Road Rage in Cairo

This morning, I had my first ever road-raging taxi driver. He seemed a little perturbed when I got in after asking for the University.

“How odd” I thought – normally all the taxis assume you are going to the university from the hostel

This driver was very hard on the horn. Using it more as a non-vocal yell, than the usual indication that one is present, passing, wants you to move or hurry up, etc. Generally the horn is a (relatively) gentle message to those around you. This driver was LEANING on the horn for LONG periods of time to express his overall frustration at the entire city.

Other drivers and pedestrians were staring at him in utter disbelief. This simply is NOT the way that people behave.

When we FINALLY got to the University and I got out, I paid him the standard fare of LE5 and said thank you. He took the note, started waving it at me and YELLING.

“Is that ALL you are giving me? It is MORE than 5 pounds!! Give me 5 MORE pounds!”

I walked away as he continued to yell at me. Some people need to unwind a bit – I was very happy that he didn’t spoil my morning. I just figured he was mish mabsoot (not happy) and a bit magnoon (crazy).