Getting Essence–gc

How many times have I filled a car with gasoline? WAY too many. So, the need to fill the tank for the car we are currently borrowing did not appear to present any problems. Ah, but this is France. First, gasoline is not “gasoline” or gazole (French for “diesel”). Gasoline is essence. Kind of romantic, ain’t it.

Pulling into the E.Leclerc station (you’ll be reading/hearing a lot about E. Leclerc since the company seems to have its hands in everything one needs to live), the first thing I’m struck by is that it is BIG. Pull up to the pump and it looks like the ones I’m used to, except a bit more complicated and, of course, everything is in French. Insert the carte du credit, select the grade and Voila!…the card is rejected. Huh? Select another credit card, repeter, and Voila!…rejected again. Try the debit card…rejected.

Sallie asks the nice elderly woman at the next pump for some advice and she offers to allow us to use her LeClerc card if we pay her cash. Bon idee! She inserts her card and selects the grade and the card is ACCEPTED…except she has selected gazole! Mon Dieux!! By this time, there are two cars waiting behind us and 2 cars waiting behind her. But no one has honked. We repeat the steps, select essence and Voila…the first successful fill-up occurs. We quickly give our new ami 20 Euros and make our way to the grocery store next door. The one that is owned by E. LeClerc.