Getting Gazole

SANS PLOMB
It was late when we picked up our rental car at the airport in Guadeloupe.  The original car, the original car rental company didn't have our reservation.  They didn't have a car for us.  Time for plan B.

Plan B meant a new rental company and the lone unreserved car they had in their lot.  It wasn't big enough for us.  It was out of gas.  We took it anyway, grateful for wheels.  We had a long drive ahead.

Leaving the airport we made the decision to find gas before heading onward.  A dark highway, a couple of u turns and we found it.  The pump had two hoses.  One for "Sans Plomb" that was green.  One for "Gazole" it was yellow.  We chose the green one.  We know in the states, green is for diesel.  Our too small rental car needed diesel.  We felt confident that "green" would be the universal symbol.

Gas purchased, we hit the long and winding road.  Up and and down volcanic hills, deep and dark and winding roads and a car that was sputtering and jerking and seemingly unhappy.  There were unfamiliar smells -was that volcanic sulphur in the air or the engine burning?   We quickly realized we may have added the wrong type of gas.

6 sets of fingers crossed we'd make it to our late night destination with a 1/2 a tank of the wrong kind of gas!  Luckily - we hadn't filled up the tank, gas is so expensive here and sold by the liter.  We intended to fill up - but had not out of miscommunication, accidental genius, thank goodness. 

The next morning, Google told us, no harm no foul - add more diesel as soon as possible - all will be ok.


FINDING A GAS STATION
Next morning, first day full on the ground.  Fixing our gas problem was job #1.

We sputtered into a gas station, took our spot in line. 

We noticed a worker put a cone down in front of our car, in front of us in line.  We were confused.  Finally at the head of the line, and they close the line, close the station.  No care of our position in line, not the mention the 10 cars behind us.  Do we wait?  Will they re-open?  Are they out of gas?

Honking and yelling soon emerged from the back of the line. Cars piled up behind us.  We watched as workers change receipt paper.  Take breaks.  Did nothing much.

"Ferme la bouche"was shouted to the man honking at us.  It's about the only French we know.

Still sitting in line - our savior in mint green shorts emerged from a silver sedan, back of the line.  Would he be the savior to our suffering, would he get to the bottom of the mystery?  As he walked by employees, checking and counting receipts and washing and lotion-ing their hands.  He went inside.  Sadly, our presumed savior would soon emerge from the office- carrying nothing but a water bottle.  Personal hydration his only motive, he had not saved us.

We waited.

The 10 car line began to dwindle.  One after another the cars backed up, pulled out, drove off.  We saw their frustration, we felt it too.   But, we were first in line.  First in line for a line we weren't sure would ever reopen, but we'd driven (sputtered) so far to find this station, we didn't want to leave to find another ... so we waited.

Our waiting was awarded with a topped off and full tank of "Gazole"  - we sped off with all pistons firing!

THINGS WE LEARNED:

Gazole = Diesel

Sans Plomb = Unleaded

Gas is sold by the liter not Gallon. 

A liter of gas here costs about the same as a Gallon at home.  That makes gas VERY expensive here.  20 Euros of gas puts very little in your tank

Gas stations close every now and then  - seemingly for no reason

If workers start putting cones down in the middle of the line. The station is about to go on break.