ProZ.com Translation Forums

Driving in the world.. | Night on Earth (Jarmusch - Benigni). A must-watch

moken — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:25:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: moken
Post title: Night on Earth (Jarmusch - Benigni). A must-watch

Roberto Benigni as a sunglasses-clad night-shift taxi driver in Rome who picks up a peculiar customer. It's a classic, well worth the time.

[url removed] (Part I)
[url removed] (Part II)

;)

[Edited at 2008-10-11 08:27]

Driving in the world.. | Talk about an adventure holiday!

moken — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:18:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: moken
Post title: Talk about an adventure holiday!

[quote]Tuliparola wrote:

I lived some months in Napoli and I found out that there are some unwritten rules:
- look in the eyes means : I'm giving you the right of way

[Edited at 2008-09-29 08:33] [/quote]

ROFL!

My only trip to Italy - about 3 years ago - was to Sicily. It took me about 5 minutes to work this rule out after driving our hired car from the airport to the centre of Catania. I absolutely is that way.

But I've got to say, it was great fun! Once I'd gotten over the initial stress it felt as if, apart from visiting a wonderful place with wonderful people and marvellous heritage sites, I had booked an adventure holiday too!

Then you see some really bizarre things: 4 on a moped (or 3, including 2 small children, one standing in front of the driver), 8 or 9 in a FIAT Panda...I really loved it!

Nesrin also mentioned Cairo where, as I've also observed in other countries, rear view mirrors seem to be considered decorative items. Thus, instead of using indicators, all overtaking maneouvres are indicated by repeatedly honking your horn. Such fun too!

However, the most reckless driving I've seen in my life must have been in Tanzania, where the general driving rule on country roads around small towns of villages seemed to be "survival of the fittest".

Pedestrians have to get out of the way of cyclists, who in turn have to avoid mopeds or motorbikes, who give way to cars...and so on and so forth up to buses and lorries - who I suppose have their own private code to sort themselves out.

This worked to extremes. On more than one occasion I personally witnessed pedestrians on country roads literally DIVING into the ditches to avoid oncoming traffic. Unbelieveable.

Driving in the world.. | Traffic lights

Riccardo Schiaffino — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:36:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Riccardo Schiaffino
Post title: Traffic lights

It was beautifully explained to me by a friend in Rome: there are two types of traffic lights - the optional ones, and those that are merely decorative.

Also (from a Neapolitan, this time): one-way single-lane street = a street in which two cars are going one way side by side, while another one is approaching them coming from the opposite direction.

Driving in the world.. | Nothing to do with color blindness

Gianni Pastore — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:13:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Gianni Pastore
Post title: Nothing to do with color blindness

[quote]Giuseppina Gatta wrote:

In Naples, probably most of the natives are color blind, since they completely ignore the red light, or worse, if you dare to stop at a red light or a stop sign, they honk you!

[/quote]

The reason is that people is so unused to stop with the red light that if you decide to stop you could seriously risk to get crashed into from behind. Next time you're in Naples simply think of this warning and... hey presto! you'll find yourself joining happily the club, believe me :D

Gianni (colorblinded and semi-neapolitan driver which hasn't had a single car accident in nearly 25 years of driving) :)

Driving in the world.. | Agggg!!!

megane_wang — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:58:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: megane_wang
Post title: Agggg!!!

[quote]Tadzio Carvallo wrote:

Have a look at this one.

Somewhere Drivers

:o [/quote]

That's even worse than the worst I know... or not? Even if the video is speeded up, there's something GOOD there: everyone follows "the" (non existing) rules, and they simply survive.

IMHO, It's worse in any place where 90% of people follows 90% of the rules and the other 10% don't (i.e. SPAIN). If we tried to allow that mess in any street crossing in BCN, we'd have an enormous crash in less than 20 seconds.

Ruth @ MW

Driving in the world.. | Napoli : look in the eyes = giving the right of way

Stephanie Wloch — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:30:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Stephanie Wloch
Post title: Napoli : look in the eyes = giving the right of way

I lived some months in Napoli and I found out that there are some unwritten rules:
- look in the eyes means : I'm giving you the right of way
- the road user who does not look has the right of way, also pedestrians who want to cross a street:
never look, just go
- using a bicycle: wanna commit suicide?
- better getting a heart attack during off-peak hours, otherwise the ambulance will never reach you in time :eek:
- never kiss your boyfriend in the car during a traffic jam, napoletani getting very nervous even when the cars are just crawling, they are honking like mad
- honking: not just when you are making a mistake but also in order to show that they are still there
- traffic lights: as useful as a hole in your head
- road signs: just decoration
- prohibitive signs: made for milksops

Statteve bbuone :-)

[Edited at 2008-09-29 08:33]

Driving in the world.. | Speeded up

Nesrin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:20:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Nesrin
Post title: Speeded up

[quote]Tadzio Carvallo wrote:

Have a look at this one.

