Okay, more "Road Trip" Memories. I was stationed in Germany. One of my buddies had a lovely little MG Midget, and I bought it from him. I thought it was cool because it had three windshield wipers. Shows what I know about cars. Had I known how hard it was to keep two carburetors in synch, I might have thought a bit more about it. But it was a fun car. And I put thousands of kilometers in that tiny thing. I don't think I used the door very many times, because I could just hop in.
So I had Leave. I was going to drive to Rome. I was doing just fine. And then I got to the Italian Alps after the Austrian Alps. And I drove hyper alert and scared for that whole trip. And man there were so many hairpin turns, in mountain fog, with steep drop offs, and even cliffs on one side...well, I got scared. People (who must have been Locals and knew all the twists and turns) passed me, even on hairpin turns!

I had enough. I decided to go to a Train Station, park my Car, and take a train down to Rome. My train didn't leave for several hours. So I ate in a little cafe. A young Italian couple came over to help me with my order. They spoke English, and nobody else did. So over lunch we chatted.
I told them that driving through Austria was beautiful, but scared me. And now Italy...so I decided I wasn't a safe enough driver for Mountain driving. I was going to leave my car and take a train to Rome. (Which they called ROMA)
Long story short. I gave them my car for five days. They paid for my ticket to Roma. Had their cousins meet me at the train station. And I spent four days in Rome. Treated like a King!
They took my car, and drove to Austria.
They had a blast. I had a blast. Except for everything in Roma, was either closed, or covered with scaffolding. I did see the Sistine Chapel before it was cleaned. So that was cool. Never got to go in the Coliseum tho. Bummer. LOL
Five days later, and I was back at the train station where we met. They were already at the Train station when I got there. They thanked me over and over, and I thanked them, because I knew I could make the drive back safely.
When I got back to Germany, at the Border Crossing, they asked me if I had anything with me. Nope just my suitcase in the passenger seat.
"Open your Boot, Please."
Which, of course, means Trunk - to us Americans.
To my surprise that couple had put a couple bottles of wine, all kinds of cheeses, chocolates, and sausages, in a big basket that filled my tiny trunk.
The guy inspecting my car, saw that I was surprised too. I gave him the whole story.
I don't drink alcohol, never have. So I didn't want the wine. And I wasn't a big cheese eater. And Cheese is huge over there...hundreds of kinds in their grocery stores. And our American Cheese...well, it is a lightweight. LOL
So I gave them the wine, cheese, half the sausages, and some chocolate. Not as a bribe, as a gift. LOL
Not everyone lets stranger take their car for a joy ride. But I think that was my Autism flaring up. I just didn't want to drive those roads. When I got back, the guys in my Platoon were all upset.
"Kevin, they could have stollen your car. What would you have done then?'
"Take another train."
Believe me, I wouldn't be as trusting nowadays. And his girlfriend was a cute pie...and well, who can resist cutie pies.