Since last month I have again a car. I told you that in Berlin five years ago I sold Knut, the little red Fiat 500, because I had many, many undergrounds and busses right in my neighbourhood and wanted to do a little bit for saving the planet.
When the pandemic time began I saw that this had been a fault. (It has been sort of a fault from the beginning: before I always had big and quick cars - the Fiat 500 is cute - but neither big nor quick. Though very useful in a city).
In Bavaria - in a village that has no shop, not even a bakery - I had to go by train to the next "bigger" village to buy groceries - and carry them up a long steep hill. My son helped me to find a car with 7 seats (guess why :-) - and the funny thing is that now he drives my car - and I got permanent -- No, not his Corvette, sigh..., but their family one above. (It is without a flaw - what looks strange is water from thawing frost, photographed through my kitchen window).
And I am very happy with it!
Very handy trade, Britta. You'll be enjoying life in the not-so-fast-lane with this one :)
ReplyDeleteWe, too, had a Fiat 500, cream with red leather seats, a.k.a. Gino! We've been car-free for the same reasons since around 2017 from memory but we only have the city now to contend with and getting about has proved no-fuss for us. Well, no fuss for me, personally - I don't drive! - but Mr. P says he still doesn't miss having Gino.
Pip, my Fiat 500 was red with cream white leather seats! In a city as Berlin there is no need for a car - so difficult to find a parking place, and I think it very amusing to watch people in the underground. (At the moment a bit less..)
DeleteI still have a very small car, but it doesn't matter much; since retirement I have barely driven outside my suburb. Fortunately the sons have their own family cars :)
ReplyDeleteBut now I have to weigh up the pros and cons of a small electric car.
Dear Helen, my son has these two cars (the Corvette only for summertime), but my now bought is better for him: not needing that much gasoline (though it is big too - with 7 seats...).
DeleteThe train to Berlin is a very quick one, a sprinter, thus I would never dream to go there by car. Also Munich is more comfortable with train. For my shopping a small electric car would do fine - but the 7 seats are needed when we sometimes do little trips on Sunday, with me in addition :-)
Do you receive busses when riding on buses?
ReplyDeleteIf "busses" are what in Bavaria are called "Bussi" (= kisses), it depends who is on the bus with me :-)
DeleteBritta, you are witty and pretty and clever. My dictionary says buss = archaic or dialect word for kiss. Compare with German dialect bussi - little kiss.
DeleteI only know the difference in spelling because I once made the same mistake. I know the difference between busses and buses in real life and send you xxxx.
Dear Tasker, I love real life, and agree with Mark Twain: "I can live for two months on a good compliment." Thank you!
DeleteIt makes sense to have a car in a semi-rural area. I am surprised you survived for so long without. It is becoming your home.
ReplyDeleteIt was really necessary, Rachel: one couldn't even get a taxi from the next near town (they have only three taxies!! - and those have patients to dialysis to transport).
DeleteA personal reason: some years without driving on my own made me (in imagination) a bit anxious - but: the moment I sat behind the wheel: Yippie! I LOVE it. xxx
Given the choice between Porsche and Corvette, I would take Porsche. I don't like 'fun' in cars these days.
ReplyDeleteThe Porsche is more comfortable (and safe?), and because here in Bavaria there are many fields with high crops in summer, in an SUV easier to survey. I still like "fun" in cars and enjoyed that a Corvette is always good for a gasp - but I noticed that a woman driving a big Porsche isn't invisible either. :-)
DeleteIf you are happy, the smears from the kitchen window don't matter. And what's not to like about a Porsche.
ReplyDeleteThe smears from the kitchen window don't matter very seldom for me, Joanne. I wrote a bestselling book on Household Management, thus I proved that I know the "How to.." In theory leastwise :-)
DeleteIt looks lovely Britta and black …. I always have black cars !!! XXXX
ReplyDeleteDear Jackie, thank you! My (many) cars had very different colours - red and silver and black and white - now I am very content with shiny black.
DeleteXXXX
Delete