“N” for “New Driver”

They say: when one thing goes wrong, all things go wrong, and I couldn’t agree more!

For a long time now, the Iraklion center faces chaos with its traffic, but only if you experience it yourself can you totally understand it.

And, since I started driving, boy have I experienced it!

It was a sunny Thursday and I had gone to my father’s village to help with the restoration of his old paternal house. When I returned to Iraklion, I made the mistake of driving through the center, because I had some unfinished work at my office, although I had the day off. 

Big mistake!

Till then, my day was excellent. Name one person that wouldn’t be happy and calm after spending a day close to nature’s beautiful landscapes, and the rhythms by which the village people live.

Then I made the mistake that ruined my day.

First of all, take under consideration that the traffic lights were, as usual, out of order. Secondly, consider that it was in the midst of SALE DAYS, so the traffic was increased.

Anyway, somehow I managed to reach the street where my office is located. Now all I had to do was to find a parking spot, which should be easy, for my tiny car.  Wrong.

After almost 20 minutes of going around the streets, I found one good spot. Finally! Or so I thought.

But how was I supposed to put my car in that little spot on such a narrow street with cars parked on both sides?

I kept saying, I’ll make it . . .  I’ll make it. But I didn’t.

As I had turned the steering wheel all the way to the right, while backing in and watching the rear, I was almost in when I looked around and saw that the front of my car was about to hit the car parked on the left!

The driver that was following me started honking – and I became paralyzed.

When you are a new driver and trying to park, and everybody behind you honks and yells, and then you almost bump another car, what do you do?

But, of course you run away and the one behind you steals your parking spot.

As I couldn’t find a spot where I could actually manage to park, I decided to drive into the alley, across from my job, leave the car with the flashers on, take the papers that I needed and leave. Wrong, again.

Just how was I supposed to manage that maneuver when the alley was almost blocked by a huge Mercedes and a high pavement?

At least I tried. Oops! I sort of hit the Mercedes. Luckily, it had so many dents and bangs all over, nobody would see the difference!  And, since nobody began yelling at me, I drove my tiny car away and headed home.

This time, parking was a piece of cake. I found my usual spot free, exactly outside of my house. What a relief!

An hour later, around 8:30 in the evening, I left again. As I got into my car, I noticed a little yellow paper below the windscreen wipers.

Ah, another annoying advertising brochure, I thought. Wrong, again!

It was a ticket for illegal parking on the wrong side of a two-way street . . . 80 euros! 

A ticket right outside of my own house, can you imagine?

It was then that, I removed the big red “N” (for new drivers) from the back window of my car. After all, what difference did it make?