To car or not to car?
I have a confession to make. Well, two actually.
1) I do not want to live out of one piece of carry-on luggage.
2) Whenever I go car shopping, my brain drops out, all reasoning flies out the window, and I end up hugging the biggest and shiniest fuel guzzler on the lot.
So, while planning a trip that involves traversing the entire European Union and then some, I started going car shopping….and I fell in love with a Land Rover. Yes, my carbon footprint is crying. But it comes with advantages, really.
1) It should survive even the most dangerous roads, and since at some point I’ll be driving through one of the more notorious countries in the area when it comes to fatal roads that are falling apart (Albania), that’s a definite plus. If fact, I bet I could install a roll cage in a Land Rover.
2) It opens up the possibility of going camping.
3) Sleeping in it now and then isn’t entirely implausible.
4) There is room to bring a few comforts of home that I would probably wither away and die without.
5) Protection from the rain and snow!
6) I love driving. I bet I’d really love driving a Land Rover.
7) Portable mobile phone charger!
8) Shinnnnyyyyyyyyyy!
9) It will be easier to access cheaper accommodations outside of urban areas.
And the disadvantages:
1) 13 miles to the gallon in the city.
2) The cost of fuel…..
3) That’s a lot of fuel. It would cost nearly $1000 to get across Europe, one way. The trip involves a return at some point.
4) Evil well-deserved looks from environmentalists.
5) The cost of multi-nation insurance, maintenance and parking
6) Larger import fees/taxes and higher rates on ferries than a normal sized car would have.
7) Driving through nations that scare me, rather than flying over them. Bosnia, for example. I would wholly understand if someone there didn’t like Americans very much.
8) Not as much of an opportunity to spend my life trying to get bumped off of flights for the chance at free tickets and other swag.
9) What if I suddenly decide I want to go to South America?
Decisions, decisions…..
Natural Expat 