Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Downtown Dementia
In the gawky gridlock, your tomfool tailgater will honk a homily at you; a blighted bus on your blind side will edge in without warning; a daredevil driver will cannily convert the dividing line into a Harry-Potteresque Lane 1¾; a police cortege (sorry, convoy) will come screaming through; and you’ll be praying to Gideon’s God to spare your limbs and car from fractures, dents and scratches.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Mmmm sounds like my daily commute to work....a senseless daily fight for survival. Wonderful description!
ReplyDeletePraying! sorry but i'll more likely be contributing to the stress by picking a fight with any erring driver, well said, driving in Accra really is dementia!
ReplyDeleteNana,alas, alas this is not only down town, but all round town! Had virtual road rage just reading the descriptions - lol! Linking especially the Harry-Potteresque allusion!
ReplyDeletehmmm...real crazy stuff on the road. Sometimes the honking alone would make you mad...
ReplyDeleteReasons why I'm afraid to drive in Ghana :(
ReplyDelete@ Raine, that fear will prolong your life.
ReplyDeleteDriving in Ghana is outrageous! Its shocking! Its abominable!
Have been in Lagos traffic? A perfect example I assure you
ReplyDeleteMy father (Nigerian) was recently in Ghana and commented on how much driving in Accra has changed for the worse. He claims it's now akin to driving in Lagos.
ReplyDeleteMyself, have been in 1 full-blown, neck-snapping collison and 2 less severe scraps in two years. The latest one, after running into my right rear door, the driver of a pick-up, with an actual police officer in his passenger seat, stopped, looked me up and down, hissed, got back in his ride and drove off.
I was nearly in tears.
I actually started learning how to drive in Ghana and gave up. To date,I've only driven once in Ghana and it was an SUV! Needed a bigger car so I don't get bullied! It freaks me out to drive in Ghana ooo!
ReplyDeleteYet, Maxine, patience usually does the trick amid all the madness!
ReplyDeleteSorry about your misfortunes, Anon. And though your father is probably right (I have not been to Nigeria) I am assured Lagos still trumps Accra. A Nigerian client remarked when we stopped at a traffic-light intersection, "the cars actually stop?"
ReplyDeleteMyne, that's just what I was saying!
ReplyDeleteLol, Kiz.
ReplyDeleteYes, Nana F-A, real crazy!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Denise. And you're right. Now the suburban neighbourhood streets have even turned into runways!
ReplyDeleteYes, Cynthia. You would do that, no? I know you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Abena. I found the way to beat it is to leave home early and return late so that you avoid the rat race.
ReplyDelete