What are you driving ?

Sometimes I have the funny feeling that to many Istanbulians it is more important what you drive than what you are. Everytime you meet new people you can be sure that someone will ask you this question.

I always answer 'metrobus, metro, trains, dolmus and taxies and will sure get that implausible look...

Public transport in 'the Bul' will get you anywhere anytime but trying to understand how the system works
will take some considerable amount of time, nerves and determination. I am still trying!
A timetable only seems to be some sort of decoration for a station. The bus/train/metro will eventually come, if it is packed wait for the next one or hold on to your wallet and get in.

Living in Istanbul means that you have to arrange your daily life keeping in mind that your time management should always include that 'omnipresent monster' TRAFFIC which assumes power over the city every day from around 0700am to 2300pm (at weekends even longer).
Traffic does not make an inherent difference between people. Everybody from students to coporate managers (unless they use helicopters) will get caught.

Fact is that you can simply not be there in a 'little bit' !

Peak rush-hour traffic means a complete 'stand still' accompanied by an orchestra of horn honking. I wonder if there is a special code for honking horns. Angry honks (single long honk), the 'come on let's go honk' (short, successive) and many more all probably with different meanings. All these honks come together with significant gestures and some swearing and shouting underlining the honk-code.

Cab drivers will also honk (a short, friendly honk) to get the attention of potential clients. I am taking my hat off to all cab drivers in Istanbul although they always give me that reproachful look when I fasten my seatbelt.
I can not imagine being in that traffic every day for up to 18 hours and more every single day!
These guys have to be either stress resistant or they are stress junkies. There are more than 18 thousand taxies in Istanbul plus an unknown number of so called 'private taxies' in this daily battle. Add busses, service vehicles, trucks and 'dolmus' and you will get the perfect recipe for chaos.

This city is not made for pedestrains. Walkways are usually used for parking. Forget driving a bicycle unless you have plans to painfully kill yourself. In some areas of Istanbul you could at least be sure that you would be hit by a luxury gas guzzling monster. It sometimes seems that there are more oversized 4WD jeeps in Istanbul than VW beetles in Mexico and still they are whining about gas prices of over 2 Euros/ltr.?!

I have to catch a bus now...whishing everybody a great week!