Today we drove to Marbella, about 25 minutes west, to buy some things at the department store El Corte Inglés. Our local store didn't have what we needed and the web page said Marbella did. Marbella did not. What they meant when they said Marbella was Puerto Banus (10 minutes further west).
As we got out of the car in the garage in Puerto Banus, San Geraldo asked if I could remember where we parked. I said, "Absolutamente, S1, numero 91."
We went across the street for lunch and then returned to shop. Finally, we headed for the car.
We went from Level 2 of the store to the Ground Floor. We couldn't find the elevator we had taken earlier. So we took the escalator down one floor but when we entered the garage it appeared to be a different one. We went down another floor and then back up three.
San Geraldo said, "I thought you said you absolutely knew where we parked."
I said, "I do! Level S1, spot number 91! I never said I could find the parking garage. We were still in the garage when you asked me!"
Finally, I asked for help. We got to the garage and I found our car. ("I told you I knew where it was!")
We then followed signs for the exit. It took us only three times around Level S1 to finally escape.
Our new car's navigation system is excellent and, when we listen to it, it's a tremendous help. Too bad we couldn't use it in El Corte Inglés.
On the Road Again
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| WE PASSED THIS SALVADOR DALI RHINO 4 TIMES. NEAR EL CORTE INGLÉS PUERTO BANUS. PHOTO, MANUEL GONZÁLEZ OLAECHEA Y FRANCO. |
"Take the third exit from the roundabout," she said.
San Geraldo took the fourth exit. "Oops, I think I just missed..."
"Route recalculation," she interrupted.
We found our road, but went in the wrong direction.
"Route recalculation," she said.
She said "Route recalculation" once more before we finally got on the correct road in the correct direction (having to back out of a car wash along the way).
And then the parking garage was full!
(Don't tell San Geraldo, but If I had looked around the corner when I took the first garage entrance, I would have seen our car!)
In time you will both chuckle about these first few 'new car' days.
ReplyDeleteBetween the two of you, you will have all figured out....right?
Jim:
DeleteWe've been known to accidentally enter airports, so I don't think we'll ever get things completely figured out. But we love getting lost. Just think of all the things you can discover.
Several years ago, we were driving (well, I was driving) through Los Cruces, NM... Bill turned our GPS to speak Spanish... needless to say I would have killed him if I weren't so flustered about where the heck I was going. I love this story about your parking... see... the US isn't the only place you can lose your car!
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteWe have our GPS set in English because it's easier for Jerry to follow the instructions. However, listening to "her" pronounce the names of Spanish streets is riotous. We've actually missed follow-up instructions because we were laughing so hard at her pronunciation.
oy vey! I despise parking garages; I always feel like I am driving in circles.
ReplyDeleteanne marie:
DeleteAnd with us you'd be driving in duplicate (quadruplicate) circles!
I've lost my car in parking structures on more than one occasion.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteSo have I. But I had never before lost a parking structure.
I'm glad that neither of you had to pee, and that you had no fish in a bag of water :) ... and weren't carrying a big TV in a box. :)
ReplyDelete(And I hope that you know why I'm saying all of this LOL.)
Judy:
DeleteWe had two big trash can boxes and a very heavy shelving unit in a box. Fortunately, the sales clerk went and got a cart for us. I'm so glad I didn't say, "Oh, I can manage!" (as I was about to do)!
Two words: paper maps. And get off my lawn!
ReplyDeleteWalt the Fourth:
DeleteI LOVE paper maps! And it wasn't a lawn. It was a Zen rock garden. And the new pattern was quite nice!
There have been times that I've lost a car in a parking garage, but I have never lost the entire garage. I love that.
ReplyDeleteAnd I fear that "Route recalculation" will become a new catchphrase for you two!
Bob:
DeleteSame here. This was a first for me. In the US, the phrase was "Recalculating Route" (pronounced Rowt the way Jerry pronounces it). Now it's "root" recalculation (the way I pronounce it). It makes me so happy.
Jerry is right!
DeleteSusan
I knew you would have adventures with a new car! Is that Dali Rhino playing with sea urchins? I would drive in lots of circles just to see it over and over. Did you get the items you were after?
ReplyDeleteWilma:
DeleteYes, I'm pretty sure those are sea urchins. It was wonderful. And, yes, we did get exactly what we were looking for (after the sales clerk gave me WAY TOO MUCH attitude suggesting that what I was looking for -- which I was told was in his department but was not -- was not worth his time). I stood my ground until he found out what department exactly I needed to visit and thanked him graciously. So satisfying.
Too funny, driving in Spain. But should San Geraldo drive?
ReplyDeleteLaurent:
DeleteSan Geraldo HAS to drive because I don't yet have my Spanish license. Besides, he's a very good driver; he didn't hit one single pedestrian this week!
It was ghastly.
ReplyDelete