Somewhere Drivers

:o [/quote]

It's shocking, but it's also speeded up. If you look at the pedestrians walking, you'll find they're all walking a "silent-movie-style" quick step. It remains unbelievable though, despite the added effect.

But look at how relatively calm people seem (that's what I meant about Cairo traffic, which is quite similar, only more choked). They're not panicking, they're not arguing, they've adapted beautifully to the needs of the road, and acquired remarkable accident prevention skills.
I think they should be applauded, as much as the British guy who wrote the accident-proof highway code (a work of logic genius, highly recommended).

Driving in the world.. | Holy COW

Liliana Roman-Hamilton — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:12:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Liliana Roman-Hamilton
Post title: Holy COW

[quote]Tadzio Carvallo wrote:

Have a look at this one.

Somewhere Drivers

:o [/quote]

HOLY MOLY, GUACAMOLE!!!!!

THAT makes the traffic in Rome or Naples look like as calm as a cup of herbal tea. I still feel dizzy watching all those cars, buses and Vespas, criss cross without causing any major accident.

Whoa!

Driving in the world.. | Worst drivers - Rio de Janeiro

Paul Dixon — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:05:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Paul Dixon
Post title: Worst drivers - Rio de Janeiro

From my experience, the worst drivers in the world must be in Brazil, particularly Rio de Janeiro, with a silver medal for São Paulo. In Rio, the taxi and bus drivers are the worst offenders, I remember that there was a road above a tunnel in Botafogo (near the Guanabara Club) that was famous for buses falling off! Another bad spot is the Aterro do Flamengo, the famous expressway linking the posh beaches of Rio to downtown and the Santos Dumont Airport.

In rural areas, the driving is just as bad, and the terrible condition of some cars makes things worse (nothing like an MOT in Brazil!).

Just to give you one example, a few months ago a passenger bus missed the turn near São Paulo and decided to go back down the highway in reverse - hit a car and killed two people.

Driving in the world.. | India Best Drivers

Anna Villegas — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:18:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Anna Villegas
Post title: India Best Drivers

[quote]Trudy Peters wrote:

WHERE - pray tell - was that video taken??? [/quote]
Well, the title said "IndiaBestDrivers"; and, IMO, they're really good!, aren't they? I could never in my dreams drive or walk accross that street!
Gosh!

Driving in the world.. | To Tadzio

Trudy Peters — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 22:55:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Trudy Peters
Post title: To Tadzio

WHERE - pray tell - was that video taken???

Driving in the world.. | Excuse me, but you aint' seen nothing....

Nesrin — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:21:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Nesrin
Post title: Excuse me, but you aint' seen nothing....

[quote]Cecilia Civetta wrote:

[quote]

The worst drivers are by far the Italians [/quote]

Liliana, believe me, they are not the worst.
Try being a pedestrian in Argentina :x
[/quote]

...till you've driven (or been a pedestrian) in Cairo. So I'm sorry but the title of "worst drivers" is already taken.
Having said that, I don't think they're the rudest, most of them just seem to take it all in their stride.
Also, ironically, the complete and utter chaos reigning on the streets of Cairo makes me less nervous driving there than driving here in the UK. Nothing's worse than having a true British driver give you one of his/her cold stares for not driving perfectly according to the book... ughhh!

Driving in the world.. | I remember that...

Celia Recarey — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:09:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Celia Recarey
Post title: I remember that...

[quote]Vito Smolej wrote:

well, if its off-topic, then lets go full tilt:

it was somewhere in Portugal or Spain, 5 or 10 years ago. A driver, checked during the morning traffic, was identified as 99% blind ("...can distinguish between bright and dark...").

He confessed he has been commuting daily 10 kilometers for the last 15 years (..."when it gets half dark, I have turn right...").

The police said that they checked him, because he was suspiciously slow.

[/quote]

...it was in Spain!

