Ok. We have been to multiple cities where the traffic is crazy but nothing ever has been this bad considering today is a Sunday. Daniel wanted to drive to Church because Sundays are usually slow traffic days but not in Manila. We were told is good traffic on Sundays but we found out the hard way what they meant is that the cars actually move but that is about it. It is still a lot of cars out there merging into your space at a few inches away.
On Sunday at about 11:00 a.m. Daniel had this brilliant idea to go out to find where the Chapel was before we got ready for Church that starts at 1:00 p.m. The Chapel is about 20 minutes away. Two hours later we were back home calling a taxi because we had been lost that whole time. Needless to say we had to skip breakfast and did't make it to take the sacrament. During our two hour detour this is what took place.
We were following the GPS when all of the sudden a cop stopped us. This is when my heart stopped. I hate those men who pulled you over to ask for bribes and I knew where this was going. I understand not all cops are bad but what if you get one of those corrupted ones. He explained to my husband that he had continue on a lane designed only to turn left. Daniel apologized and said he was very sorry but was simply following the GPS. The man than asked for his driver's license and this is when I got scared. I heard that here in Manila you never give the police your drivers license unless you are willing to kiss it goodbye.
As he had possession of his drivers license he proceded explaining he was confiscating it and he was going to issue a traffic ticket or he could skip all that hassle if he only paid him $1000 pesos about $25. My husband started to explain to this man that what he was doing was dishonest and that he would report him to the authorities. As he was talking Daniel reached over his hand and took the license away from him and said you can give me a ticket if you want but I will report this incident with your superiors. At this point he simple said Go away!
Following that unpleasant situation we were just in, a car almost hit us. We slammed the breaks very hard that my ipad and phone fell to the floor. The GPS was telling us to go on streets that were not there or impossible to turn to. We got on this bridge that ended up taking us away from where we wanted to go. We actually went to the airport. About an hour away and came back when we realized we had gone too far. I told Daniel at the airport, lets just drive home.
Once we got home, we asked the guards to call a taxi because we didn't even know how to do that. From now on, when someone asked why we have to have a driver? I will say, because we look like we don't know where we are going and frankly, we don't! It would be like asking a blind person to take you somewhere and besides everybody here has a driver and only new comers like us who don't know any better until they get in an accident or get stopped by a cop think they can drive in this city but sooner or later they learn the hard way. It would be fair to say that maybe we got the one in a thousand cops that would do that but that seems to be our luck. I know there will be a day that we will be fine driving but not this new in town.
This morning it felt so good when the driver came to pick up Daniel to take him to work and for the first time in two weeks that didn't feel weird.
When you come visit. Remember, driving here s not the same!
Con amor,
Vero
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