I am from The government, I am here to help you...

     After six weeks of "going back to school" Mondays and Fridays to ~ LEARN TO DRIVE ~ I want to share some of the special moments ~

     A little detail will make this little story make more sense (sort of)  When Dad and Ann moved to Monaco in 1980something, they purchased this BMW 750i ~ a 12 cylinder touring Beemer ~ most unlikely unaware that gasoline would eventually reach $10.00 per gallon.  This particular 750i was the car previously delivered to the owner of BMW, Munich.  Through contacts, Dad was able to purchase it and have it delivered to Monaco. 

     This car has been driven roughly 23 years in and around Europe without so much as a parking ticket.  Just last year, Dad and I made a 1500 mile "Road Trip" to and through Italy, Austria and France.  I have added thousands on kilometers simply exploring Europe ~ on the Auto Routes and small streets of innumerable small villages.  Dad was able to exchange his US Driver's License for a Monaco License when he moved here. I have been operating on an International DL for all this time.

     In January of 2013, a letter arrived from the Monaco  Centre d’Immatriculation.  In the letter, it was noted that a vehicle was owned and licensed in Monaco, however no Monaco Driver's License was found for an operator.  For this reason, the license plates will NOT be renewed until a resident of Monaco, named Lonergan was in possession of a Monaco DL.  Dad stopped driving in about 2006 and let his license expire.  Now, keep in mind that at 90 years of age, never having been schooled or tested the only requirement for Dad to maintain his DL was an eye sight check.  For the other Lonergan, namely me ~ not quite the same set of requirements!  If I am discovered driving in Monaco, the fine is 900 Euros ($1170.00)  the first time and 1500 Euros the second time!  There would of course, be the 300 to 500 Euros to get the car back too!


      HOWEVER,-----> I can RENT a car and drive freely with my Intl License ~ just can't drive MY CAR!  Makes sense, right?

     It was determined that since I am a resident, I must have a Monaco DL.  OK, no problem...  Well, the classes are in French,with an interpreter, that try as he may ~is French with an accent heavy enough to pour over your morning pancakes!  I can understand about 70% of his words which is not quite the same as the 85% of the questions I must answer correctly to pass the written test.

     With a little investigation, I determined that after taking 10 classes, each consisting of 40 questions ~in French I would have been exposed to each of the 40 questions that will be on the test. No problem, right?   Just understand all 400 questions I have seen and correctly answer 35 out of 40 on the written test.

     Now to the first class ~  On arrival I took my seat with the other 5 or 6 people that for whatever reason were in my shoes.  It was explained that the test will be multiple choice, each with 4 possible answers, A, B, C or D.  Got it!  Well except that ONE, TWO or Three of the choices may be correct.  The instructor beamed as he told us, "Never will ALL four answers be correct!"  Well THAT certainly clarifies things. He then explains the 400 signs and combinations that may occur.  I was able to buy a manual, in English ~  which ~ well you be the judge.

As this page informs you ~ signs may be "stacked" in which case the intent is completely changed. In one example there were 3 signs stacked AND a white fencepost with a red mark on it!  I still don't know what that combo meant! Rules in the city are different than outside "city markings."  Light and horn REQUIREMENTS (when horn must be used) and areas horns must never be used.  Regarding lights, in the evening, you may use parking lights only IF you are within a city AND it is not raining, snowing or fogging. In which case you must use headlights and foglights, but no rear foglights if it is raining and only front foglights, in town, IF you are on a narrow city street. 

     There are signs that indicate maximum speed allowed (50kph) as well as a sign that indicates this speed must be maintained.  My favorite is below, a red circle around nothing but white which means in effect ~ all bets are off or disregard any signs you were obeying up until now ~ they are all nullified.  It was explained that this sign saves money because with 1 sign, you remove all previous restrictions.  Sure, why not? 

     Each of this classes' 40 questions are projected on a wall... You have a remote control thingie that has A,B,C and D on it with a verify and a correct button.  You select your answer and then the instructor tells you how and why you were wrong. 

Classes are 15 Euro, (X 10 classes) the test is about 60 + 24  Euro every time you must take it, which is allowed two weeks AFTER your last failure. A one time 80 Euro "Administrative Fee" and a 91 Euro "Traffic Office" fee are required as well. A "physical" is required from a list of acceptable doctors @ 100 Euro.With one exception, everyone in my classes has failed the written test 1, 2 or in one case, Three Times!  The kicker?  When you fail, you MAY not see the results, only the number you got right!  So it's possible to fail again and again, missing the same questions ~ even parking sign questions. 



     So next time you go to the DMV in the US ~ be grateful, be very grateful!     

      

Your Flowers Ann

My Mom, Ann Belle Lonergan had Alzheimers. I don't say "suffered from" since that was not her way. Several years ago, we would take her to Ventimiglia and the nursery on the way to Digna and she would select flowers for her balcony. This gave her so much pure Joy ~ Well, picking flowers, gelato and profito rolls! Your flowers are Beautiful Ann, just as you always were. You are missed but never forgotten.

We called this Ann's Blue Convertible!

Your Balcony as You wished!