Driving in Spain

We arrived in Salamanca yesterday after having a brilliant ride for 867 miles from Barcelona to Salamanca! But soon after our arrival we became nervous. Gary made the decision to disregard the GPS instructions. He had researched his path into the city and was determined to go the way he knew. We drove up and down alleyways -sometimes going the wrong way. We ran through red lights and almost ran over a few people until he finally, very reluctantly agreed to listen to the GPS...even after we got close he quit listening to the British lady telling him where to go -thinking he could get closer without help. If anyone has ever used GPS you know how they argue with you if you make a wrong turn. He finally asked me to switch her off so he didn't have to listen to her. I unplugged her and left him to his own demise. He kept explaining that we had to be on a certain side of the square. I couldn't have done this so I chose silence instead of suggestions. Salamanca looks a lot like New Orleans - old streets and alleys with no parking anywhere and certainly a city where you'd have to park your car off premises anyway so I was thinking the British lady knew what she was talking about! Sure enough, after numerous twists and turns Bubba drove down an alley crowded with pedestrians that was eventually dotted with tables, chairs and umbrellas- a restaurant blocking his way. We had to back out of the alley. In reverse. With a stick shift. I would've lost it but he was cool. And he made it without incident!

Finally, reluctantly he asked that the British lady be plugged back in. We drove straight to the hotel, checked in and I let him find the way to the parking garage without me or the British lady. No accidents, no real trouble and no one was run over. I felt GREAT!!!! It's not easy driving anywhere in Europe but these little Spanish alleys that don't look like a bicycle can fit through are actual streets!! The British lady kept telling Gary to veer right and take the next right turn and when Gary refused to go down a narrow road flanked with towering brick building on either side the lady would reroute him again and again. This is a story that will be funnier after we get to the airport in Madrid....and even funnier when we get back home to share some vino and tapas with good friends and family!