The trials and tribulations of driving in Peru
Hello darlings!
It’s been a while since I’ve shared a newsletter.
That’s why I thought I’d hop on to share a little about what’s been going on for me in the last 10 months since I moved to Peru.
If you haven’t heard why I chose to leave behind my happy life of 11 years in Barcelona, you can check out that article here.
And in the meantime, I’ve been very busy getting settled in this brand new country. This has involved getting my driving licence and residency, amongst other fun and frolicks.
I wanted to share some of these adventures with you.
So get comfortable, because for the next 4, minutes I’m going to explain the VERY REAL trials and tribulations of obtaining a driving license in Peru.
RULES OF THE ROAD
I am not new to the international driving license scene.
Having passed my test in the UK in 2006, I transferred to a Spanish driving license when I moved to Barcelona in 2013.
11 years later I was starting all over again in a new country.
But this time what I experienced BAFFLED ME.
When my partner Nilton took me to the driving school, I was given homework of learning 200 rules for the road.
Learning the rules was easy enough.
What was a shock was the fact that many of the rules actually made NO SENSE!
For example, this rule about using your full beams at night:
“at night-time, it is obligatory to use your full beams AT ALL TIMES, turning them down just before passing an oncoming car”
JUST BEFORE PASSING AN ONCOMING CAR?!?!? WHAT ABOUT THE LEADUP TO PASSING THE OTHER CAR WHERE YOU ARE BLINDING THEM AND THEY CAN´T SEE A THING?!?!
If we compare this to the same version of the rule in the UK…the stark contrast becomes apparent:
“You should only use full beam headlights on unlit stretches of road at night. When meeting oncoming traffic, or following another vehicle, you must turn off full beam headlights as they can often be dazzling and may cause accidents.”
The result? In Peru peple drive behind you at night with their full beams on max, completely blinding you from all your rear view mirrors.
Not only that, but many casually forget to turn down their full beams as they pass you. This means that for sensitive eyes like mine, for a few seconds your sight is obliterated and you have to shield your eyes with your hands.
I actually find it PHYSICALLY PAINFUL to drive at night time IN Peru because of the unnecessary amount of light on the road.
I have even considered wearing sunglasses to drive around at night…
Luckily, my ascendant is in Aries…and I have learnt that if I flash (many times repeatedly) the unwitting cars who choose to blind me, 80% get it and turn their main beams down…
…. but for the remaining 20% who choose not to obey, they get a nice dose of my main beams in return, delivered straight into their eyeballs.
There’s nothing like a bit of “eye for an eye” to give them a taste of their own medicine.
MWA HA HA.
Anyway, I digress.
Coming back to the driving test.
When I was speaking with the lady who would help me get my driving licence, something stuck out from the first moment.
I don’t know if it was a red flag or a green flag.
But it was a flag.
And I felt at the same time grateful and horrified that this was an option.
I considered myself a good little European girl who had always done things by the book (…well…that was until I discovered plant medicine in 2020, and then went full against the system, refusing to get the COVID vaccine and faking my own medical certificates)…
…but apart from that I had already done things “right”.
So when she suggested I pay a bribe of 100USD to GUARANTEE that I would pass my test, I shocked myself with my reaction.
“I’ll definitely be taking that option, thank you very much”.
Since I applied to take my test the month after I arrived, I still hadn’t received my Peruvian residency (a tale for a different moment!)
Assuming this might be an issue, we were very clear to double check that it WOULD be possible to get my driving license using my British Passport.
“Yesssssss, no problemmmmm”, the lady assured us confidently.
I have since learnt that the words “yes” and “no problem” actually mean “NO” and “HUGE PROBLEM” in Peru.
I handed over my money and went to do my psycho-somatic test.
This involved answering some multi-choice questions to determine how much alcohol I drank on a weekly basis and finishing the test in 45 minutes but not being allowed to leave until the designated 3 hours had passed.
Oh, and being come onto by the doctor.
But I passed! 🙂
After 3 hours I joyfully went back to the driving office, test papers in hand. We went to the ministery of traffic around the corner to hand in the documents.
When I gave my papers to the lady in the office, she looked at me quizically.
“Why are you handing me these? You can’t make this application with a foreign passport.”
There are no words.
To say that I felt a bit “put out” would have been an understatement.
Back to the driving office we went.
The lady was quick to tell us we couldn’t get our money back but she’d give us discount once I’d got my residency.
How kind.
Welcome to Peru!
This is one example of the many adventures I have had since moving to Peru.
Despite nothing working as I expect, I love living here.
Some things can be very frustrating and take a million hours longer than they would in Europe.
Yet I am happy here and have the certainty that this is where I want to be.
I’ve learnt that living in alignment doesn’t always feel easy…but it definitely feels right!
NEWS
Having said that, I am VERY exciting to be returning to Europe on 1st July for two whole months.
Nilton will be joining from the end of July.
I will see my family, catch up with friends, and we will also be hosting some ceremonies in Barcelona in August. If you fancy joining, we have some spots left from 5th – 8th August so get in touch.
I’ll also be hosting a SUPER MEGA HEART SINGING CIRCLE with my dear sister Imogen on 4th July in Shanti Vida. If you fancy joining get in touch!
I hope to see you all in person soon!
I hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter.
Love from Abbey xxx
