who nearly hit us, and belting out onto the wrong side of the main road outside Pierre's erstwhile home (actually the right side, which is the right side here but the wrong side in Australia), was to find a servo. It was by then the evening peak hour in Rome and a great time to get to know a new car.
TomTom took us onto the freeway. Not a good idea, I thought, when one doesn't really have any fuel – running on the fumes from a proverbial 'dirty rag'. But I took heart because there on the other side of the divided freeway was an excellent servo. I thought “If they can have one on that side, so should we”. And I was lucky to be on my side because the other side was a car-park with very congested traffic all the way back from the lovely servo to the entrance of the tunnel. Wouldn't want to be stuck there with no fuel!!!
TomTom takes a bit of getting used to and when he said (I had purposefully chosen the Irish chap's voice) “Take the second exit” - I thought I did. But it was a U-turn exit that put us back onto the other side of the freeway. Remember ….. the side with the nice servo and the traffic from Hell. So … there we were.... evening peak hour..... brand new car …... no fuel..... about to run out in one of the two lanes that ran through the tunnel..... and cursing the Irish!!! After a gut-wrenching ten minutes we freewheeled into the servo and all was well again. Saved at at last!
I hope I haven't bored you with all this but I am dedicated to truth, drama and pathos through the agency of this blog.
On the following Saturday we went to where we most fantasised about driving to during those cold, winter, car-less days and nights ….... Ikea!!! Well, first to the massive shopping mall next door – Porta di Roma. Not easy to find the car-park entrance but enough parks. Does not communicate with the Ikea car-park so back outside looking for the even harder to locate Ikea entrance, then some time cruising for a parking space in very short supply.
We later discovered that above the parking spaces there are sensors that shine a green light when no car sits beneath and red when the space is occupied – cunning. Does not take into account all those double parked or parked in the isles. But we confronted a sea of red lights. Got one green one however and got the household things too heavy to carry home by bus and metro so were happy. The apartment looks much better now.
The next morning, Sunday, we drove to Frascati for coffee – only a short drive, but mostly spent getting out of Rome itself. Then, over Easter (Pasqua) we drove to show a young Australian friend her first snow, and to the devastation that was lovely L'Aquila before the quake. And on Easter Saturday, to the hill town of Soriano nel Cimini, where an old workmate of mine is holidaying. Wonderful lunch with him overlooking spectacular scenery. Easter Sunday was 'wet' but a good day for a short drive to Rome's current port – Civittavechia where the cruise liners dock.
I think I may have scored some fines over the weekend. TomTom took me to some areas where I wasn't meant to be and I suspect I was photographed for later attention. Also, although the slowest car on the roads of Italy, I think I may have exceeded some speed limits in my innocent attempts to avoid being hit from behind by maniacal speedsters. But I am learning to ignore my Irish mentor and go to more proper places and discovering how very friendly Italian drivers are.... they all want to toot their horns for me …. nice!
Spring has certainly sprung and the flowers are out in many places. The trees are starting to break out in green and, although still cold here, there is starting to be a summery 'vibe' about.
In the park near us is the site of Nero's Golden Palace (Domus Aurea) – all now ruins but interesting. Last week some of the ruins collapsed. No one was hurt thankfully but some small part of the ruins was ruined. They are just not making ruins like they used to!!!
Anyway – the wish here is for Buona Pasqua – happy Easter to you all (tutti)
Photos this time:- Pierre on delivery and in garage (the apartment we rent for him), coffee (caffe) at Frascati, snow at Terminillo, the Appenines with snow in April, beautiful downtown Soriano nel Cimini, the Soriano view from the restaurant toilet, Spring flowers in Rome and a ruined ruin.
