So the hubby and I took the Mini to Paris. It was insane. The people in Paris drive crazy. We were supposed to spend the night there but ended up spending all of about an hour and a half. We saw a lady and I use the term "lady" lightly, talking on her cell, parallel parking, smoking a cigarette and bumping into the car in front of her and behind her to fit in the spot and laughing hysterically about it. Now I was not about to park the Mayfair in Paris and have some half crazy, half drunk, half lunatic okay okay I know that is more than one whole but that is warranted, jack my baby up. So we went to see the Eiffel Tower and took some pics then came back to the house. That was our MINI's day out in PARIS......

 

That's the standard parking technique in Europe. Bounce your way in. That's why most folks have a city car and a country car...if they can afford it.

 

Sounds like you weren't thrilled with your visit to Paris, I've been there twice but was not driving, not my favorite place in Europe.

 

THG,
Have you had the opportunity to drive in Geneva? That place reminds me of NYC (maybe worse)!
I saw a lady meticulously slot a Smart Car between a Land Rover and Mercedes in Koln and she did not touch either one. Had to give her the thumbs up on that great parking job.

 

Many Parisian drivers leave their handbrakes off when parked, wherever possible, as there is less damage caused by the bump/contact parking method if the car can move a little when shunted!!

(This parking technique is not used in London / England!!).

 

Wow something Paris and Philadelphia have in common. Not really practiced in CA either.

 

I don't blame you. I bought one of the new Thunderbird convertibles when I was in San Francisco and wouldn't drive it around the city if I knew I would be parallel parking. They park by braille there...SWEAR! You were smart to enjoy Paris safely. Beautiful MINI...

 

We don't have the same problem here in Florida because there is not that much bumper to bumper street parking. Our big problem is people getting in or out of their cars opening their door and banging it into the car next to them.

I guess there will always be some sort of parking problem no matter where you live.