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The Greatest Parking Spot Ever

Posted by on Feb 13, 2008 in Blog | No Comments

Yesterday we went to Rome. Today we’re still in Rome. Because our car is missing. Towed? Unclear. Stolen? Possible, but unlikely.

Our story starts yesterday when BenVenuto and I went to SistaFlav’s to have our Italian lesson while Mystophur went to meet with an partner in a “communications” firm. Mystophur called a few hours later elated to report that the meeting was absolutely amazing. The gentlemen is coming to Calvi on Sunday to see the convent and hopefully meet the Mayor. He’s thrilled about the project, wants to represent us and help us acquire funding from the Italian government. He is somehow closely affiliated with the Modiliagni Foundation, which gives money to painter and sculptors who are just starting out (I can totally go back to painting!). He seems almost too good to be true.

Mystophur was almost as excited about the incredible parking spot he got– right in front of the Castello Sant Angelo! A few minutes later, Mystophur called back, significantly less happy, with the news that the car wouldn’t start. SistaFlav took her motorino to fetch him (she doesn’t have a car so BenV and I waited for them at SistaFlav’s), tried the car again, assessed the parking spot, marveled at its fabulosity, and brought him back. By that point it was too late to borrow jumper cables from the neighbors so we decided to stay at SistaFlav’s and deal with the fiasco in the morning. I was very impressed with her selection of pigiami– a set with little chickens for me, with reindeer for BenV, and teddy bears for Mystophur. I have a great picture but Mystophur won’t let me post. (Email me and I’ll send it to you!)

[I would just like to say that it was really nice to sleep in a heated house. I had forgotten how nice it is to be able to leave your arms on the outside of the covers. Also confirmed: we are such black belt snugglers that sleeping in a single bed poses no problems. Not having earplugs and being in the same building as Mystophur when he sleeps, however, is another story.]

In the morning, Mystophur and I spent all our cash on jumper cables. Then we borrowed SistaFlav’s sister’s car and we all went together to rescue our sweet little Kangoo. The only problem was, the Kangoo was not where we left her. After some investigation we discovered that the area (completely full of cars, last night and this morning) is actually a tow-away zone. Hmm. Maybe the spot was not actually the Best Parking Spot Ever. But SistaFlav was shocked– towing never happens here.

So we got a phone number from the cops who were hanging out there, not at all concerned about the tens of other cars parked in this supposed tow-away zone, and SistaFlav began what turned out to be a lot of phone calls. Finally we just went to the nearest towing depot– all the cars from this region are towed to one spot, the cops assured us.

We got there, walked through the lot, and did not spot our Kangoo. She’s hard to miss, so this was painful. We were glad that we had posted those pictures of the car on the blog because we were able to read the license plate number! The blog saves the day! Except for that we were totally still in the situation. We also learned that we need the libretto to retrieve the vehicle- which being good car owners- we have safely filed away at the Casa del Popolo. Of course, without the car, we can’t get to the Casa del Popolo.

Figuring we can cross that bridge when we actually locate our vehicle, we called the other tow depots. No vehicles by that plate number. So we went to the Police Station to file a report. [At this point, Mystophur and I were high-fiving each other about the fact that we had paid extra to insure the car against thievery and celebrating the fact that we could find another Kangoo but this time be sure it’s a diesel. SistaFlav was sad to inform us that in Italy it could take up to a year to get the settlement from the insurance, so we would need to purchase another car with our own funds in the meantime. Harsh, so harsh. All high-fiving ceased.]

The cops also thought it was extremely strange that a car that wouldn’t start AND isn’t popular among car thieves would disappear and not show up at the tow depots. Alas, by the time we finished filling out the forms, we were friends with the cop. Ironically, in the police station there was a photo of the very spot we parked in front of.

Once again, we have been afforded a great gift by the blog: the emotional dissonance of “Well, at least it’ll make an interesting blog entry! Wait, SistaFlav, will you ask the police officer if we can take a picture?”

So where are we now? Back at SistaFlav’s, having called all the tow places for the second time, including the ones on the fringes of Roma. No Kangoo. So we’ll stay here tonight and appear at the tow places tomorrow- hoping that if we walk through all the lots we’ll spot our shining yellow girl. Cross your fingers for us. Josie must be hungry!

