cairo cab drivers

One of the most colorful experiences in Cairo is riding in a taxi. It seems like such a common thing to do, but there is an art to hailing a cab (and getting away afterwards!). Unlike in New York, where the fares are digital and the same for everyone, in Cairo you must pay according to whether you are a tourist, native, or expatriate. The fares may even differ from driver to driver, so sometimes there is a big argument after you reach your destination about what the rate should be (you never pay until after you step out of the cab). The more Arabic you speak, the less likely you are to have to pay a high rate.

Another strange fact about Cairo's taxis is that very few are newer than the 1970s (80s at the latest!) and seem to be mostly Russian. I don't know much about cars, but they seem to be lacking something like a catalytic converter, because most of them nearly suffocate you with exhaust fumes. It is truly like being two feet from a tailpipe, and the exhaust seems to pump directly through the vents. For this reason, they always have the front windows down. Some, like this one, are decorated with blankets, prayer beads, and passages from the Qu'ran.