about taxis

There are three ways I can die in a taxi; four ways that a cab can claim my life:

1) death by accident: taxi drivers love to live on the edge, stopping within inches of the car (and often pedestrian) in front of them.  Also, the streets are so oily and it never rains, so when it does rain, sirens are wailing.

2) death by second hand smoke: because drivers are a) stressful drivers and b) Jordanians, they are naturally chain smokers.  The amount of cigarette smoke I inhale in the back of the cab is equivalent to smoking myself.

3) death by pollution: similar to smoke, the pollution in Amman is astronomical, especially from black exhaust smoke that billows from cars that shouldn't have passed inspection ten years ago.  And with no A.C. in the cars the windows are left open - which does help lessen the chance of death number 2, but increases, death number 3.

4) death by heart attack: driving in a cab is very stressful.  Not for the weak of heart.  :)

Ahlan! Welcome to Amman!

p.s.  I feel as if I should insert a Yenta quote from Fiddler on the Roof: "But I don't complain, not like the other woman, *tsk tsk*, not I! Not Yenta!" - I probably butchered that quote.