taxis taxis taxis

taxis, originally uploaded by sammarin.

During Fujimori's regime, many economic sectors were opened up internationally in Perú - and many products started pouring in that hadn't been imported before. For example, the TICO.

Almost all taxis here are Ticos - that's a specific make of automobile - and this is a shot of an extremely empty street with the exception of these few Ticos. When you ride in a Tico, the experience is so squeaky that it sounds as if all the various plastic and metal parts are going to fall apart instantly upon the next bump, like a house of cards.

To a great degree, I actually felt safer during the strikes because the protesters had blocked off ALL the streets and there were NO taxis... These taxis actually drive FASTER when they see a pedestrian in the way, all the while honking to warn/scold/petrify the pedestrian. There are, I think, a total of 2 stoplights in Arequipa - the rest of the time, people just drive through 4 way intersections with the firm belief that those coming in the opposite direction will just stop.

Walking from one end of town to the other can be quite an adventure...