taxi trauma

Maybe the car was overheating because of the fur dashboard cover.

It is a relief to know that the world supply of crapped out Ladas are not rusting in Russian landfills.  They are being used as taxis here in Egypt. The black and yellow crapboxes buzz around at high speed ignoring all laws governing traffic and physics.

My first taxi ride this week was informative.  Before that I had been walking in to traffic fearlessly believing that it was in the best interest of all motorists, including taxi drivers, not to hit me.  I was disabused of this notion during a hair rising taxi ride through the city. It seems that the general technique for dealing with moving obstructions is to maintain speed and aim for a clear space around it based on a calculation of their approximate speed. This may require a slight change in trajectory.

I am now much more hesitant crossing the street.  To be fair, we were warned on the first day to use the pedestrian underpasses when crossing one of the 3 major thoroughfares in the city (Apparently a judge would say we were asking to get hit and we would never be able to sue). I should have known that it was a little dangerous already at this point.

During the ride I also learned a few things about engine maintenance.  For example, a few plastic pop bottles filled with water can be used to prop open the hood of your car while driving to prevent your engine from overheating.  The water can then be used to fill the radiator at stop lights. So clever!

There are a few tuk tuks on the streets in my

neighbourhood.  Most are the standard yellow and black.  The owner of this jazzy number was very pleased with my interest in his vehicle.