Perhaps this will pop up in a sequential titles thread next to ‘Whoppers my friends have told me,’ but:
Last winter I was visiting my cousin, an American living in Rome, and she took me out to see some of the nightlife. I commented on the difficulty she was having finding a parking spot in the crowded and narrow alleys of downtown in her A4–a good-sized car by European standards. Furthermore, I was amazed at how tightly packed the cars were in some of these deadend alleys; it resembled a Manhattan valet parking garage, but with no visible gates or attendants. She told me that crackheads run a valet parking service of sorts, using the tip money to buy drugs. Is there truth to this, or was I hearing a whopper? :dubious:
“Crackheads” is a strong word. It should be considered that in many ways Italy is a third world country. Anyway, so long as an ambitious would-be fake parking lot attendant is friends with the Carabinieri (police) (ex gives them a cut) there really isn’t much stopping them doing it. The only evidence I have in support of this is the fact that it happens all the time, and not just in Rome. They are providing an honest service in some ways, as the “person to vehicle” ratio in Italy is very high, and so is theft. If you leave them a nice tip they will likely keep an eye on your car and make sure nothing happens to it, and the service is pretty cheap. We’re talking 2-3 euros and no time limits.
So, alterego, have you used these… services? I’m curious as to whether it’s a regular practice for a lot of people, or something only the more wreckless do.
If you want a parking spot you will use it, lol. Everyone who lives in Italy uses them. They typically will show up around high traffic areas where a lot of people will be wanting to park. It’s an everyday normal sort of thing.
Teenage boys used to do this in Tijuana, in the 60’s anyway. I don’t think they were crackheads. They called it “insurance”. Refusal could cost you a headlight.
By the way.
In San Francisco, on busy nights, if you do find a curb spot there’s likely to be an attendant blocking it. I’ve heard they do the same in Manhattan.
Actually it was a pretty good deal. Really cheap, and nothing happened to your car.
Would they still wash and polish for a few extra pesos (a bargain)?
Actually there is a great service down there whereas you leave your car at the border (the “safe” side) and trade it for a really cheap rental or walk. Plus, the mexicans in TJ accept dollars so I never tried pesos. Anyway, i know we would never even dream of thinking of considering driving one of our POVs…it really has become a dangerous city. That said, who cares about the windshield?
I am not sure if it the same thing, but in Argentina there were (seemingly random) people who monitored the street parking and received a gratuity for helping you park and watching your car. You did not give them the keys–you just paid them for “protection” of sorts.
Mexico (the parts I’ve been too) work the same way. Here are the modes there:
At the American-style shopping centers: guards with M-16’s in towers in the parking lot. Park where you will; nothing will happen to your car, and you don’t have to tip.
Busy parts of downtown areas without paid parking garages: Pay a kid or a full grown adult to watch your car. Five to 10 pesos is good, and you don’t pay until you’re back at your car and they run up to you.
Really busy parts of downtown areas without paid parking garages: pay MX$20 for a carwash. They do a great job, and you can park in non-parking areas. They ward off the cops (I guess they get a consideration for their service). So for US$2.00, you park in the best spot, your car is well taken care of, and it’s super clean. Not a bad deal.
Restaurants and so forth with private parking lots: there’s usually an attendant that’s there with the permission of the owner. He helps you back out of your spot, and takes care of the double-parking that’s quite common – this makes the parking lot fit more cars. He’ll even block traffic so you can back out onto the road. Everyone tells me I’m very generous when I give a five peso tip.