Amazingly, we still had a meeting and work session.
God bless this Alpha Team!Yesterday we went to Rome. Today we’re still in Rome. Because our car is missing. Towed? Unclear. Stolen? Possible, but unlikely.

Our story starts yesterday when BenVenuto and I went to SistaFlav’s to have our Italian lesson while Mystophur went to meet with an partner in a “communications” firm. Mystophur called a few hours later elated to report that the meeting was absolutely amazing. The gentlemen is coming to Calvi on Sunday to see the convent and hopefully meet the Mayor. He’s thrilled about the project, wants to represent us and help us acquire funding from the Italian government. He is somehow closely affiliated with the Modiliagni Foundation, which gives money to painter and sculptors who are just starting out (I can totally go back to painting!). He seems almost too good to be true.

Mystophur was almost as excited about the incredible parking spot he got– right in front of the Castello Sant Angelo! A few minutes later, Mystophur called back, significantly less happy, with the news that the car wouldn’t start. SistaFlav took her motorino to fetch him (she doesn’t have a car so BenV and I waited for them at SistaFlav’s), tried the car again, assessed the parking spot, marveled at its fabulosity, and brought him back. By that point it was too late to borrow jumper cables from the neighbors so we decided to stay at SistaFlav’s and deal with the fiasco in the morning. I was very impressed with her selection of pigiami– a set with little chickens for me, with reindeer for BenV, and teddy bears for Mystophur. I have a great picture but Mystophur won’t let me post. (Email me and I’ll send it to you!)

[I would just like to say that it was really nice to sleep in a heated house. I had forgotten how nice it is to be able to leave your arms on the outside of the covers. Also confirmed: we are such black belt snugglers that sleeping in a single bed poses no problems. Not having earplugs and being in the same building as Mystophur when he sleeps, however, is another story.]

In the morning, Mystophur and I spent all our cash on jumper cables. Then we borrowed SistaFlav’s sister’s car and we all went together to rescue our sweet little Kangoo. The only problem was, the Kangoo was not where we left her. After some investigation we discovered that the area (completely full of cars, last night and this morning) is actually a tow-away zone. Hmm. Maybe the spot was not actually the Best Parking Spot Ever. But SistaFlav was shocked– towing never happens here.

So we got a phone number from the cops who were hanging out there, not at all concerned about the tens of other cars parked in this supposed tow-away zone, and SistaFlav began what turned out to be a lot of phone calls. Finally we just went to the nearest towing depot– all the cars from this region are towed to one spot, the cops assured us.

We got there, walked through the lot, and did not spot our Kangoo. She’s hard to miss, so this was painful. We were glad that we had posted those pictures of the car on the blog because we were able to read the license plate number! The blog saves the day! Except for that we were totally still in the situation. We also learned that we need the libretto to retrieve the vehicle- which being good car owners- we have safely filed away at the Casa del Popolo. Of course, without the car, we can’t get to the Casa del Popolo.

Figuring we can cross that bridge when we actually locate our vehicle, we called the other tow depots. No vehicles by that plate number. So we went to the Police Station to file a report. [At this point, Mystophur and I were high-fiving each other about the fact that we had paid extra to insure the car against thievery and celebrating the fact that we could find another Kangoo but this time be sure it’s a diesel. SistaFlav was sad to inform us that in Italy it could take up to a year to get the settlement from the insurance, so we would need to purchase another car with our own funds in the meantime. Harsh, so harsh. All high-fiving ceased.]

The cops also thought it was extremely strange that a car that wouldn’t start AND isn’t popular among car thieves would disappear and not show up at the tow depots. Alas, by the time we finished filling out the forms, we were friends with the cop. Ironically, in the police station there was a photo of the very spot we parked in front of.

Once again, we have been afforded a great gift by the blog: the emotional dissonance of “Well, at least it’ll make an interesting blog entry! Wait, SistaFlav, will you ask the police officer if we can take a picture?”

So where are we now? Back at SistaFlav’s, having called all the tow places for the second time, including the ones on the fringes of Roma. No Kangoo. So we’ll stay here tonight and appear at the tow places tomorrow- hoping that if we walk through all the lots we’ll spot our shining yellow girl. Cross your fingers for us. Josie must be hungry!

Amazingly, we still had a meeting and work session.
God bless this Alpha Team!

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