Of transits near and far.

Just a few observations people.

Now it might be said that I am a fairly obvious tourist. And it is not the my looks (which are of course, lovely) nor my accent (which by the way is continually taken for British -even by other Australians). No, it is most likely the fact that I insist on wearing a fluro orange beanie, be it rain, hail or shine. The reason for this I am not entirely clear on. When I think of something sufficiently profound I will get back to you. Needless to say this is not something that one could call traditional Peruvian attire.

This has a number of consequences, some good, some not so good and some just plain bizarre. The strange looks from school children of Arequipa I can deal with - and even enjoy. Kids tend to be more tolerant of bad spanish and their interest in who the hell I am and why I insist on looking like a misshapen tangerine is good fun. Laughter from groups of older women ( who I think are nuns...) as they leave morning mass is harmless as well, and having provided good clean fun for a few ´Brides of Christ´ can´t hurt when and if I ever need to give a convincing explanation for my stupid selection of agnosticism as a belief system.

No, it is the cabs that get me. And this city has a lot of them. Thousands. Hundreds. Lots. And for reasons I don´t understand, the powers that be have decided that late model Suzuki Swifts are the most appropriate format in which to present a taxi system. At least they are not Excels... one has to be happy for small mercies.

The drivers seems to think a bit like this

He is a tourist, therefore is rich and most likely lazy.

He is walking through a residencial suburb with no souvenier shop within spitting distance, therefore he is hopelessly lost.

He is wearing a stupid orange hat and therefore could not find his bum with both hands.

The result of this train of thought is that every cab that passes me by toots their horn franatically as they approach, draws beside me, winds down their window and yells at me in indecipherable spanish while making actions somewhat akin to an epiletic fit. This lasts for about 30 seconds after which they drive off slowly, seeming very put out that I have not decided to get into their cab.

It is as if I always want to go somewhere... I just have forgotten to hail the cab. Goddamit I knew I was forgetting something.

Oh... and the horoscopes here are great! They are not based on the normal signs, you know cancer, pisces and all that. No instead we have Inca thingees of some kind. I am of Og... quite appropriate I think.

Rock and Roll.

Paddy.