to work and back

So I had an adventure getting to work and back yesterday. As I walk to where I usually catch a taxi, I had to laugh at what I saw happen... although it was a little freaky as it happened. Yesterday morning it was snowing pretty heavily. The snow was very wet and the roads were icy. I was walking behind a woman and in front of us we watched as a Damas on the other side of the road lost control. It was trying to stop and let someone off. As it lost control it started sliding toward our side of the road. It all kind of happened in slow motion (and it really wasn't moving that fast). It started to spin and come toward us. When it finally came to a rest, it was sitting in front of us perfectly facing the other direction as if it had been going that way the whole time. A young man got out laughing uncomfortably and we all kind of looked at each other and smiled. It was as if the driver had been trying to do a crazy drop off, but we all knew he wasn't.

This isn't where the story ends though. With the Damas back on its way (and out of my way) I waited for a taxi. Two men, one middle aged and one older, came up and waited alongside me. A taxi came shortly thereafter and we all piled in. The middle age man seemed excited to be getting in the taxi and having us all join him. Once inside I realized why. The whole car smelled of weed. The two men were completely high. It was actually pretty funny because the conversation was so random. After a slower than usual drive because of the weather, I finally arrived at work and wished them well as they departed.

The ride home was not nearly that nice. I took a taxi that already had a passenger in the front seat. The driver agreed to take me for 800; a fair price. I had a weird feeling when I got in though. The passenger was giving my a creepy vibe and I could tell he was friends with the driver. He tried to start talking to me in Russian. I don't think his Russian was much better than mine. He started asking me questions and for my phone number because he wanted to come over to my house and drink. At this point I started playing dumb and saying in Russian that I didn't understand. I was starting to feel a bit uneasy. Before I got to my house I told the driver to stop near a store that I shop at often in case there was a problem and since I didn't really want to let them know where I lived. I hand them 800 and the passenger starts saying that it isn't enough and trying to say it won't even pay for the gas. Not in the mood to argue I open the door and get out and the guy tries to drive away before I get out. The door closes on its own and I walk away as they drive off in an erratic manner honking the horn. Once they are out of sight, I turn around and actually start walking toward my house. Taxis here can be really, really sketchy. Luckily this is first time I've really had to deal with it and nothing bad happened.