Licensed to Drive

The first thing Jon and I did was get our Italian driver's licenses. To get an Italian driver's license all we had to attend an hour and half driving class on post (mostly powerpoints and videos) and then the next day we took a 100 question test.  I made a 98 on the test and Jon got a perfect score.  Jon likes to point out while we are driving that he is a better driver than me by 2%. But for the record, all of the tests were different and on MY test they asked questions about stuff that was not covered in our review.  But I digress.

Not having a car for a few days was really difficult...it is like being 15 all over again.  Walking everywhere and waiting for a friend to come pick you up.  So we were so happy that we had shipped our car early so it was already here for us after we passed our tests. Now actually getting the car was ridiculously difficult because as I am quickly finding out- NOTHING is easy over here. 

STEP 1.) We had to get our driver's license 2.) Take the bus to where our car was being held 15 minutes off post 3.) Prove we are the owners and then apply for Euro license plates 4.) Get the new plate numbers and then wait for a bus to take us to USAA 20 min away where we get a special insurance card to display in our windshield (Italian Law) 5.) Take another bus back to where car is located and inspect car for damage and prove that we have a emergency triangle, flashlight, safety vest and first aid kit in our car (Italian law)  6.) Then put your new license plate on and apply for registration and drive back to post to get car inspected again. 7.) Drive back to where you originally picked up car and prove you got car inspected and then they give you NATO gas coupon application (gas is 3x more expensive here than in the US) 8.) Drive back to post to pick up gas coupons and then drive off post to fill up car 9.) You are all set to drive! whew.  

Check out our cool Euro License plates!

The very next day after these pictures someone hit our car and didn't leave a note.  Our happy European driver smiles from the above pictures faded fast. We like to think it was just our Italian driving christening. 
Oh well.