A funny thing happened on the way to the UK...
So, we got all packed up in our rental car, and off on-time for the 1 hour drive to the airport to catch our flight to the UK. In fact, we were about an hour early even. As we left Salamanca, I (Gabe) was pulled over in a routine alcohol stop (done here at 8:30 am because the Spaniards don't start bar-hopping until about midnight). Needless to say, I was 0.00 on the breathalyzer, but I drew the senior police officer of the group, who took one look at my US license and said that it was invalid. I respectfully told him that I believed that it was indeed valid, and he countered with the statement that I need an International License to drive in Spain, because, for example, a police officer could fail to understand what was written in English on my license, and perhaps my license was only good for riding a bicycle for all he knew (OK, I stretch his words a bit, but this is the gist of things).
I patiently explain to him that a tourist is allowed to drive for 6 months on a US license. He not so pleasantly told me no, stating that I could not drive the car, and in fact that the car was not to move until driven by someone with a valid license. Explaining that we were a family off to catch a flight left him unmoved. I thought a glimmer of hope was emerging when he went back to his car with the other officers and was on the cell phone, knowing that everyone would tell him that he was wrong and my license was valid. Well, maybe he was ordering pizza or something on the phone, because he came back 30 minutes later with a ticket for $700, and the statement that we were to clear out of the car. He asked me to sign the ticket, and I asked him why I would sign a ticket that is wrong...
Well, I then had only one choice, to call my friend Jose to help me out. One of the officers found his number, called him and told him that I was "arrested" which is the same word for stopped in Spanish. He rushed out (the clock is ticking on our flight the entire time), and after consulting with me told the senior officer that there must be some mistake (although Jose himself thought that perhaps you did need an international license). Anyway, the officer basically told him the same thing he told me, and would abide with no interruptions, or even conversations, with Jose. So, Jose drove my rental car back to the agency, we all had to pile into a cab (forget about the fact that five people can't actually ride in a cab together here--the police seemed not to care about this), and left for the airport, ultimately paying $220 for the ride, with about 50 minutes to spare to make our flight, so long as the cab went quickly...
The farce of course continues, as the cab starts breaking down at the midway point, with the clutch slipping horribly and the cab slowing to about 20 mph up the hills. We finally made it to the town, but the driver missed the turnoff, and then had to backtrack through the town before he got us to the terminal 25 minutes before the flight. We obviously made it on, but the process was a bit painful.
The conclusion of the story is that I was indeed right--a US license is valid for 6 months, the police officer was wrong, none of the other 5 officers standing around had the nerve to stand up to this Franco-era idiot. We have appealed the ticket, with the police station itself telling us that the ticket was invalid and not understanding why this experienced guy would do this. Jose is very angry at the situation, given how poorly it reflects on Spanish police and the damage that something like this would do to the tourist industry that Salamanca depends on. He is a guest of honor at a cocktail party next weekend with the Mayor also in attendance, and he plans to bend his ear.
One of those stories that is quite entertaining after some time has passed!
View of our appartment from the park across the street
We look forward to seeing and talking to everyone upon our return.
