Friday, May 25, 2007
06/2007 : Egyptian taxis
5 million taxi drivers all shout “lady where you go?” at me outside the airport and after some spirited negotiations and making sure the driver knows where the hotel is, I’m on my way. (I’ve been caught out before by taxi drivers who say they do know where to go, then after 5 minutes in the car say “where you go?” have no idea where it is you want to get to and expect you, the first time visitor, to give them directions.).
The driver of the taxi I get back to my hotel is talking on a phone in one hand, has a cigarette in the other and manages to keep the horn blowing at the same – I don’t want to contemplate what he’s using to do this – while driving at breakneck speed.
The traffic is horrendous even by Cairo standards and there are lots of police on the roads which are lined with soldiers in dazzling white dress uniforms. According to my driver, President Mubarak has just arrived along with Jacques Chirac and we sit in stationary traffic for an age. The drive from the airport to downtown takes well over an hour.
Egypt is a fascinating place, but it can be frustrating when it comes to organisation….
5 million taxi drivers all shout “lady where you go?” at me outside the airport and after some spirited negotiations and making sure the driver knows where the hotel is, I’m on my way. (I’ve been caught out before by taxi drivers who say they do know where to go, then after 5 minutes in the car say “where you go?” have no idea where it is you want to get to and expect you, the first time visitor, to give them directions.).
The driver of the taxi I get back to my hotel is talking on a phone in one hand, has a cigarette in the other and manages to keep the horn blowing at the same – I don’t want to contemplate what he’s using to do this – while driving at breakneck speed.
The traffic is horrendous even by Cairo standards and there are lots of police on the roads which are lined with soldiers in dazzling white dress uniforms. According to my driver, President Mubarak has just arrived along with Jacques Chirac and we sit in stationary traffic for an age. The drive from the airport to downtown takes well over an hour.
Egypt is a fascinating place, but it can be frustrating when it comes to organisation….
# posted by hotelreviewer @ 9:01 am 
