Nairobi Driving is Insane!

          Yes, we are wearing masks. On the bus. In Nairobi, Africa.  If you think about it for a few minutes, you'll probably be able to guess why.  The truth is, air quality in Nairobi is not so nice.  We spent at least an hour an a half every day riding in a bus to and from the slums of the city.  As you'll see in the pictures below, traffic was crazy.  There are no emissions standards in Kenya, so the exhaust from all of the diesel vehicles could get a bit overwhelming.  After three or four days of breathing in pollution, the masks brought a bit of relief.  We didn't wear these all of the time.  But when we were stuck in traffic and the fumes started burning our lungs, the masks did seem to help.
          As for driving in the city, I have never experienced anything like Nairobi.  Our bus driver, Philip, was quite incredible.  Every morning and every afternoon, he had the responsibility of driving 38 white people on a bus through the busy streets of Nairobi.  We were quite an anomaly.  The driving itself was dangerous, too.  Most roads have no lane lines.  Traffic drives where room exists, so in some areas, the cars spread out, forming four or five loose lanes of traffic.  When oncoming vehicles drive toward that traffic, vehicles merge back to one or two lanes.  For some reason, road construction debris and rubble is simply left on the side of the road, creating huge piles of dirt (and some very large ditches).  Pedestrians are everywhere, darting in front of vehicles, climbing over debris mountains, and trying to squeeze around buses and vans.  And no, it is NOT a pedestrian friendly city.  I watched two or three men a day come close to being squished between vehicles.  In the cars, nose position is everything. Our bus would often just get in a nose in order to turn or change lanes.  It was like watching a big game of chicken unfold before our eyes.   During our first few rides, people were constantly inhaling or even screaming as it seemed we would wreck at any moment.  I saw vehicles bump each other all the time (and yes, our bus got "nudged" a few times).  At the end of the day, I was always thankful that Philip was driving. I don't think any one in our group would've done well in that city!