nimba county, part II

rufus and i worked our way to the back of the throng of people at red light to the taxis heading to the interior. as with purchasing anything here, one must bargain, haggle, and verbally wrestle with those from whom you are trying to purchase something.
on this occasion the haggling was over the price. rufus had convinced me that i am not yet an african and i could not handle riding a long distance like an african [like other 3rd world countries, people are packed in like sardines into vehicles]. rufus worked out purchasing three "seats" for the two of us so i could have the front seat of the old nissan sunny for the 5-6 hour drive to myself. [though i though i might be able to handle it, i am not sure. i have shared the front seat many times now and it is far from comfortable. the old cars that comprise the legions of taxis are usually formed seats that bite into one's back when you are not sitting in them properly. and the road was far from a smooth ride. actually, i think some enterprising teenager should come up with a driving video game where you need to avoid pot holes, animals, men with machetes, massive red-mud puddles that could absorb a car, and other such pitfalls...]
after all was arranged, i sheepishly sat in the front seat by myself while rufus shared the back seat with three other grown men. i am spoiled.