Rattletrap … Taxi

We went to Burger & Relish in Osu for gourmet hamburgers tonight. Power was out for the first 15 minutes until a generator kicked in. We all enjoyed our main course, and the kids enjoyed milkshakes for dessert. While there, we ran into Patrick, last seen at the paragliding festival.

Because our car is not yet fully repaired (and will be only on Tuesday due to the May Day holiday), we took a taxi home. Let me count its sketchy ways:

  1. ABS light: On
  2. Fuel low light: On
  3. Check engine light: On
  4. Fuel gage: Not functional
  5. Tachometer: Not functional
  6. Speedometer: Not functional
  7. Brake system warning light: On
  8. Brights indicator: On (despite low beams engaged)
  9. Rear wheel: Incorrectly attached, back end shook left-to-right
  10. Transmission: unreliable (or maybe driver recently learned to drive a stick?)
  11. Stick shifter: loose, wobbled with car

The trip reminded me of Rattletrap Car. Tracy was thankful to be in the back seat; aside from the instability, she had no idea! Being in the front, it was a horrible ride for me and a minor miracle to arrive home alive.

But none of this seems out of the ordinary for Accra. The horrors and the miracles are inseparable.

—Matt