moto taxi.

le 13 octobre   I`d been waiting for the first opportunity to check the sisters “boite postale” so that I could see if my absentee ballot had arrived! Finally, Joselyne (a volunteer from Rwanda) was off to “faire la commission” (run errands) and suggested we stop by the post office as well. Great! I grabbed my raincoat (just in case…during rain season you`re better safe than sorry) and headed for the gate with Joselyne.

“You know that if you go into town with me, we`re taking a moto.” I hadn`t thought about that.

In Gisenyi, the roads are pretty terrible to drive a car on, and more than that only the elite are able to afford a car. Therefore, a great many people own bicycles or motos to get around, if not walk from place to place. Unless you have a car (and the sisters do own one) or feel like walking all the way to your destination and need a ride, you have to wait for a taxi. NO, not a car taxi – a moto taxi.

I knew the day would come when I would get to ride a moto taxi, but didn`t expect it to be that day! I was thrilled but yet the slightest bit anxious (naturally), as this would be my first time ever on a moto!

Outside the gate, we waited for a first and then a second taxi. There is a driver, and when you hail him and tell him where you`re going, he tells you how much the ride will cost – much like a taxi anywhere else. You hop on, put on your helmet, and go!

Being practically the only “muzungu” in Gisenyi, I already draw enough attention to myself. Grinning like an idiot wouldn`t help, so I TRIED desperately to conceal my enormous grin. I was having a fabulous time. Riding a moto is truly liberating, and that`s only as a passenger – I can only imagine what driving one is like!

During the course of our errands, I was able to take three moto rides, and am sure it won`t lose its thrill during my time here in Gisenyi. More than just being FUN, it`s incredibly cheap. A ride from one end of Gisenyi to the other (where we live) is only 400 Rwandan Francs. There are about 580frw to every 1usd, so that trip costs less than a dollar. NOT bad. I could get used to this.