Getting around Cairo

There seem to be four basic ways to travel around Cairo: (1) by metro, (2) by foot, (3) by taxi/car, and (4) by mini-bus. So far we've relied only on the first three, as buses seem like an adventure unto themselves. We'll brave them someday soon, we hope.

The first way, by metro, is by far the easiest and nicest way to get around. A one-way ticket costs 1 LE (about 20 cents), and the stations and maps are all clearly marked in both Arabic and Roman script. The metro is clean and runs often, from early in the morning until at least midnight. Here's a picture:













The second way, by foot, is also easy enough. Roads often have lots of potholes and bumps, thee are piles of trash everywhere, and feet get really dirty from the sand if one wears flip-flops, but walking is the best way to actually see and hear the city. One danger: getting run over. More about drivers in a moment. Those walking don't help the situation either, crossing anywhich place with little regard to oncoming traffic. The other day, the van we were in on the way to work actually hit a pedestrian! Thankfully he was okay ... but honestly, I'm amazed it doesn't happen much more often ...

... because of the crazy drivers. Drivers drive as if they were blind, paying no attention to lanes, other cars, and least of all, pedestrians. There seem to be lane markers on the road, but cars basically go where there is space. Two lane streets become three, four lane streets, with cars inches away from one another. Most cars have dented, scratched bumpers that people don't seem to bother getting fixed ... cause really, there seems to be little point. And honking seems to be the second most widely spoken (and perhaps even understood) language -- there are honks when a car approaches, is passing, wants to pass, is allowing someone else to pass, sees someone in the way, and sometimes, for no apparent reason at all. Anyway, here's a view from the taxi we took this afternoon: