The car saga continues!

After leaving France, we headed to Baden-Baden. Along the way we went puzzle hunting. I think we must have stopped at around 10 shops and we did manage to find around 15 puzzles and logic puzzles that we didn't have.  

We chose Baden-Baden because we couldn't stand another day in that small town in France.  The bed in the hotel was terrible and we had exhausted things to do in town.  

Baden-Baden has a number of spas and baths and off we went. Our hotel was nice enough, but not recommended.  It is a spa resort with no amenities, and no spa.  On the up side, it was within walking distance of the Friedrichsbad thermal baths. This one is unique in that it boasts it is the only natural thermal wet sauna in the world. I doubt it, but it was fun to imagine it was. This place was great and highly recommended.  You start out warm, get very hot and end up in a cold soak.  After the warm towels, there is a relaxation room that yours truly fell asleep in.  George for once didn't nap. 

While there we also visited the Faberge museum, wandered around and looked at a few statues, and took lunch at a german biergarten.  

I had my first beer in over 5 years.  I had quit drinking them because of the gluten, but when in Germany...Upon returning to the hotel, we both slept long and hard.  Who knew doing nothing could be so exhausting. The rest of the weekend we just relaxed and did nothing. 

On Monday morning we drove back to France to the garage only to discover they did nothing and did not have our car! The first place still hadn't delivered it even though it was to be there by 8 am.  We were frustrated, but went for lunch and then returned.  (Lunch was a disastrous affair at a cafeteria-George will never try that again!)

The car was looked at under the watchful eye of Roxanne.  The engine would engage, but not catch.  But then only when they jumped the starter.  I've had this before, so I told them to replace the starter and anything else that could possibly be wrong.  I also wanted all fluids changed and a new battery as well.  (More on that later.) There were a few burnt fuses that needed replacing, and possibly the fuel pump and injectors.

We told them to spend up to two buckets of money and just fix the car.  We were told they would notify us on Friday the 14th of the problem and when we could return to pick it up.  Great!  We raced home to pick up guests at the train station who were coming in First thing Wednesday. (Next post-I promise!) Of course, I did have to do a bit of grocery shopping and couldn't leave without bringing back some fois gras.  

Friday came and went without a call because it was Bastille Day and no one was working. They sent an email, but it went into their draft folder.  I texted Monday morning to see if we could pick up the car on Wednesday as previously planned and was sent to an email sent that morning.  Oh joy!  The car was finished and the problem was nothing more than the first shops incompetence. They forgot to reconnect the fuel injector pump and the main computer!  That error cost €475! Only 1/2 a bucket of money. Good thing we have insurance! 

Because they found the problem right way, the fluids never got changed.  No big deal, as it turns out, when we are at IPP, our car will be in the shop to be picked up on our return.  Free storage close to the train station.  How convenient!

Fast forward to Tuesday morning.  We dropped the last of our guests at the airport and took off yet again for France.  We picked up Black Beauty (Not really beautiful, but a real work horse!) on the following morning as planned and then hightailed it out of France.  But first! We had to return the rental car. What a typical experience.  We were given misinformation, and charged to wash the car!  What a terrible company. Who washes a rental car before returning it?  Apparently the French do. Oh, and they don't reimburse you for days not used.  

We left. I made a beeline for Germany and am pleased that it only took an hour to get there.  A bit of shopping for cookies, liverwurst, and bread and we were once again on our way to Italy.  Our plan for the return trip was to hit as many used markets as possible for more armadillos, to visit the Berrocal Balustrades in Carrera, and to see the leaning tower of Pisa.  Mission accomplished.  Or at least part of it.  I write this from our hotel room in Pisa.  The extra buildings and the Keith Harding wall was an added bonus. 

Tomorrow we hit 6 markets for antique furniture and head home for a quiet (read more last minute shopping) weekend before the next guests arrive and we FINALLY-after 3 years-head for IPP!  And the car?  It runs better than before.  It vomited, cleaned out its innards, and is happy to be alive again.  Crisis over.  Lesson learned.  Nothing to see here, just move along please.