ALA TUUL. YIMIIN. SHIMAAL.
Hello People
Have you heard all those horror stories about taxis in Cairo?
Well, let me tell you something: they’re all real, true and tested.
Chances are, not only you’ll be sitting in a smelly and filth-covered back of a pile of metallic shit with wheels , praying for the your dear life as the driver speeds at 200km/h while constantly looking backwards hoping he may get lucky and catch a glimpse of your legs, but you will not, I repit, Will Not get to your destination unless You know how to get there.
And you’ll need to guide the taxi driver. In Arabic.
Enter the three magic words: Ala tuul (straight) Yimiin (right) Shimaal (left).
Regardless of where you are going, do not for a second over estimate the driver’s navigation skills and think they must somehow know how to get there. I once pre-booked a taxi to take me to the airport and wrongly assumed that he would know his way (since I specifically booked it to take me to the airport) . He didn’t. And to make matters worse he claimed that there were no airports in Egypt.
And remember: Drivers do not know how to read maps, Drivers do not know street names and Drivers do not know landmarks.
2 comments:
Hi,I have to go to Cairo soon for business. I can't wait to have a new experience on the Taxi front! Having used most modes of transport in Africa at some stage or another...it can't surely not be as bad as Pakistan, where there is only one way of driving...in the middle of the road...forget about the markings..or Uganda, from Entebbe to the Kampala late at night at 150km an hour and your haert is in your hands...indeed..inshallah
Hello Dutchman,
It's probably not as bad as in Pakistan. Cairo is a fascinating place and I'm sure you'll enjoy your business trip.
Good luck
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