Here in Germany, shopping is forbidden on Sundays. This is what makes Saturday the worst possible time to go and get some errands done. Germans work hard all week long and have one day to get their private lives in order. Groceries, pharmacy, new shoes, household stuff. If I have to go out on a Saturday I usually come back a shaken, crying wussy. Not from the crowds themselves, but from parking.
Don't give me any lip about European parking lots being smaller and cars getting bigger. I lived in London for years and people did not park like this. Of course there is always one jerk who takes two spots, but I took these photos on one Saturday, in several locations in less than a few hours time. I didn't have to go "hunt" for examples. I just observed and recorded.
In fairness to my host country, some of the images are from one of the worst ramps in Wuerzburg. But my bigger point with this is the blatant disrespect of mother-and-child spots and worse, the handicapped spaces.
I've learned over the years that it won't help to argue. The times I've opened my foreign mouth, I've been eaten alive. Since I've been back from my quick trip home in America, I've been honked at, screamed at, sworn at, and gestured at. I know the whole world is getting more and more hostile. But there is a special dose of it here. I've almost lost hope.
For so long I've done my best to be a good Ambassador of America. I know better than to blow in and start telling people how they "should" be. Who am I to say what's right or wrong? But this is my blog and I'm here to let Germany in on a little secret. Most other cultures do not park this way. When people from outside of Germany see this, we think it's rude. When we see it on women-and-children spots we're irritated, and when we see it on handicapped spots, we're appalled. Try harder Germany. You are good people. Start parking like it.
Oh there's a spot! Everybody hold your breath... we'll make it fit!
TJ has mad Porsche love! But just not for this one.
Hey, there's a spot open over here... for a rickshaw!
Let's blame the bricks on this one.
Apparently I missed the rule where only half of your vehicle needs to fit in the spot...
That'll do when you've got the luxury of a sliding van door...too bad about the other sucker!
Oh I'll just borrow a little slice from the reserved lady parking spot... they're smaller anyway!
Let's just get it parked first, then we'll worry if we can get out of the car...
Ahh yes, the ultimate woman-hater. Reversed in slant-wise over two women-and-child parking spots. NICE. This one is so bad, I'm kind of turned on.
Roll on wheelchair user...
I LOVE THIS POST. My all time favourite! What's wrong with you? There's room there for at least 2 Smart cars!! ;)
I am constantly amazed by the parking here in Berlin. I often enjoy the spectacle of when there's not enough space to parallel park a car so they park it diagonally on both the road and the pavement. (I must post a photo for you later).
I think it's totally unfair that I got fined for my parking and told I wasn't allowed to drive the car until I magicked my license from the drawer in my bedroom into the police officer's hand. Admittedly I was parked in the turning lane at a junction...(though I bet if my German accent was better I would have gotten a certificate of achievement instead!)
Posted by: fiona | July 22, 2011 at 10:40 AM
The parking may be worse, but can I say that there is one thing I love about Germany and driving? It's that trucks stay in the right lane and cars do not use the left lane except to pass. I HATE how cars here in the US sit in the left lane blocking traffic while they drive below the speed limit. It makes me gnash my teeth.
Posted by: Anne | July 22, 2011 at 02:18 PM
What a funny post! Thanks for a Friday morning smile! Also, I agree with Anne! So aggravating when you're trying to get around people and the stupid left lane is blocked. Argh!
Posted by: The Dreaming Bear | July 22, 2011 at 02:27 PM
Yes, actually, Anne has a very good point. I also love that the roads are not chock a block with trucks and that there are not constant traffic jams when lorries are overtaking lorries all the time during rush hour.
Posted by: fiona | July 22, 2011 at 07:45 PM
I've seen all these things -- in Germany, in Italy, in the USA. I think everyone loses their manners when it comes to parking. Maybe it's something we all have in common?
Posted by: German Gems | July 22, 2011 at 08:29 PM
Lol! Yes totally agree...parking especially for some expensive brands is very interesting! And yes there are rude poeple out there, but not just foreigners think it's rude, even germans think it's kind of rude how some people park! You are not alone out there, who is annoyed by it!
Smiles, Anke ;)
Posted by: Anke | July 22, 2011 at 10:28 PM
Oh my gosh TJ!!! I am laughing so hard!!! Oh yes I remember this about the parking in Germany!!!! xoRobin
Posted by: robin | July 22, 2011 at 11:15 PM
Thanks for all the funny comments gals!
Gems, you are right about the whole world parking badly. Maybe I've turned into my Grandma who would say stuff like "I walked uphill to school both ways barefoot!"
Anke, you're right about Germans hating this kind of parking too. My hubby and most of my friends also complain about his. Funny you mention the brand names. Marcus has often told me much of the aggression and hostility I get from other drivers is BECAUSE I drive a Mercedes! I don't understand this because it's old enough to have a cassette player, but apparently the emblem on the hood is enough to make people's blood broil!!!
Posted by: TJ | July 23, 2011 at 08:40 AM
Parking and driving is getting worse over the years.
We have discovered that the expensive cars seem to have permission to not use the turn signal light and are allowed to drive 10 to 20 km above the speed limit. My son claims it is especially written in their car manuals :-)
TJ, trade in your Mercede for a Opel Corsa and you will get rid of all the hostility! LOL
It is funny though, I found out that despite my normal laid back attitude changes when I am behind the wheel. I just hate it when I am keeping the traffic rules and other people don't. This changes me from nice Me into irrated Me...
Posted by: Jacqueline | July 23, 2011 at 10:58 AM
OMG TJ this is brilliant... we don't have a car so I don't have to put up with this kind of business at the moment but I totally understand how frustrating this is. That parking-across-two-mother-and-child-spaces picture made my eyes water. Seriously, what are these people thinking?!! Brilliant.
Posted by: Frau Dietz | July 23, 2011 at 03:58 PM
This is soooo true around the world. Here in Australia its those monsters of the road and shopping centres: the urban 4-wheel SUV in the hands of a suburban wife with 2.4 kids! And as for disability parks - "I'll only be a minute" "I'm in a hurry" seems to justify anything and everything, even if they have cut in in front of someone entitled to park there. I used to park straight behind the offender, place my sticker in view, and go shopping in my own time; petty revenge asking if they were intellectually disabled as well as visually impaired and saying I had only popped in for a minute, just like they had. I have even had to get out of a car and sit down in the middle of a disabilty parking space to stop a healthy driver from cutting in front of my driver!
It should not have to be like this, but if you don't laugh, you cry.
Posted by: Caroline | July 23, 2011 at 04:08 PM
Wow Caroline, thanks for the stopping by and taking the time to leave your brave comment. I love that you're the Australian Robinhood, taking back your parking spots! GO GIRL. xxx tj
Posted by: TJ | July 24, 2011 at 10:11 AM
We have the same problems and frustrations here but I've noticed that this problem has got a lot worse over the last few years because the car parks have actually made parking spaces a lot smaller to help them squeeze in even more cars and make even more profit. One good thing about this problem is that we get to read a really funny post by you, so I'm no longer angry about this issue :D
Posted by: Veronika | July 24, 2011 at 10:26 AM
I love it! Obnoxious parking is one of the many things on my "things that annoy me about German drivers" - up there with driving riiight up my arse even when I'm travelling at the speed limit and dangerous overtaking. Your take on this and the support you have rallied here have made me feel better :)
Posted by: Helen | July 29, 2011 at 02:03 PM