I am never driving into center city to an unknown place at night again.
I left today deciding that I was going to bite the bullet and drive into the city. I had volunteered to wrap presents at a children’s center, and I didn’t want to spend $11 on a public transportation day-pass when I could just fill up my empty tank (halfway) for $20. I’ve never driven into the city before without knowing where I’m going, precisely because it transforms into a crazy asphalt jungle when you’re lost. I figured I’d be okay though, because I was driving a big car (I don’t know what it is, but people definitely give you more respect when you drive a bigger vehicle), I had memorized the step-by-step directions I had printed off of Google Maps, and I had my phone for back-up. I thought, hey, it’ll be an adventure. Even if things get a little crazy, I’ll have a story to tell. Huh.
Just to clarify- I’ve driven in the city before. I like the city. But when you don’t know where you’re going- and you’re driving there at night during rush hour- that’s when things get out of control. I made it okay for about the first 20 minutes, even with cars turning a two-lane road into a four-lane road, and a frightening headlong encounter that involved a cement barrier and a trolley when I accidentally followed the car in front of me into oncoming traffic. Continue reading
