Driving in Europe = We’re Idiots
All is well as we continue to slog our way to Mainland Europe via ship. We have found our groove and are happily settled into a nice work/explore balance. With a lot of work projects on our plates, we can sometimes have difficulty establishing a nice pace. That’s not the case this time around.
High fives all around. Well, mostly.
After a week at sea, we had our first stop – the Canary Islands. In celebration of making it to land, we decided to do something we’ve wanted to do for a long time. We rented a car. Please understand, we never do organized cruise port tours, opting instead to do our own thing. Moreover, we’ve always been hesitant about renting a car in situations like this. Why, you ask? Oh, for about a billion reasons. Sleazy independent franchises, long lines, trumped up car damages, etc.
So, you can imagine how stoked we were to find the friendliest people imaginable behind the Hertz counter.
“What about scratches?” I asked.
“As long as you bring it back in one piece, all is bueno,” the uncharacteristically charming representative assured us as we hightailed it off the lot.
So off we went towards stop #1 – the beach. Windows down, sun shining, day made. It was like a Go-Go’s video. At first.
After taking the above photo and jumping back in the car…
Caanan (after a lot of futzing around): Oh f***.
Side note: so much for trying not to swear.
Kent (distracted looking at pictures on the camera): What? Did something get stolen?
Caanan: No… I can’t get the car in reverse.
Kent: Oh f***.
Side note: so much for trying not to swear.
Caanan (sweating, trying to maneuver the stick over): Tell me this isn’t happening.
Kent (trying to heave the stick over to the “R” position from the passenger’s seat): In the U.S. I know you push down really hard.
With no manual in the car, this went on for about 20 minutes – until we finally decided that one of us would have to push the car out of every spot we parked in for the day.
Please take a moment to imagine how stupid we looked doing this for the duration of the rental.
Not until we got back to our drop off point did we figure out that the car had a pull up lever that had to be engaged in order to get the car in reverse.
We have to pull it together.
I had a rental car that was a stick when I was in Spain for six weeks during my first guidebook stint…and, oh wait, I had NO IDEA (still don’t) how to drive stick. So that was fun.
Canaries! Were they rad?
Yes… a stick is bad enough… now add in the fact the we couldn’t figure out reverse. Pathetic.
The island we were on was beautiful. A place we’d return to.
Oh my goodness! The bright side is that you did it in Canary Islands (where, I assume, traffic is less worse than in any big city in Europe).
Good point. The traffic wasn’t too bad. But that doesn’t erase the fact that we looked like dummies
OMG I LOVE THIS… too funny!!! Wow… okay I won’t judge I know I have had my moments. Oh & FYI that pic of yall two is AMAZING. Yall both look great and love the color.
Oh.. easy for YOU to laugh about.
That was the last decent picture of the day because it was about the last moment that we looked calm, cool and collected.
What a story!! I can only imagine what would happen if this were to happen to you in India, with the kind of crazy traffic we have!!!
What! No video? *pout* That’s truly funny and kudos to you both for surviving, admitting it and posting about it. It’s those subtle differences that make a trip an adventure. *grin*
Video would NOT be pretty in this case.
Fortunately no one could see me – but it took me15 minutes to get my key out of the ignition in a rental car in the US.
Your post brought a smile to me face!! I would have been in exactly the same predicament. You’d think they might let you know ahead of time. At least now you know!
Glad it made you smile!
Sounds like exactly the kind of predicament I’d find myself in. The car rental experience reminded me of renting a car in Ireland (infamous for dangerous driving). The car had dents and scratches all over — this was Hertz, not Rent-a-Wreck, but we soon found out why. Also, for the 10 days we had the car, we never figured out how to get the defroster to work.
We figure we’re better off – and the world is a lot safer – if we minimize our involvement with rental cars.
Hah! Was it a Swedish car? Our old 80′s era Saab has one of those lift for reverse thingies, too. (Though from the photo, that one looks a bit newer.)
But we almost always have something similar happen to us. Because our car is so old, I sometimes feel like I’m entering a cockpit when we rent a new car. So many buttons and dials and I have no idea what they do!
It was a new Toyota Auris (that almost got driven into the ocean!)
