…..to Santa Marta was taken about five minutes before there was standing room only and what you can’t see are the 15-20 dozen green bananas that are by my feet. Next to them is a cooler of fish and a couple of coolers of something else I do not recognize. All in all, however, it was a pleasant ride and is sometimes preferential to taxi rides not only because it’s cheaper but also because it seems to be less dangerous. That’s because we think there are no rules here for driving, or at least we cannot make sense of them. Here’s what the rules seem to be from observing our taxi drivers and others on the road. 1) if there’s a double yellow line, it means ‘pass fast’. 2) if you can’t pass just straddle the yellow line and stay no more than a foot from the car bumper in front of you so that the driver gets the signal he/she should move over to the right or the left, it doesn’t matter…then pass fast. 3). Taxi drivers seem to gain brownie points for almost hitting dogs, donkeys, bikes, people etc. and constantly checking their brakes. 4). Motorcycles rule the roads and it’s OK to drive with three people on the bike, four if one is a child, and no one has to wear a helmet and they can pass every vehicle on the right, left, down the middle as it doesn’t matter. 5). A ‘stop’ sign means yield, if you wish. 6). It’s OK to drive over the speed limit while you’re talking on your cell phone, listening to loud music, honking at the girls and cursing other drivers. 7). Pedestrians have no rights. 8). Crosswalks mean ‘run across the street’ and dodge cars and motorbikes along the way.
So far we’ve survived with lots of prayers!,