Day 34

Any time a local asks me what stands out the most in terms of cultural differences, the first thing that comes to mind is transportation.

The safest option is, of course, to get a cab. Not a taxi, a cab, because taxis are something else apparently. Then there are the nicer cab companies that go by the meter, and the sketchy cabs with randos driving and making up their own rates. Then there are the occasional drunk cab drivers, which I have witnessed first hand.

Taxis are a bit different. Along main road, which gets you from downtown Cape Town to about 5 suburbs out, you can hear the yelling "Claremont / Wynberg!" "Cape Towwwn!" followed by excessive whistling and harassment. It is probably the most annoying thing a pedestrian has to encounter. Once the door operator of the van, the one doing all the yelling, directs the driver to stop, you and the rest of the people in the van sit impatiently while they try to round up more people for extra profit. The strategy, I will never understand, because it seems to me they waste more time parked and trying to get passengers then driving to destinations for new clients. You get inside, its crammed, its gross, and regardless of what kind of music is playing the bass is unreasonably heavy. Inside the vehicle is marked that it's permitted to hold 16 passengers... even though people are practically sitting on top of each other, they make sure they get it up to 16. The appeal? For R6.50 (so like $.80) I can get pretty much anywhere along the road. However if you get in a minibus after the sun sets, you just might get killed.

City busses I have no idea. But apparently they're most undesirable.

The train. Always an experience. There are two approaches to the train, take first class and though you think you're safe and sheltered, you're also safe and sheltered from anyone witnessing any potential mugging or harassment. Then there is economy class, where peddlers walk through the cars, blind people are singing with their mugs for coins exposed, and you never know what kind of person you're next to.

The cars here, I love. Most models, regardless of make, are far different than those in the U.S. A-class Mercedes? It's like a mini, almost Toyota Venza looking M-class. Today I saw a two door Mitsubishi SUV and a Toyota that looked like a cross between a Lexus GX and a RAV-4. Then there is my personal favorite, the Toyota Fortuner. It's the attempt at a 4Runner, except its shape is almost better. They're the best. Absolutely no Fords here. Surprisingly see a few Jeeps, but rare. Range Rovers are definitely the luxury vehicle, as BMWs and Mercedes are pretty common. No one here has car insurance, it's just not a thing. So everyone drives like there is no tomorrow. The minibus I was in today almost took out a BMW... I was freaking out.

As a pedestrian, I've probably almost gotten hit by a car more times then I can count on one hand. "Walk" lights last probably 5 seconds. Yielding to pedestrians is a rarity, so basically you pick your time, look both ways, making sure you know what way cars are coming from because it's backwards, and make a run for it. That I've actually gotten good at.