Saturday, June 12, 2004

No photo post from CENCOSAD would be complete without Victor. Victor is James' driver ... and so his job is to drive us all over Accra and wait while we do what we're supposed to do, and then drive us to the next place. Driving in Accra is an extreme sport -- people are absolutely insane. It's far worse than Manhattan or Boston and I will never complain about St. Louis drivers EVER AGAIN. Victor picked me up at the airport and drove me back to Malam the first night and I thought I was going to die. But I soon realized that he is simply the most skilled driver I have ever seen. It's like the car (and not a small one, a big, blue VW truck) becomes an extension of his body. We joke that in his hands, it turns into the Gadgetmobile, because he can squeeze between and through things that you would swear it couldn't get through ... and without a scratch. He knows Accra like the back of his hand and is always taking sudden shortcuts when the traffic ties up through strange back streets. All of this sounds nuts, but if you know what a terrible passenger I am, let me say I feel so incredibly safe riding with Victor. He works so hard ... everyone here does ... and he is always in good spirits. His extended family lives right next door to the villa. His wife makes clothes, so you can find some cloth you like in the market, take it to her and she will show you patterns and designs and take your measurements and make you beautiful clothes.   |
Mike at 6/12/2004 10:44:00 AM