Driving in Italy

From Venice Cindy and I hired a car to drive through Bologna, Florence, Pisa and then down the coast to Rome. We paid for the smallest possible (which in Europe means microscopic) but hey gave us something slightly larger, a Renault Megane. That is, a nice little 5-door 6-speed [sic.] diesel.

Even more interesting than a sixth gear was the fact that it had no key; you insert a card and push a button.

In Italy (as in France) the top highway speed is 130 km/h. Unfortunately there were a lot of traffic jams so I only got a to enjoy that speed some of the time.

We left the car at Fiumicino airport, on the outskirts of Rome (at the ancient port of Ostia, for you history buffs), because neither of us wanted to risk driving into the city. But when we got in there the traffic really wasn't so bad; we were able to cross streets without too much trouble. The same can't be said for Naples! The traffic there was absolutely insane! (Much, much worse than Bali.) Never mind the fingersmiths, just crossing the street in Naples means taking your life into your hands.

I must also mention how many of these little three wheel utes I saw in Italy. I vaguely remember having to learn the word for this vehicle in Mrs Pipio's Italian class but I can't for the life of me remember. (Baden, Wade? Anyone?) But we never realised how small they are - they only take a single person who drives with motorbike handlebars. Whatever it's called I want one. I can just see myself driving around Indiana in one of those!