When my aunt got married, she and my uncle arrived separately and it was agreed that my mom would drive my aunt’s (new-ish) car home with all the leftover stuff (and I’d drive my mom’s car). However, her car was a Kia, which NONE of us (my dad, mom, brothers, cousins, myself) had ever driven. There were maybe 10 of us standing there, unable to figure out how to get the car in reverse. It was a manual, but the gear locations were worn off on the top of the shifter and we couldn’t figure it out. So yes, we too pushed it out of the parking space in neutral and then went on with our day.
Oh, that’s funny! And makes us feel not so bad. Thanks, Emily
I don’t suppose it was a Volvo, was it? Or maybe it’s a VW model I’m thinking of… Hmm. I remember that when a friend in the US showed me the “pull up” trick on the stick I was shocked. I thought to myself, “Wow, good thing I never tried to rent one of these…” Glad you managed to make it back in one piece.
We were never so happy to be relieved of a rental car.
I almost had coffee out the nostrils imagining you two pushing the car each time you needed to reverse and what the locals must have thought. Too funny. Thanks for sharing
Thanks, Pete! Any good rental stories from over in Turkey?
I don’t know…sounds perfectly reasonable to me!
Totally wish there were pics of the scene I envision this to be…
And don’t sweat the swearing. It’s just a word!
Well… I agree, but we gave f*** A LOT of power that day
Lol if I had car rental troubles, I would have just posted this hot photo of myself and been done with it! I barely drive automatic cars in the US, but I really loved having a rental on Gran Canaria, because the weather was so different even just driving 20 minutes north and south. (My friend drove.) Hope you figured it out!
As always, love the way you think Abby
I’m digging the pic! Who are those cool cats chilaxin on the hood of that sweet ride?!!
Thanks, Cam. I think we’re both thinking “I hope someone doesn’t run by and steal our camera!”
Driving through Europe always brings new changeless
LOL That sounds like something we would do. Except I’d be the one pushing while Gerard tries to stir. Haha.
and by stir.. I meant steer. (English is getting terrible after 4 months in Asia)
HAHA, I can picture you guys having to push the car. Maybe you should have taken a tour huh?
Maybe. Probably not.
Look at your guys and your ultra cool vibe there… were you filming a music video or something?
Funny story – sounds like something that would happen to me!
Yes, we managed to slip in filming s music video. Any chance we have to make a little extra money
What island were you on in the Canary Island? Tenerife? When I was there I had a rental car too, I was fine with reverse but my problem was reading the signs in spanish especially at night when I had no idea where I was going and I kept getting lost! haha
Yes, Tenerife. Very brave of you to drive at night. Can you imagine the mess we’d be in had we tried that?
That is hilarious!! Luckily David and I will not be renting any cars. I am still blown away how they drive on the opposite of the street. I just can’t understand how I could ever do that. We actually saw a US car in Ireland the other day. It looked very misplaced. We had to do a double take.
Good decision to not drive if you can make it happen.
BEST. LAUGH. OF. MY. WEEK!!!!!!!!!
The truth is, there’s every good possibility I would do this as well. No way is one of my talents figuring out the simplest things. I always made it harder than it needs to be.
At the end – once we figured it out – it all seemed SO simple. Stressful, but it made for a fantastic belly laugh.
Oh my, I can totally envision you two having to push that car out of parking spots while people look around in confusion.
We’re at the end of a week-long road trip around Ireland, which has been our first time renting a car abroad. Ireland is like the worst place ever for it – there are so many car accidents and repair work is so expensive that credit cards specifically exclude rental insurance just in Ireland – but it’s been a blast. I think I’ll be glad when we return the car in two days, though, so I can breathe again!
That sounds risky. We’ll be waiting for your confirmation of the safe return of the rental car
You. Are. Hilarious.
Haha, oh no!!! I can just picture you guys taking turns pushing the car out of parking spots…
I’ve made my own share of stupid mistakes while driving abroad, though. My first time driving a rental car in NZ, I failed to notice that the parking break was on. And, as someone who comes from the flat Midwest where we don’t USE parking breaks, I had no idea why my car was squealing down the highway – and neither did the two friends traveling with me. It was both hilarious and embarrassing!
I hope you’re not leaving out the part where the transmission was ruined and you had to pay big bucks
hahaha at least you did not damage it!!
oh my gosh – i’m visualizing you guys pushing your car out of the spot!! hilarious!!!
love that you found out, even if it was upon the return!
Ha! Hopefully you eventually figured this out. I have to admit that in all my trips to Europe, I’ve never rented a car. After reading your story, I don’t think I will. I’ll stick to public transportation!
dont worry it happens all the time