Jerusalem? Where's That?!
On our way back from the airport to Jerusalem, we grabbed a taxi at the airport to get us back to our apartment. The taxi driver was exceptionally friendly but within minutes of leaving the airport, we realized he wasn't familiar with Jerusalem, at all.
We tried to describe the location of our residence by using a variety of street directions and landmarks. We live near both the Israel Museum and the Knesset and the taxi driver had no idea how to get there. It's akin to getting a taxi at Los Angeles International Airport and having the driver not know how to get to Disneyland!
As we approached Jerusalem, our driver suggested that he just drop us off on the outskirts of town with our luggage and we could simply get another taxi. We told him no and we worked to try to direct him. Did I mention that he refused to look at our map? (Unfortunately, I expect he may have been illiterate.)
Since we had a map, we were able to successfully navigate the taxi to our street but the driver didn't trust us or our map at all. He continually stopped and asked directions over and over again from people (by shouting at them through the window) on the street, other taxi drivers, delivery truck drivers, and others.
Fortunately, the people being yelled at for directions always yelled beck that we were headed in the correct direction. Eventually, we arrived at our street and were home. Then, we rushed inside, got freshened up, and ran to our Hebrew class, which began a few minutes later.
We tried to describe the location of our residence by using a variety of street directions and landmarks. We live near both the Israel Museum and the Knesset and the taxi driver had no idea how to get there. It's akin to getting a taxi at Los Angeles International Airport and having the driver not know how to get to Disneyland!
As we approached Jerusalem, our driver suggested that he just drop us off on the outskirts of town with our luggage and we could simply get another taxi. We told him no and we worked to try to direct him. Did I mention that he refused to look at our map? (Unfortunately, I expect he may have been illiterate.)
Since we had a map, we were able to successfully navigate the taxi to our street but the driver didn't trust us or our map at all. He continually stopped and asked directions over and over again from people (by shouting at them through the window) on the street, other taxi drivers, delivery truck drivers, and others.
Fortunately, the people being yelled at for directions always yelled beck that we were headed in the correct direction. Eventually, we arrived at our street and were home. Then, we rushed inside, got freshened up, and ran to our Hebrew class, which began a few minutes later.
posted by Matt at 7:50 AM
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