Dealing with transportation in Cairo is one of the more frustrating aspects of living in Africa’s largest city. Whether taking a bus, the subway, or a taxi, getting around the city as a single woman can present its challenges.
A few days ago a friend was taking a taxi downtown. The driver was a chatty, younger guy. While his constant stream of talk didn’t present a problem, she became concerned with the fact that the he wasn’t taking a very direct route to down town. As she began to ask what route he was taking that meant they had to go so far out of the way, he dropped his arm to “adjust” the floor mat in the back and instead runs it up her leg. Furious she opened the door and jumped out, screaming “haram” to a small audience of bewildered pedestrians. He sped away before she could get his license or a picture.
Getting stuck in traffic on a hot Egyptian day is bad enough. Getting harassed while in that situation can make even the biggest fans of Cairo want to move.