I'd rather not comment on how people drive in Spain, I'm still recovering from an arm fracture after being hit by a crazy biker driving at 100+ km/h in a 40 km/h zone...

Driving in the world.. | Yes, Naples!

Penelope Ausejo — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:40:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Penelope Ausejo
Post title: Yes, Naples!

Definitely Naples is the worst... I was there this June and I freaked out. Nobody ever stops, they just honk and keep on going, make U-turns whenever they feel like it, 3/4 passengers in one small moped, etc. Bali (Indonesia) is a bit like Naples, although in Naples there are more vehicles and thus a lot more crazy.

Driving here in Pamplona (Spain) is quite easy. People obey rules, traffics signs, stop at pedestrian crossings, etc. As in the rest of Spain, pedestrians sometimes don't wait until they reach the pedestrian crossing to cross but that's about it.

Driving in the world.. | Ever been in Naples...?

Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:00:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons)
Post title: Ever been in Naples...?

I lived in Naples one year, and everytime I had to drive, I was literally terrified, and intensely praying that nothing would happen...

Why? In Naples, probably most of the natives are color blind, since they completely ignore the red light, or worse, if you dare to stop at a red light or a stop sign, they honk you!

Same goes for road signs, which have no meaning at all there; people go intentionally the wrong way, even driving on pedestrian areas or roads which have the sign "Do not enter".

Obviously pedestrian crossings, speed limit and similar pleasant things do not mean anything either...

There they even have illegal bus transportation (a little private bus, "'o pulmandino", with no license to transport people, which stops at all the bus stops of legal public transportation vehicles!).

The interesting thing is that, in spite of all this craziness, they are so good at driving that I rarely saw an accident or somebody runover (me included ;) ).

[Edited at 2008-09-28 10:03]

[Edited at 2008-09-28 20:02]

Driving in the world.. | Seville

Edwal Rospigliosi — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:43:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Edwal Rospigliosi
Post title: Seville

Although I'm a good driver, until now I don't drive in Seville. The only time I did it, I ended at home with a bad case of nerves. It's not only that streets have no name signs -except by a small sign every two or three blocks- nor that sometimes the only clue about where traffic goes is the way cars are parked (in both sides of a narrow street), nor that motorcycles zoom out of nowhere every 2-3 seconds. Nor that sometimes there is no way to know if a street is one-way or two-ways until you find yourself against a car coming at you.

I love public transportation.

Driving in the world.. | Unbelievable

Francesca Battaglia — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:36:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Francesca Battaglia
Post title: Unbelievable

[quote]Tadzio Carvallo wrote:

Have a look at this one.

Somewhere Drivers

:o [/quote]

AHHH! No way! O_O :o

I wouldn't survive one day as a driver but I guess not even on a bike or as a pedestrian! Not even as a passenger!!!

Driving in the world.. | Ohhh, my...!!

Anna Villegas — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 04:36:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Anna Villegas
Post title: Ohhh, my...!!

Have a look at this one.

Somewhere Drivers

:o

Driving in the world.. | Exciting topic for me but...

Cagdas Karatas — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:38:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Cagdas Karatas
Post title: Exciting topic for me but...

I love driving. I don't have a driver's license but I'm counting down, two months left. It's such a great happiness that I won't have to play puss-in-the-corner with cops anymore.

I said "but" in the subject line because I'm afraid it won't be possible to mention anything like "driving in Turkey" very soon. The fuel prices have gone crazy! I've heard plenty of people speaking hopelessly about the future of their driving career. They say they will have to lock up their cars in the garage or sell them if the price trend goes the same way. Turkey is one of the countries where fuel prices are the highest because of extortionate taxes. :(

Driving in the world.. | The South is a nice place to drive

Claudia Alvis — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:12:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Claudia Alvis
Post title: The South is a nice place to drive

I really hate driving, but the American Midwest is actually a great place to drive. There's always the inevitable idiot, but overall people are always extremely courteous. They always offer you the 'right-of-way'. Exits are never blocked. If your car breaks down and you have to pull over, you get a line of cars with people willing to help you. Literally.

My mom actually told this to an Argentinian friend of hers, how people stop their cars in order to help, and her friend told her, in a resigned tone of voice, that people over there not only don't stop but they slow down and scream "Jodete" (f*uck you). I'm sure she was exaggerating but that story stuck with me.

Driving in the world.. | You've never come to my place, have you?

Anna Villegas — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 22:17:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Anna Villegas
Post title: You've never come to my place, have you?

