TOLLGATES - TAKE A TICKET OR PAY UP FRONT

As we were cruising down the autobahn enjoying the beautiful scenery, we came up on a toll as we entered France. Now understand John S. was driving 120 -200 km and as we got close, we noticed a big building and parking and lots of people stopping. It said something like cash exchange or money change---but we kept on going. Now we have come to a tollgate. We drive up and get a ticket. Pull on through, get down the road and I mentioned we are now going to have to use euro not francs. We drove for miles wondering if they would take francs and thinking we really should have stopped at the money exchange and gotten some euros. He wasnt too worried (like I was) because he thought he could just use the credit card. We still worried that, what if they don't take credit card. We stopped along the way at these service stations you can get food, etc. at on the tollway. He asked the guy if the toll gate would take credit card. He shrugged his shoulders like "don't know". John asked if he took credit card so we could get some cash from it in euro. He shook his head no. Well we had some francs so John said could he exchange the francs for euro. He acted a little aggrevated and showed on paper the money exchange. John said ok. The guy changed it and made $12-$15 off us. I think it was more but he didn't want to hear me gripe. We feel safe now going down the road. Well, we get to the tollgate and look at the signs to see which one to go through - credit cards cash or tolltag. He chose to go through the toll tag. go figure. don't ask me why? Well that did'nt work so he BACKED UP. YEP! You got it. In all the traffic of cars pulling up - HE BACKED UP. Now he pulls next to it (credit card) and puts his MC in the slot when he figured out how to do it. NOPE. Would not take it. They only take Amer. Express and their own country type cards. So, here we go backing up AGAIN with cars honking and my eyes closed, he goes to the next gate (when a car nicely let him in) and it has a person in the booth. He told her what had happened and that the credit card machine kept his toll ticket and what should he do. She didn't speak real good english but handed him a piece of paper and he wrote down it was 13.70 euro. He gave her 13.70 euro and we were on our way again. In Italy, you have to go through tolls every few miles. Their highways weren't too good either. I have all the tickets so I can count up exactlyhow many times we paid on that one highway and how much total it cost us to drive that highway in Italy. One time we stopped for a toll and it cost 33.70 euro . That is about $50.00 USD. It was to go through a tunnel for about 15-20 miles long. Well after my experience with those beautiful mountains I have been taking so many pictures of and ohhhhhing and ahhhhing over, believe me, I would have paid $100. to go through that tunnel. Now that is another story - the Alps. Oh Lord, just get me home.