Our car got locked in the carpark

@JudyEv (381739)
Rockingham, Australia
April 16, 2023 11:13am CST
We are living in Ballina, Ireland at the moment and about 45 minutes from our son’s house in Castlebar. We have the use of his car and he is using the car belonging to the people we’ve swapped houses with. (Long story). We have been parking in an underground carpark just two doors away. It costs 2 euro a day to park there but hours are 8am to 8pm. We were happy to park there for the convenience and also we’re not paying for a hire car so it’s all good. The car stayed in the carpark for the week that Vince was sick and we expected to pay 14 euro when we eventually took it out. But the machine only asked for 2 euro. Then, the next two times, the barrier was up and we were able to drive out without paying anything. However, come Sunday morning we couldn’t take it out at all as the carpark was locked up. But that’s okay. It’s all stuff to talk about. The photo is the countryside we drove through yesterday. The mountains in the background were almost hidden by fog and cloud.
23 people like this
22 responses
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
16 Apr 23
Oh lovely Judy that photo..so gorgeous. So with not being able to get the car out, did you go anywhere then?
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Apr 23
We went walking round the town so it was all good.
4 people like this
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
16 Apr 23
@JudyEv Good I hope you had some nice cups of tea or something.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Apr 23
@RebeccasFarm We found a nice restaurant where we went for dinner so that was a plus.
2 people like this
snowy
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
16 Apr 23
The hills look barren in the background and not green like Ireland usually is.
2 people like this
snowy
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
16 Apr 23
@JudyEv Oh OK..even purple is different.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Apr 23
I commented to our son on that fact. It seems the brown is heathland and later will be shades of purple when the heather blooms. In some areas, the scrub and tussocks had been cleared and crops planted and those parts were green.
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
17 Apr 23
You were lucky to pay so little. Sorry you had to walk round the town, they should place a sign that the carpark is locked on Sundays.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
19 Apr 23
@JudyEv - I think that a sign would be useful for tourists.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
@LadyDuck For sure. Parking can be hard to find sometimes.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
I guess all the locals know about it but a sign would be very helpful.
1 person likes this
rakski
@rakski (156200)
• Philippines
16 Apr 23
Dish a lovely photo!!! Did you get the car already?
2 people like this
rakski
@rakski (156200)
• Philippines
16 Apr 23
@JudyEv okay.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Apr 23
We will be able to get the car out in the morning.
2 people like this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Apr 23
I'm glad it doesn't cost much to park there. I'm glad it wasn't an imposition to have the car locked in the car park on Sunday. I love the picture.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
We've been lucky with the parking fees but even if you had to pay every day, use of the car is free as it's part of the house-swap deal. So we're not too concerned about parking fees.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Apr 23
@JudyEv That's good the car is free and you aren't concerned about the parking fees.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Apr 23
@just4him We have saved a packet just through having the car.
1 person likes this
Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
17 Apr 23
Sorry your car was locked up. That’s a beautiful picture. The grass is so green.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Apr 23
@RubyHawk That's what I thought but the peat bogs and tussocky areas aren't very green.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
We were surprised that some of the paddocks are quite brown rather than green.
1 person likes this
Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
19 Apr 23
@JudyEv That would be surprising in Ireland.
1 person likes this
allen0187
@allen0187 (59648)
• Philippines
17 Apr 23
Lovely scenery. Looking forward to reading the story about your locked out car in the car park.
1 person likes this
allen0187
@allen0187 (59648)
• Philippines
20 Apr 23
@JudyEv good to know.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
We were able to get it out next morning so it's all good.
1 person likes this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (117196)
• El Paso, Texas
17 Apr 23
It must be really damp there, is it cold where you are?
1 person likes this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (117196)
• El Paso, Texas
19 Apr 23
That explains why it's so green there.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
It is very, very damp here and mostly quite cold. All the houses have indoor heating.
1 person likes this
Hazel Vee
@epiffanie (11325)
• Australia
19 Apr 23
Do you have to get a special driver's permit to drive there?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
Vince is just using his Australian licence. Here, a car is licensed and you have to nominate who can drive it. Some insurance companies won't insure the car if the driver is too old.
DE
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
16 Apr 23
That's a lovely view.... And you can definitely tell which way the wind "usually" blows there. That's weird... why would they keep the carpark locked on Sunday?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Apr 23
The carpark 'belongs' to the shop above and the shop isn't open on Sunday. Seems strange as they could still get revenue on Sunday but it is what it is.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
17 Apr 23
@JudyEv Oh, I see... Yeah, they're missing out on revenue by doing that.
1 person likes this
Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Apr 23
Did your Sunday plans get ruined because of the car situation? The scenery in the photo is very beautiful.
1 person likes this
Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Apr 23
@JudyEv Well I’m glad you were still able to make do in that situation.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
Our plans had to change a little but they didn't really get ruined.
1 person likes this
Shiva
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
17 Apr 23
We are never short of surprises, some nasty though! That would have inconvenienced you. Hopefully, you have sorted out this issue. Nice scenery though obscured a bit. .
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
We weren't too inconvenienced thankfully and we'll know better next time.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
26 Apr 23
Lovely photo. Odd that the carpark was locked up.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr 23
It's owned by the department store above and once the shop shuts then the parking area does too.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr 23
@LindaOHio The park is closed from 8pm - 8am but there is free parking on the road from about 6.30pm till 9.30am so it's not too bad. You just have to remember to have the car out of the underground park if you need it before 8 in the morning.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
26 Apr 23
@JudyEv That's very inconvenient.
1 person likes this
M Cheung
@Beestring (15373)
• Hong Kong
17 Apr 23
That's an awesome photo. The scenery is so lovely.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
The hills are really something and there seems to always be two or three layers of them.
1 person likes this
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
17 Apr 23
So really you never knew what to expect at the car park.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
I think we have it sorted now. No doubt the locals are all clued up on it.
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
17 Apr 23
What? The carpark owner was sick and didn't open up, or maybe you're not supposed to drive on Sunday...
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
The carpark belongs to the shop above and the store isn't open on Sunday. Sort of makes sense once you know. A sign would have been helpful.
1 person likes this
Always smiling
@allknowing (153544)
• India
17 Apr 23
That tree in the photo stands out. Good though you could not use the car you spent your time well
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
That's one more thing we've learnt about our surroundings. We'll know better next time.
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
17 Apr 23
I thought the photo was a painting. The scene is beautiful. Is the carpark always closed on Sunday?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
The carpark really belongs to the store above and the shop is closed on Sunday. It all makes sense when you know.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Apr 23
Sorry you couldn't get it out. Hopefully today you can
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
We were able to get it out next morning and we understand the 'rules' now.
1 person likes this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Apr 23
That is lovely countryside so peaceful and green, I hope you get access to your car tomorrow and have a good start to the new week,
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 23
We were able to get our car out and we had a lovely drive yesterday thanks.
1 person likes this