As I write this we are in deepest Winter and I am sitting in my car at Cambridge House Community College, Rocofort, Valencia, Spain. I am waiting for my son's class to end for the day. It has suddenly dawned on me that I am observing perhaps one of the biggest rolling fashion shows there is. The mothers are arriving in every type and make of car imaginable, and when they step out they are dresed to impress. Beside the ordinary family car, here's a partial list of the parade of exceptional autos going by:
Firstly, every car that Audi ever made seems to be represented. I think we have had their entire A-series. There goes a sleek black BMW X5. Man, that thing is huge. Plenty of other type beemers around as well. They seem to be competing with Audi for the title "Most of in parade." Staying with the alphabetical pecking order, since we have started that way, there are a couple of Chrysler Voyagers and a Citroen C-5; a Ford Explorer, and I thought I saw a Honda Hybrid, the future of motoring. There were two or three Jeep Grand Cherokees. (I have a special fondness for Jeeps.) No fashion line-up of cars would be complete without a Jaguar, and of course, a Lexus. We have one of each. (I wonder who I can convince to take me for a drive in their Lexus?)
There are Land Rovers, Land Cruisers and Range Rovers, all making the school run. Aren't these vehicles more at home crossing the Sahara Desert? Then, not to be left out there was a Nissan 4x4, and Mitsubishi's Shogun, Pajero, and Intercooler 2800. Quite naturally Mercedes is quite well represented to the extent of being almost commonplace. Bringing up the rear, so to speak were a VW Toureg and a Volvo XC90. In a special place all of its own was a sole Mini Cooper.
When one looks at this impressive list of high value cars simply carrying the children to and from school, I am reminded that Spain has come a very long way within a very short time indeed. Much of this prosperity is owed to the influx of foreigners buying up Spanish real estate that has made many Spaniards wealthy beyond their wildest dreams.
As a parting thought, just who needs a Ford Explorer, a virtual tank of a car, to take the children to school. This is a 4.6 litre, 24 valve, V8 monster of a vehicle. Just starting one up would blow my fuel budget for the week. It is absolutely humongous! When it pulled alongside my car it blocked out the sun. The lady driver looked down on me sitting in my ancient Volvo 850 as thought I were an ant.
What will they come to pick up the kids in next? A Hummer! Oh No! Here comes one now!
Death on the Roads? It doesn't have to end like that. Take care out There!
