Tom and I have driven in Italy many times, and each experience has been memorable.
Ah, Naples’s driving! Where chaos reigns supreme and traffic laws are like gentle suggestions. Picture this: you’re cruising down a narrow street when suddenly, BAM! Two cars decide to play bumper cars right in front of you. No biggie, just another day in Naples, or paradise?
“Now what?”
Your husband’s reply: “Well, it’s a good thing we don’t have any place we need to be. I don’t want to be bumper car number three.”
Thirty minutes later, your journey continues.
But wait, there’s more! You just witnessed the infamous “branch trimming pit stop,” where drivers casually park in the middle of the road to prune some pesky foliage, who needs gardeners when you’ve got multitasking motorists?
Honking horns provide the city’s soundtrack, while sidewalks double as parking lots. Why waste time finding a proper spot when you can mount the curb?
And let’s not forget the impromptu street chats. Two old friends meet, block traffic, and catch up on 20 years of gossip. Meanwhile, you’re stuck behind them, contemplating the meaning of life, or Italian road etiquette.
Who knows? Maybe, they got this right! That’s one way to get someone to listen, just block them in.
Feeling adventurous? Try passing on ramps! It’s like a real-life Mario Kart, minus the blue shells.
And just when you think you’ve seen it all, the Italian police pull you over. As they approach, you rack your brain trying to remember if you accidentally joined the mafia.
The officer took one look at my husband and declared in perfect English, “You’re American!”
We respond with a proud, “Si!” because, well, when in Rome or Naples….
An epiphany from the Italian officer. “This is an Italian car!”
Again, we respond with a “Si”.
The Italian officer now wants your driver’s license. You think: “I got this!” as you quickly and happily hand over your stateside and international driver’s license. He hands them back and says, “I like Florida!”
“Good! Now, we can go?”
The officer now eyes me suspiciously probably wondering if I’m some sort of American-Italian hybrid. Little do they know; I just wanted to blend in with the local driving madness! What do you say?
Ah! The quiet stir! It’s like that moment when you’re in a library and someone unwraps a candy bar in slow motion. The air becomes thick with anticipation, and you can hear everyone’s eyeballs swiveling in their sockets.
You hold your breath as the anticipation continues to mount, and just when you’re about to explode, the Italian officer waves you on. You peal out of there, just like the locals. Yep, when in Naples…..
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