The Car

Trip Start Apr 30, 2004
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Trip End May 09, 2004


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Flag of France  ,
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

What a relief when I eventually arrived and got into the nice dry office. Two charming young ladies attended me and assured me that all was in order. I wish they had had a coffee machine. We had reserved a compact model Renault Mégane with Kemwell in the United States, fine for four of us, but very tight for five. The Kemwell representative has assured us that we would get an upgrade when we arrived. The reservation was all in order, and indeed we will receive an upgraded vehicle. In fact, from a modest Mégane, we are elevated to a smart Renault Laguna Estate, diesel powered to boot. This car compares to a Ford Taurus Station Wagon. http://www.renault.com/gb/produits/laguna2break.htm.

After receiving instructions, and being introduced to the unusual key, more like a bedroom key than a car key, I sign the forms, refuse the insurance and am on my way. I have to adapt myself to narrow European streets after the broad arteries of Florida 01. Our Renault Laguna Estate
01. Our Renault Laguna Estate
 . When I get back to the café I also have to think about European parking. There is nowhere to park anywhere near the café, so eventually I have to stop outside the door, activate my hazard lights and gesticulate madly for the family to come out with baggage and load up before I cause a revolution in the street. Fortunately they catch on fast, and we are loaded and away before the drivers behind us can call the Grimaldis to cart us off to the dungeons.

As we depart, the owner closes up the café, with my breakfast still inside.

For some reason I have the dubious ability of being able to find my way around strange places (an ability that totally failed me on our penultimate day). We wind up and down the busy streets and miraculously arrive at the gates of the Old Monaco hyper car park.

A word about parking in Europe. I am used to seeing American drivers go berserk if they are unable to park right in front of the door of the place they are going to. Generally they can, but at certain times, such a Christmas, they can't. In Europe it's the other way around. You might be able to park right at the door of the place you are going to at least once in your lifetime 02. What we almost got!
02. What we almost got!
 . The rest of the time you park in hyper car parks on the outskirts of town (or here in Monaco, buried under the mountain) and either bus or walk into the centre. In this particular case there is a huge underground car park hewed out of the solid rock beneath Old Monaco. You park at astronomical fees, then ascent by stairs and escalators to the ancient alleys of Old Monaco. http://www.monaco.mc/monaco/info/aleisure.html.

We emerge from the car park beside the impressive Oceanographic Institute and Museum, perched vertiginously on the edge of a cliff. Prince Albert I was an avid oceanographer and created this project, which funded may of the expeditions of Jacques Cousteau.
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