Mini Bus

This is the first time I've ever lived in a "big city." I was really excited about this experience because I thought that big-city-ness implied glamour and overall "bigness" in one's life. So I've been surprised at how quickly my life in this big place has become as small as it was in town's prior.

With the exception of weekends, my whole life is lived within a one- to two-mile stretch of Main Road. Our tiny flat at Berkeley Square sits square in the middle, with the Cavendish Mall on one end (for movies) and the Wash 'n Web café on the other (where an old woman named Dawn does our laundry). The SAEP Office, the Pig 'n Swizzle, the Starlight Diner, the Good Food Store and Stardust Theatrical Dining sit in between.

What this means is that my small life in this big city has a very predictable soundtrack, as well. This soundtrack's dominant source is the ubiquitous mini-bus (pictured above). One does not have to wait more than 30 seconds between mini-bus passings on the weekdays, and as they pass, they honk their horns in a rhythm and whistle and yell out the window either "Cape Tee-own!!" (Cape Town) or "Vine-burrrrrrg!!" (Wynberg) depending on the direction in which they are traveling. And they are always loudly pumping American R & B. Mini-buses are the most affordable and entertaining/thrilling ride you'll ever take, especially because they regularly get in accidents running red lights.