No road is created equal. From the material used to surface the road to the size and route they follow, I've driven on some pretty interesting pathways. Recently, I got to thinking about some of the more drastic roads I've encountered.
Nairobi, Kenya
Being in a car in Nairobi is both thrilling and terrifying. Rules seem to be but a suggestion, traffic lights mere decoration, and cows share the road with cars and pedestrians at almost every intersection. While the roads are perfectly paved, lines are unheard of and sidewalks are nowhere to be seen. When out on safari, the few roads our Land Cruisers actually followed through the wild African plains were actually well taken care of, and made me feel ashamed of the horribly cracked and potholed roads I drive on everyday in my first-world hometown.
The Big Island, Hawaii
The fascinating thing about Hawaiian roads had nothing to do with the materials they were built with or the lines that were painted on them, but had more to do with the location and where those roads took you. I drove from one side of The Big Island to the other. What struck me as most poignant about this foreign road was the temperature and foliage changes along the way. There are very few places in the world where you can go from barren volcanic dessert to lush Amazonian rainforest in the same afternoon, on the same road.
The Autobahn, Germany
Perhaps the allure of the Autobahn lies in the fact that I love to drive. Those who don't like to go quickly behind the wheel of a car may be less interested. And while my time on the German landmark was short, I was impressed with it, nonetheless. Blemish-free paved surfaces stretched as far as the eye could see. Drivers on the Autobahn were well-behaved, perfectly placed in their lanes and functioned as if they had practiced driving in formation for months. The limit-free sections offer a thrill behind the wheel few get to experience. Speed limit? What speed limit? If you've got the control and the balls, go for it.
Louisville, Kentucky
This might seem like an odd location to bring up, but hear me out on this one because it's the reason behind this entire blog. These roads are fresh in my mind, and I'm so glad I got the opportunity to drive on them. Just outside the city of Louisville in Kentucky lies a series of country roads I've yet to see the likes of elsewhere in North America. Where the line marking the edge of the lane ends, so too does the pavement. There are no shoulders. Anywhere. No barriers (even where steep drops and ravines suddenly appear) are present along any road, and rumble strips are in the middle of the road, preventing you from drifting into oncoming traffic.
Cayo Coco, Cuba
Much like Nairobi, rules are for the weak, and respect on the road is achieved through the size of your vehicle and the speed at which you're travelling. Despite all that, I thoroughly enjoyed driving in this country. If nothing else, the scenery is breathtaking. Staying in Cayo Coco meant I was able to travel across the causeway, a road built in the middle of the ocean to connect a few small islands to the mainland. It took nearly 10 years to complete and it takes about 30-40 minutes to drive its entire length. It took my husband and I even longer as we stopped often to gaze out across the ocean, the mangroves and to watch for dolphins and other sea creatures. We saw a side of Cuba the normal tourist generally wouldn't -- travelling the road less taken, so to speak.
I count myself lucky enough to have driven on some truly incredible roads. I can't wait to see where my travels take me next.
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| Photo: Miranda Lightstone |
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