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"We do not follow maps to buried treasure and X never, ever marks the spot." - The Last Crusade - Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford)
The 4th outing I took driving the truck in Uruguay was interesting, to say the least. It was terrifying driving a stick shift with all the motorcycles and the roundabouts. I thought it would be easy on a Sunday morning and I would practice using the GPS we have, to ensure I wouldn't get lost. WRONG!
I was simply going to a department store about 30 minutes away and I did know the way. However, a bit nervous, I punched "Devoto" (the name of the store) into the GPS unit and dutifully followed Miss GPS lady's instructions. After awhile, I realized that Miss GPS was taking me on a route that was very different, but I thought, "OK, I'll learn a new way!"
Oh no, she took me to a Devoto store in an entirely different town in the opposite direction. By the time I realized this, I was too far into it to stop. The problem came with a major detour, accompanied by many policemen. I detoured and this really threw Miss GPS for a loop. She took me down dirt roads, through little residential streets, and through at least 30 turns. FINALLY, I ended up in the Devoto parking lot in the town of Piriapolis, not Punta del Este, as I wanted.
Still dizzy from all the detours and turns, I stumbled into the store for yet another adventure. I saw a bin of unpackaged bed sheets. They were perfect to line the curtains I was sewing back at our house. As I looked at the price sign on the bin, I realized that the prices was by weight - per kilogram. I had never seen that before (and I have never seen it since). There was a scale nearby, but no one to work it. So, being resourceful, I went to the produce department with my sheet and politely asked the young man there to weigh it for me. (Side note: in nearly every supermarket, there is a person who must weigh your produce before you buy it.) He nearly doubled over he was laughing so hard. He (between giggles) pointed me back in the direction of the linen department. As I walked away, I heard him still laughing - guess I made his day! I finally found someone to weigh my sheets ($8.00) and made my way back to the truck.
Since I had no idea how to get home, I was again at the mercy of Miss GPS. This time, she took me on a very scenic route down the beach - with beautiful views of the Atlantic. Just as I was smiling and beginning to like her, she demanded that I turn right and turn left. This would have been fine, except she guided me directly into a Cowboy (Gaucho) parade with at least 50 people dressed in historic costumes on horseback. That was exciting for about 4 minutes, until I realized I would be stuck following them and waving to those on the sidelines for the next hour, if I didn't find another route on my own. Pooh on you, Miss GPS. I made lots of turns, all with her screeching at me to go back, turn around, etc. Finally I made it to a spot of her liking and she calmed down enough to give me directions back home. What a Sunday drive!
The 4th outing I took driving the truck in Uruguay was interesting, to say the least. It was terrifying driving a stick shift with all the motorcycles and the roundabouts. I thought it would be easy on a Sunday morning and I would practice using the GPS we have, to ensure I wouldn't get lost. WRONG!
I was simply going to a department store about 30 minutes away and I did know the way. However, a bit nervous, I punched "Devoto" (the name of the store) into the GPS unit and dutifully followed Miss GPS lady's instructions. After awhile, I realized that Miss GPS was taking me on a route that was very different, but I thought, "OK, I'll learn a new way!"
Oh no, she took me to a Devoto store in an entirely different town in the opposite direction. By the time I realized this, I was too far into it to stop. The problem came with a major detour, accompanied by many policemen. I detoured and this really threw Miss GPS for a loop. She took me down dirt roads, through little residential streets, and through at least 30 turns. FINALLY, I ended up in the Devoto parking lot in the town of Piriapolis, not Punta del Este, as I wanted.
Still dizzy from all the detours and turns, I stumbled into the store for yet another adventure. I saw a bin of unpackaged bed sheets. They were perfect to line the curtains I was sewing back at our house. As I looked at the price sign on the bin, I realized that the prices was by weight - per kilogram. I had never seen that before (and I have never seen it since). There was a scale nearby, but no one to work it. So, being resourceful, I went to the produce department with my sheet and politely asked the young man there to weigh it for me. (Side note: in nearly every supermarket, there is a person who must weigh your produce before you buy it.) He nearly doubled over he was laughing so hard. He (between giggles) pointed me back in the direction of the linen department. As I walked away, I heard him still laughing - guess I made his day! I finally found someone to weigh my sheets ($8.00) and made my way back to the truck.
Since I had no idea how to get home, I was again at the mercy of Miss GPS. This time, she took me on a very scenic route down the beach - with beautiful views of the Atlantic. Just as I was smiling and beginning to like her, she demanded that I turn right and turn left. This would have been fine, except she guided me directly into a Cowboy (Gaucho) parade with at least 50 people dressed in historic costumes on horseback. That was exciting for about 4 minutes, until I realized I would be stuck following them and waving to those on the sidelines for the next hour, if I didn't find another route on my own. Pooh on you, Miss GPS. I made lots of turns, all with her screeching at me to go back, turn around, etc. Finally I made it to a spot of her liking and she calmed down enough to give me directions back home. What a Sunday drive!
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