More tidbits courtesy of Tagel

Yet again, I leaned more about the important stuff about Addis when I hung around with the Molla clan yesterday. This time it was regarding something that has kept me up at nights 'cause I have no life. This time it was about the buses around Addis, something I am sure you all have wondered about too.

Taxis --> Lada, Toyota, or Datsun (yes not Nissan :)) cars with anywhere from 40-90% bondo and painted blue with white tops. The criteria for a car becoming a taxi are:

- no tread on the tires
- at least a 40 degree play in the steering wheel
- no more than 2 windows may be operative
- dashboard and rear shelf upholstered
- distortion in the sound system
- rear lights not working
- trunk held shut by some form of assistance (usually bungie cord)
- owner knows where everything is in Addis except Deker house

Most expensive -> the little Toyota Hiace (pronounced "Hee-iss") vans which are priced by zone. For example, a trip from my guest house to Sarbet seems to traverse 3 zones and hence costs me 3 birr or a whopping 25 cents.

Next expensive -> Higer bus, a more luxurious and usually not as crowded mode of transportation, that costs 1 birr flat rate similar to the bus one takes in the west. At least 50% of the glass surfaces on these buses must be cracked, and it is expected to be belching black smoke as well.

Cheapest --> the yellow and orange big bus that costs 50 birr cents and is always full and very crowded. As well, this is a flat rate vehicle. It must be belching thick black smoke.