( Georje this image of the gelato is for you)The Cars (love em) and Drivers (hate em) of Southern Italy
The Cars
There are an amazing number of beautiful small economical cars here that are not offered for sale in America. They are not the boxy cars of the past. They are sleek, stylish and fast too. Fiat is by far the most common make of car here. But there are many Fiats, a wide variety of styles and price ranges, that are not offered for sale in America.
My favourite car here is the Alfa Romeo. There are many models of this car not offered in America. Italian makes of cars I have never seen in America include: Lancia, Taglio, TDC, Piaggio (trucks) and Cresta. You also see other European made models not offered to Americans from Citroën, Peugeot, Renault (French), Opel, Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW, Ford (German), Voxal, and Austin (England). Yes, the Fords here are made in Germany. Instead of being flooded by Japanese cars, Americans should DEMAND access to some of these great gas saving European cars.
The Drivers
A dire warning! If you come to Italy you must remember… The pedestrian does NOT have the right of way here. This bit of information could save your life. I have know this since the beginning of my stay here. I have kept my eyes open and my ears pealed. But I have still had several close calls. Once a driver going one direction motioned for me to cross in the crosswalk. But a driver came along from the other direction with different ideas. Another time in a place where the sidewalk was too thin with untrimmed bushes, on a blind curve. The car, going VERY fast, brushed me and I screamed!
Jeffo, the man from Ohio who visited me and took me and my roommate Agnes on tour said he was at first shocked at himself when he started running stop signs and passing on the wrong side, like the Italians. Now after 5 years he says he does it everyday with out hesitation or a second thought.
I asked my friend Enzo why these usually very friendly and polite people are such mean and terrible drivers. He said “Well when they get into a car… they change from Hobbits to Orcs.”
Blessings:
- Brenda, my classmate from Texas. She has lived here for a whole year and is at exactly the same level of skill as I am in the language. Only she does not slap her forehead like I do. She just stares with her mouth hanging open like I used to.
- Only seeing ONE (1) American style SUV my whole time in Europe.
- My jewellery making kit. I put together a small package of beads, stones, cord and clasps. I have been able to make gifts for some of the people who have treated me kindly here.
Curses:
- Becoming acutely aware of the COST to live in this world. With every breath… and every tick of the clock. How much are you spending per minute to breathe? I do not think this is how we are supposed to be living.
Odd, suddenly a few homeless people have shown up here in Otranto. I was never aware there were none (duh), until some appeared. Two men with dogs who make balloon sculptures for the children for donations. Also, a woman who wears face paint and juggles for donations.
Happy happy… listening to (free!) music and typing away on this (very cheaply) rented laptop in my (semi cheaply) rented apartment.
Oh and by the way a little progress report. Not only did I get a rope on my wild heart. This week we completed halter training. I may just get a bridle on it next week and who knows… maybe saddle training is in the future!
I am FINALLY growing up.
My unbridled love goes out to you all of you.
The Cars
There are an amazing number of beautiful small economical cars here that are not offered for sale in America. They are not the boxy cars of the past. They are sleek, stylish and fast too. Fiat is by far the most common make of car here. But there are many Fiats, a wide variety of styles and price ranges, that are not offered for sale in America.
My favourite car here is the Alfa Romeo. There are many models of this car not offered in America. Italian makes of cars I have never seen in America include: Lancia, Taglio, TDC, Piaggio (trucks) and Cresta. You also see other European made models not offered to Americans from Citroën, Peugeot, Renault (French), Opel, Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW, Ford (German), Voxal, and Austin (England). Yes, the Fords here are made in Germany. Instead of being flooded by Japanese cars, Americans should DEMAND access to some of these great gas saving European cars.
The Drivers
A dire warning! If you come to Italy you must remember… The pedestrian does NOT have the right of way here. This bit of information could save your life. I have know this since the beginning of my stay here. I have kept my eyes open and my ears pealed. But I have still had several close calls. Once a driver going one direction motioned for me to cross in the crosswalk. But a driver came along from the other direction with different ideas. Another time in a place where the sidewalk was too thin with untrimmed bushes, on a blind curve. The car, going VERY fast, brushed me and I screamed!
Jeffo, the man from Ohio who visited me and took me and my roommate Agnes on tour said he was at first shocked at himself when he started running stop signs and passing on the wrong side, like the Italians. Now after 5 years he says he does it everyday with out hesitation or a second thought.
I asked my friend Enzo why these usually very friendly and polite people are such mean and terrible drivers. He said “Well when they get into a car… they change from Hobbits to Orcs.”
Blessings:
- Brenda, my classmate from Texas. She has lived here for a whole year and is at exactly the same level of skill as I am in the language. Only she does not slap her forehead like I do. She just stares with her mouth hanging open like I used to.
- Only seeing ONE (1) American style SUV my whole time in Europe.
- My jewellery making kit. I put together a small package of beads, stones, cord and clasps. I have been able to make gifts for some of the people who have treated me kindly here.
Curses:
- Becoming acutely aware of the COST to live in this world. With every breath… and every tick of the clock. How much are you spending per minute to breathe? I do not think this is how we are supposed to be living.
Odd, suddenly a few homeless people have shown up here in Otranto. I was never aware there were none (duh), until some appeared. Two men with dogs who make balloon sculptures for the children for donations. Also, a woman who wears face paint and juggles for donations.
Happy happy… listening to (free!) music and typing away on this (very cheaply) rented laptop in my (semi cheaply) rented apartment.
Oh and by the way a little progress report. Not only did I get a rope on my wild heart. This week we completed halter training. I may just get a bridle on it next week and who knows… maybe saddle training is in the future!
I am FINALLY growing up.
My unbridled love goes out to you all of you.
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