1.26.2008

Grandma Moses

Tonight, I fulfilled every, American pre-pubescent, male, learner-permit holder’s wet dream.

I drove on the Autobahn….

and lived to tell about it.

To be honest, I’m not sure how I survived the ordeal because my nerves certainly did not. Either the objects in my rear-view mirror were closer than they appeared, or German motorists take driver’s education classes at Formula One.

Psychologically, I think driving in kilometers feels faster. Throughout my journey, I kept reminding myself that 130kph is really only 80mph, which explained why car after car whizzed by me as if I was Grandma Moses on wheels--puttering along, both hands clutching the steering wheel, closely hugging the road’s right shoulder out of fear of accidentally straying into the left lane.

Did I also mention the noticeable absence of street lighting in this part of the country?

Yeah, it’s good to be home.

16 comments:

Unknown said...

You're so gutsy! I think there's a rental car somewhere in Germany with my fingers still imprinted in the door...and I was sitting in the passengers seat.

jaded said...

Sounds exciting...does the mini have a roll bar?

Anonymous said...

Ok.. I'm sooo jealous right now!!!! And you made me laugh.. since I have a similar story in the Autobahn... we were in a FIAT and the person I was with was turns to me in the car and tells me... "oh, wow, look at that.." and this thing.. zipped pass me at the speed of light (I swear to god) .. the only thing I caught was the color red...

I was a Ferrari Testarossa...
I told my friend, step on it! and we were already traveling over 100+ kilometers...

God I miss living in Europe!

kenju said...

I've been hearing about the Autobahn for years. My daughter drove on it during the summer she lived in Zurich. I didn't want her to tell me about it....LOL

I'm glad you both survived!

Michelle | Bleeding Espresso said...

I'm nervous just reading this! Congratulations!

Cheryl said...

Congrats! I do not think I could handle that one.

Rachel said...

I get anxious enough driving a Chevy.

I'm very impressed! :)

Anonymous said...

I run faster in kilometers too. But I cant kid myself. The
American in me knows I'm slow ass. :)

LZ Blogger said...

Diane ~ A=W=E=S=O=M=E! ~ Next time make it a 130 MPH! ~ jb///

Dan-E said...

i'm impressed. that little mini can do at least 120 (with the top up) so you have at least another 40 mph to explore.

still, i envy you because i had that wet dream when i was a pre-pubescent male with a learners permit that loved cars and and as an adult man with a driver's license (who just acts like a pre-pubescent male... that still has wet dreams... t.m.i.?) i've yet to drive the autobahn.

that's awesome.

M said...

rofl, you are BRAVE!

Sueellen said...

Just found your site and have totally enjoyed reading it and catching up. Will definitely be back!

Anonymous said...

SOOO jealous!

And, YAY! You're alive!

Caffienated Cowgirl said...

It certainly is an experience. When we moved here from the UK we drove our Mini...and the Autobahn managed to leave us speechless in the first 5 minutes of being on it...when a white blur we can only think was a BMW roared past us doing well over 100mph :)

Loves2Dance said...

The thought of my best friend who is the absolute slowest driver in the USA under the age of 80 on the autobon leaves me in stitches!! I love you, but you drive slow in American standards!

carmilevy said...

I live in a country where the speed limit is 100 km/h and most people average 120-130. It really isn't the speed that scares me...it's the utter lack of discipline or respect for driving shown by the majority of drivers. Even on an 80 km/h road, it stuns me how many drivers bob, weave, play with their radios and otherwise beg for something horrible to happen.

The cool thing about no-limit roads is the overall sense of discipline they tend to instill in drivers who use them. They drive. Period. Nothing distracts them. Which means a real driver doing 200 km/h is much less of a threat than an idiot doing 70.