Nick – Well, we have been home a month now.
We had to make the scooter legal by declaring it at customs in Rhodes and we wanted to register it to gain Greek number plates, to avoid a massive government tax after 6 months.
We made 3 journeys to Rhodes, helmets tightly fitted I might add. We got the necessary paperwork from customs then drove up the Lindos road and got another piece of paper to take down the Lindos Road to the bank in town. They gave us another piece of paper to take up the Lindos Road to the MOT garage (yes, even though it was brand new!), then drove across the Lindos Road to the registration office. Here we queued for 90 minutes and got another piece of paper to take down the Lindos Road to the motor tax office by the sea. We paid the road tax and were given another piece of paper to drive back up the Lindos Road to the number plate office. We were too late, but we knocked on the door and finally got the actual metal number plate – PYP 883 (whoopee!). Then we drove back across the Lindos Road to the MOT garage again and got a sticker to put on our number plate to prove it had passed.
When we finally stood outside the last office, with the number plate in our hands, we took a large breath. It was difficult to believe we had arrived legally now, as well as physically.
I am speaking generally, I know, but Greeks do seem to love their triple paper work, triple stamps, and triple records. However, throughout all the hassle, they were uniformly helpful and friendly even though at times they must have been quietly losing it in their sweaty, air-starved offices.
Nancy – And now, despite me thinking I would never drive the scooter, I have started practicing. It is difficult because I can’t take Nick on the back to help. It makes it all too heavy and wobbly. So, I have to do it all myself.
I have been up to the town and back on my own now and once, over the top and along the narrow road by the sea into the harbour town. It is difficult when I meet a car on the narrow roads and some of the corners are very sharp. I stop if there is any problem or walk the bike round if I am feeling a little unsure about a corner, but I am getting there.
Nick – And without being patronising, I think it’s brilliant. I’m glad Nancy wears her helmet too, I do worry. At last, she will soon be free of me having to drive her everywhere and indeed, when she gets used to driving with me on the back, she can take me home after a night at the taverna.
Nancy – I love you darling but not that much. On yer bike!