The Commute!

As I mentioned in a previous post the way most Mombasans' get around is to take matatus. Yours truly is now becoming quite an expert at this form of "mass transit". It's a colorful way to get around and much more "entertaining" than your average US subway, train, or bus. Matatus are old beat up vans that look like something a surfer would take to the beach. They have four rows of seats (including the front), a weird padded roof and tons of stickers all over them. You just have to know where they stop since there are no signs posted and it's very hard to tell exactly the route for each one so you just hope if they are headed in the direction you want to go you're on one that might get you there. One guy drives, while a second operates the door that slides open and takes the money (it costs 15 shillings about 20 cents around town that is if you don't get charged the mzunga price which I'm on to!) He spends most of his time hanging out the side with the door open in preparation for picking up and dropping off people for optimal speed and efficiency (no worries about falling out!) Bad American music is BLASTED at top volume (Backstreet Boy is quite popular)as they careen along at top speed then slam on their brakes for the next stop. They yell down the street as they are coming to see if anyone wants to hop on. If you want to get off you bang on the wall or roof of the van to let them know. The seats are extremely small and they pack everyone in like sardines in a can. In the morning when most folks are still relatively clean and sweat free it's not so bad but coming home in the evening folks can smell quite ripe (including yours truly I'm sure). I'm becoming quite an expert at this form of transportation and it is now what I use for my commute to and from work.