Wednesday, September 24, 2008

All I really need to know about driving I learned from musical chairs

I've recently discovered the impact musical chairs has had on my driving skills in Croatia. Let's take the Osijek hospital “parking lot” for example. The key is to drive slowly enough that a car owner returning to their car will be easily noticed but fast enough to avoid the wrath (and accompanying horn) of the driver behind me.

It feels like those circles around the chairs where you (try to) inconspicuously speed up to the next chair and instantly slow down so you stay close to the chair for as long as possible. When the music stops and you’ve found the last chair or when you find that parking spot – pure exhilaration! You just wish you had the rest of the classroom looking on in envy when you open your driver’s side door and raise your arms in victory.

Croatian cities - and most other European cities for that matter – are choked with traffic. I don’t see any relief in sight. So although more people do it here in Croatia than America I will still recommend my friend Milo’s idea. He’s no tree hugger, but he’s been using his head (and legs) while saving at the pump and doing what he can to lessen the number of cars on the road.

Incidentally another blogging friend of mine has begun using a bicycle as well. Lazo’s daughter is too cute to pass up taking a look!

3 comments:

Laci and Keri Németh said...

And I would like to draw your attention to the car in the Garage... all you can see is just a little white shadow, but it actuall is our Stationwagen...

Lazo

Milo Wilson said...

You may have seen this already, but this commercial is a funny depiction of exactly what your post describes...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azT695Wbo78

Jeremy said...

Wow, I hadn't seen this before. Ironically I was driving our new KIA when I had the idea for this post.