Roads
I am a defensive driver… I live by the motto (on the road) “Everyone else on the road thinks they are the only one on the road”. Although I have never been in an accident (besides when some lady hit me because she didnt check her blind spot then blamed it on the sun in her eyes - the sun was on the opposite side of her vehicle from where she hit me), I have had a few close calls. I do talk to other drivers knowing they can’t hear me and laugh at people stupidity. BUT, I do have to remind myself to be thankful for how well people do drive here in the winter. If you are asking yourself, “what would make you thankful for stupid drivers?”, I have a story for you…
A few years ago, I had the privelage to travel to St. Petersburg, Russia from December 28th through January 9th. We spent some time there with some friends and travel around a little bit. It was fun and exciting to be in a completely different atmosphere over the holiday season. I saw and experienced things I never thought I would. It was an amazing trip, ending in Amsterdam (wow!).
BUT…….the DRIVING there!!!! Ugh, ok so the roads are wide in the city and they don’t get plowed really at all, so no one can see the lines dividing the lanes so they just drive where ever! They dont obey the normal traffic rules… They will just park anywhere (literally) and to get to their parking spot on the street, they will cut across lanes of traffic and just stop!
It’s chaos and people drive just anywhere… then if someone gets in their way, the will stop and get out of their car, in the middle of the street, and start yelling at eachother! There were accidents everywhere.
Then we travelled north to the finland border (to Sortavala) and we had to ride in this 15 passenger van for 6+ hours on a winding twisting road that had not been plowed. It was the worst 6 hours I’d spent in a vehicle ever! It was so bumpy and slippery, there were accidents and spin-offs everywhere.
The country was so interesting and amazing in its history and culture, but I am glad for minnesota streets when I think back to that week.