Sorry about not blogging for the last couple of days. Marcel has been quite under the weather with a cold and we have been driving kids to the dentist and other things lately.
Mexico City is huge. Hence, there is a huge problem with vehicles. There are 30 million people and it seems like every one of them owns a car. Traffic is really crazy and despite the fact that there is one day a week when each car is not permitted to drive, depending on the last number of the licence plate, traffic is still nuts! Yesterday, we drove Brittany and some classmates to a different private school nearby to take a PSAT exam for college (our baby is getting big). The school was only 20 km (12 miles) from our house. It took an hour and twenty minutes to get there on the freeway! On Tuesdays when we can't drive, and on Saturdays when everybody can drive and the traffic is really bad, we like to take the bus and the subway somewhere. The problem is, if you take the bus, your life is at risk.
These drivers are crazy! They are really aggresive and consumed with driving fast. They cut off everyone. The drivers, instead of having a names like Miguel and Ramon, ought to have a name like Bubba or Billy-Bob because they ought to be driving NASCAR! Note the picture: headlight missing. Inside, the upholstery is a little tattered but the bus is packed full of people. When it's rush hour, people "stand" on the steps, holding on to the exterior handle that you hold when getting on. Their toes are on the step but the rest of their body is outside of the bus.
All buses become equipped with personalized Virgin Guadalupe pictures, rosaries, sometimes some little framed pictures of the kids, or some pornography. Every bus, no matter how decrepit, has a fancy gear shift knob. Some look like snow globes and others, sculptured metal like a skull. It's about 40 cents to ride (one way) just about anywhere and the subway is even cheaper -- 20 cents. On the inside of the windshield, destinations are posted with neon colored lettering.
In general, all drivers here are very aware of the dimensions of their vehicles. Often, a third lane is "created" were there are officially, only two. People continue forward while other cars are switching lanes. This results in various cars at 45 degree angles. Everyone drives in the direction that they want until they just can't move forward any further. It's amazing that more side mirrors aren't missing as they swoosh by at good speeds. We are learning that there is a system to this apparent chaos and there are, surprisingly, very few accidents. When we see someone sneaking towards us in the wrong direction on a one way street in order to get to another side street without having to drive all the way around two blocks, we look at each other and say, "Expect the unexpected." If a car can fit somewhere, someone may try driving there. Sometimes, you realize that some wacky manoever was an avoidance of a monster pothole and then the wild swerve makes sense. If everyone politely waited to obey all the traffic laws, grid lock would develop. Again, it's not what we are used to, but it works.
2 comments:
Ok I would love invite you driving in Istanbul, If they switch lanes they leave about 15 cm between cars. Ok that's less then 10 inches. In 2 week "observed" only 2 accidents. But our prayers with you. So in the winter you folks host a hockeycamp???
As for hockey camps, the richer kids from Mexico City can afford to go elsewhere for a hockey camp. One of the Mexican coaches and I have only briefly stated that we would like to bring a camp here. Because the kids have gone to camps elsewhere and have high expectations there would have to be a pro or ex-pro leading the camp and a practice jersey would be expected. I would have to google to find some Christian hockey ministry that would be willing to come here. We could possibly put a camp on in the winter but spring or late next summer would be easier.
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