PATENTE SI!!
He got it! We are on wheels again as of this AM about 9:30. Thank you one and all for your kind thoughts and prayers.
In his own words.....
Finally!
Today, two and one half months after I was stopped by the Carabinieri for a document check, and my drivers license was taken away, I have my new Italian driving license. What a trip it has been. The first thing Fran and I did was to drive into town to do some shopping to get ready for four friends who have rented an apartment here. It was so wonderful to drive around in town, legally, and not have to worry about anything. It was even grander to have the wonderful folks at Panificio Americano ask me about the fact that I was driving my car without Michele, my autista (driver). I was able to show them my license, and Calogero Colletti, who owns the shop, gave us a bag of biscotti to help us celebrate. I also got a big hug from the woman at the ortofrutica, and a warm hand shake from her husband.
I seem to have gotten ahead of myself a bit. I need to tell you about the process.
Last Wednesday, I drove around with Aurelio, one of the driving instructors, to make sure that I was ready for the exam on Saturday. He suggested we go one more time on Friday, just to make sure. Stefano had told me that the exam would be Saturday at noon. After our spin around Sciacca on Friday, Stefano asked where I would like to meet him. I told him at the Autoscuola at 11:30 on Saturday. He said that was too late. He double parked and went in to talk with Stefano. Stefano said he would check things out and give me a call.
At 9:00 oclock Friday night, Stefano finally called and said I should meet at the autoscuola at 8:30. I called Michele and asked him to pick me up at 8:00 to take me in. He was more than willing to do so. When I got to the autoscuola, there were about 24 ragazzi hanging around. I later learned that they were all waiting for their written A license exam, which would allow them to drive their motor scooters legally. There were only three of us who were taking our driving test that day. Aurelio showed up, and he, Deborah (a teacher at the autoscuola), Stefano and I went to the bar around the corner for a cup of coffee. Stefano was talking to someone else as the coffee arrived, so when he turned around I told him that café correto was wonderful. Café correto is espresso with a shot of grappa in it. He looked at me and I smiled and told him no to worry, I would not drink grappa before my exam.
Finally, it was time to leave for the test area, which is at the Sciacca stadium. I walked to Aurellios car. There was already someone in the back seat, and Aurelio told me I should drive. I got in, put on my seat belt, adjusted the seat, adjusted the mirror. Aurelio asked if I remembered who had given me my oral exam. I told him Mr. Vaccaro, and that he did a good job, and I understood all the questions. The man in the back seat said: Sono Io. I turned around and looked at him, and indeed, it was Mr. Vaccaro.
I drove out to the stadium, taking one small detour, and stopping on a hill. I knew that I would have to show the person I knew how to park, and how to deal with more corners and more yield signs, so I was indeed very surprised when we got to the stadium Mr Vaccaro said Complimenti e Auguri. Hai superato. That meant My compliments and congratulations, you passed.
What great news. He handed me my license, and Aurelio immediately took it and said that we had to go to the autoscuola to have it registered before I could drive. Stefano was there, and offered to take me to the autoscuola on the back of his moto. I mentioned to him that I did not have a helmet, and he looked at the two examiners who were there, and decided it would be a bad idea.
So I waited for the other two students to take their exam, and then Aurelio drove me back. Stefano followed slowly on his moto. When he finally got to the autoscoula, someone from the department of terrestrial transportation put my numbers into his computer, and I had my license.
Finalmente.
So the saga of the license is over. I now have a valid Italian drivers license, good throughout the EU, for the next five years, and then I just have to pass the eye exam to get it renewed. Yahoo.
I feel really good about it, and I think the thing that I feel best about is the fact that I also have my first regular Italian document, not just a document given to foreigners. Yahoo.
Hoping that you can overcome obstacles, and that you drive safely, and as Stefano said, can forget all the rules, because you have the license . . .
S
In his own words.....
Finally!
Today, two and one half months after I was stopped by the Carabinieri for a document check, and my drivers license was taken away, I have my new Italian driving license. What a trip it has been. The first thing Fran and I did was to drive into town to do some shopping to get ready for four friends who have rented an apartment here. It was so wonderful to drive around in town, legally, and not have to worry about anything. It was even grander to have the wonderful folks at Panificio Americano ask me about the fact that I was driving my car without Michele, my autista (driver). I was able to show them my license, and Calogero Colletti, who owns the shop, gave us a bag of biscotti to help us celebrate. I also got a big hug from the woman at the ortofrutica, and a warm hand shake from her husband.
I seem to have gotten ahead of myself a bit. I need to tell you about the process.
Last Wednesday, I drove around with Aurelio, one of the driving instructors, to make sure that I was ready for the exam on Saturday. He suggested we go one more time on Friday, just to make sure. Stefano had told me that the exam would be Saturday at noon. After our spin around Sciacca on Friday, Stefano asked where I would like to meet him. I told him at the Autoscuola at 11:30 on Saturday. He said that was too late. He double parked and went in to talk with Stefano. Stefano said he would check things out and give me a call.
At 9:00 oclock Friday night, Stefano finally called and said I should meet at the autoscuola at 8:30. I called Michele and asked him to pick me up at 8:00 to take me in. He was more than willing to do so. When I got to the autoscuola, there were about 24 ragazzi hanging around. I later learned that they were all waiting for their written A license exam, which would allow them to drive their motor scooters legally. There were only three of us who were taking our driving test that day. Aurelio showed up, and he, Deborah (a teacher at the autoscuola), Stefano and I went to the bar around the corner for a cup of coffee. Stefano was talking to someone else as the coffee arrived, so when he turned around I told him that café correto was wonderful. Café correto is espresso with a shot of grappa in it. He looked at me and I smiled and told him no to worry, I would not drink grappa before my exam.
Finally, it was time to leave for the test area, which is at the Sciacca stadium. I walked to Aurellios car. There was already someone in the back seat, and Aurelio told me I should drive. I got in, put on my seat belt, adjusted the seat, adjusted the mirror. Aurelio asked if I remembered who had given me my oral exam. I told him Mr. Vaccaro, and that he did a good job, and I understood all the questions. The man in the back seat said: Sono Io. I turned around and looked at him, and indeed, it was Mr. Vaccaro.
I drove out to the stadium, taking one small detour, and stopping on a hill. I knew that I would have to show the person I knew how to park, and how to deal with more corners and more yield signs, so I was indeed very surprised when we got to the stadium Mr Vaccaro said Complimenti e Auguri. Hai superato. That meant My compliments and congratulations, you passed.
What great news. He handed me my license, and Aurelio immediately took it and said that we had to go to the autoscuola to have it registered before I could drive. Stefano was there, and offered to take me to the autoscuola on the back of his moto. I mentioned to him that I did not have a helmet, and he looked at the two examiners who were there, and decided it would be a bad idea.
So I waited for the other two students to take their exam, and then Aurelio drove me back. Stefano followed slowly on his moto. When he finally got to the autoscoula, someone from the department of terrestrial transportation put my numbers into his computer, and I had my license.
Finalmente.
So the saga of the license is over. I now have a valid Italian drivers license, good throughout the EU, for the next five years, and then I just have to pass the eye exam to get it renewed. Yahoo.
I feel really good about it, and I think the thing that I feel best about is the fact that I also have my first regular Italian document, not just a document given to foreigners. Yahoo.
Hoping that you can overcome obstacles, and that you drive safely, and as Stefano said, can forget all the rules, because you have the license . . .
S
posted by Sicilian Mama at 5:40 AM
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