Spanish Parking Photo Gallery by Ralph and Kylie Whitten at pbase.com

Spanish Parking

When we first moved to Spain someone gave us some helpful advice concerning the potential hazards and annoyances of Spanish parking habits. They said: "There are no such things as roads in Spain, it's all one big parking lot!" Good advice.

Rather than just get annoyed at the sometimes strange, sometimes downright selfish way that people park their cars where we live here in Seville / Sevilla I thought I'd give myself a little photography project the first fruits of which you see here.

Which is your favourite "method"?

ps These are everyday parking methods. We haven't had a super-parking-event (ie Feria) since I started this project. That's when it really gets interesting.

Cars on sidewalk and double parked	Double parked cars and helmetless phone-using scooter rider	For Sale on pedestrian crossing	Four cars in three disabled parking places	Lazy parking
Crooked parking outside school	Parked across pedestrian crossing and corner	Parked at 90 degrees	Parked on a corner	Parked under No Stopping sign
Taking up two spaces	Tight Parking	Van parked up curb over pedestrian crossing	Volvo in a tight spot

comment |

Barry Liimakka		17-Feb-2008 20:19
Clever theme. We visit Costa del Sol a couple of times a year. Driving and parking is indeed an experience, though I don't see a lot of folks taking up 2 spaces there. The problem in Marbella/Estepona and environs is more about how tight the parking is, especially in the garages. We've even had to sweat out returning the rental car when you've got to squeeze into a tight drop off spot. We learned to rent smaller vehicles just for the peace of mind.

Diego		16-Mar-2007 12:54
I am from Sevilla, although I don't live there now. I think the photos do not actually reflect the chaotic situation. Simply to say that the situations on them are not curious exceptions, but they actually show the general state of most public roads and streets. It's a problem of lack of civism from the population, and a lack of responsibility from the authorities, since showing a strong committment (=enforcing the existing parking laws) to solve the problem actually means losing popularity among the (ineducated, unconcious) crowd of voters, which implies a vicious circle. I am ashamed of my co-citizens. What else can I say? If anybody knows of a city where such a state of things has been overturned, hints are welcome as to how to do it.

CreativeWiseGal		12-Feb-2007 02:54
What a great way to deal with frustration.... turn it into a very funny gallery. Thanks for the laugh AND the inspiration.

olivier bruning		04-Nov-2006 09:19
very funny!

Guest		11-Jul-2006 09:52
And I thought that parking in Boston was bad...

Guest		06-Jul-2006 21:35
typical opportunitic style of big city parking. it is always entertaining! thanks for the laugh.....

Ian Birch		06-Jul-2006 18:19
Yes, hilarious but it must be very irritating to live with. Voted Regards Ian

Bob Townsend		06-Jul-2006 18:10
Except for the 90 degree parking (cuz we don't have cars that small) I have seen all this in the US as well. Interesting gallery.

Guest		06-Jul-2006 17:17
This is a great and interesting subject to photograph. It might be unusual to you but i think that this is the mentality of southern europeans. In Kosovo from where i come from is the same strategy, they just park where they want too. But some of the pics that you presented go extreme. Cool gallery. A vote....!

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