Have you seen those yellow lines at the end of a street corner or in front of a school or a church? None sees them in my place! They don't even know what the yellow lines are painted for!

Believe it or not!

:-x

Driving in the world.. | Hey, you missed my ;) street sign

Vito Smolej — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:05:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Vito Smolej
Post title: Hey, you missed my ;) street sign

well, if its off-topic, then lets go full tilt:

it was somewhere in Portugal or Spain, 5 or 10 years ago. A driver, checked during the morning traffic, was identified as 99% blind ("...can distinguish between bright and dark...").

He confessed he has been commuting daily 10 kilometers for the last 15 years (..."when it gets half dark, I have turn right...").

The police said that they checked him, because he was suspiciously slow.

Driving in the world.. | Crossing la Nueve de Julio!!

Juliana Brown — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 20:42:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Juliana Brown
Post title: Crossing la Nueve de Julio!!

[quote]Cecilia Civetta wrote:

[quote]

The worst drivers are by far the Italians [/quote]

Liliana, believe me, they are not the worst.
Try being a pedestrian in Argentina :x
[/quote]

Crossing the Avenida Nueve de Julio in Buenos Aires is not a sport for the weak hearted! It takes 9 seconds to cross, but the light changes after 7, and you can see the drivers´ eyes gleaming like hungry animals as they barrel towards you! SOunds like an exaggeration, but it´s not too far from the truth!

Driving in the world.. | Of course

Francesca Battaglia — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 20:34:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Francesca Battaglia
Post title: Of course

[quote]Vito Smolej wrote:

[quote]I've just experienced the rudest behaviour while driving back from the shopping market. [/quote]
I dont get the context. Were you (or him) translating while driving? Or translating under influence?

See, this site is about translating. Or rude behaviour while/because of translating.

regards

Vito

PS: seems like he was a real AH ... but that's beyond my (or ProZ) point. [/quote]

Of course this did not involve any translation activity and this is why it's in the Off Topic area. But I believe it's a nice starting point for a cultural comparison. I see in the past may colleagues enjoyed taking a break and speak about experiences abroad. My excuses if this topic disappointed you.

Driving in the world.. | I never learned how to drive :(

Tatiana Lammers — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 20:18:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Tatiana Lammers
Post title: I never learned how to drive :(

I started learning to drive and crashed the car into a tree. Ended with a broken hand too.....
Well, never learned how to drive for that was my first and so far last driving experience.
Now I walk everywhere or my husband gives me a ride when I need.

Driving in the world.. | Traffic /DK / UK

Ivana Søndergaard — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:57:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Ivana Søndergaard
Post title: Traffic /DK / UK

Very good, Vito ;)

I'm a lousy driver. Took me 4 goes before I passed ;) and a lot of money on lessons.

I have just moved from DK to UK and I am happy to say I no longer own a car. I have 2 little kids and the thought of driving in the left side of the road terrifies me. At the moment, I am very happy just riding my bike ;)

Traffic here in the UK is a lot smoother and politer than in DK, where traffic is actually quite good.

Driving in the world.. | were you or he TWD or TUI?

Vito Smolej — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:20:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Vito Smolej
Post title: were you or he TWD or TUI?

[quote]I've just experienced the rudest behaviour while driving back from the shopping market. [/quote]
I dont get the context. Were you (or him) translating while driving? Or translating under influence?

See, this site is about translating. Or rude behaviour while/because of translating.

regards

Vito

PS: seems like he was a real AH ... but that's beyond my (or ProZ) point.

Driving in the world.. | well...

Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:15:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL
Post title: well...

the road is a race track, isn't it? :-)

Giovanni (100% Italian...)

Driving in the world.. | I beg to differ

texjax DDS PhD — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:09:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: texjax DDS PhD
Post title: I beg to differ

[quote]Liliana Roman-Hamilton wrote:

The worst drivers are by far the Italians

[/quote]

Driving in Puerto Rico ain't no joke either..

Let's say it's a tie for me :)

Driving in the world.. | Italy is Paradise compared to other countries...

Cecilia Civetta — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:44:00 +0000

Forum: Off topic
Topic: Driving in the world..
Poster: Cecilia Civetta
Post title: Italy is Paradise compared to other countries...

[quote]

The worst drivers are by far the Italians [/quote]

Liliana, believe me, they are not the worst.
Try being a pedestrian in Argentina :x