Boy oh boy does it feel good to be back behind the wheel and on the open road again. The embassy here has a robust motor pool service that has been fantastic through and through, but depending on it for trivial 5 minutes trips to buy bread or milk seems silly, and it’s good to have a little spontaneity back in our lives. It’s also nice to be able to eat a delicious baguette while on the open road and not have the shame of leaving crumbs in the motor pool:
As some may recall, basically within the week of learning I would be assigned to Nouakchott I purchased this relatively lightly used Toyota 4Runner in Northern Virginia. Since there were no cars for sale at the time in Nouakchott, I went with something I knew could handle the rough roads here, and also safely guide my family through the Saharan dunes and beach. If you were to panel the Foreign Service about car recommendations as a whole, a theme of “high clearance” and All-wheel/4wheel drive will quickly develop. If you get specific about brands, Toyota seems to be the go to choice. The reason for that is you can get them repaired basically anywhere. With a footprint in over 190 countries, you’ll be hard pressed to find a place without a dealership.
About a week before I left to Mauritania, the Battle Cruiser was picked up from Arlington, Virginia, where it then made its way to Belgium, then to Morocco where it hopped on a smaller boat, then finally to Nouakchott. All of this took about 3.5 months. Not too bad in the grand scheme of things, but as time went by without my car, it definitely made it seem like “forever”.
It was great to finally get a call telling me the car was delivered to the Embassy and road legal. Thankfully, I had some experience driving a humongous Land Rover Defender during my first month at post to get myself acquainted to the driving customs here (or lack there of). Here are a few actions shots from the road to give you all a little taste of what you might encounter in the lane next to you.
Driving here might as well be a free for all. It thankfully happens at a bristling pace of no more than 25mph, but passing into active oncoming traffic is totally normal. Driving down the wrong way for miles at a time, standard fare. Wanna go the opposite way in a round about? It happens. Sidewalks also make convenient extra lanes. It’s the weirdest sensation in that you have to be as defensive a driver as possible, but also have balls of steel and not be afraid to make some power moves. Angeli has also been getting in on the fun. My 7 year old daughter took this secretly from the back seat and then sent it to me to make sure I knew “mom is driving the car really slow”.
It feels great to finally have some more freedom of movement. We christened the Battle Cruiser with a lovely trip to the beach followed by Halloween “Trunk of Treat”, plan to go riding out in the Saharan Dunes, and soon she will shepherd us to Senegal for a fun vacation. Here’s to more adventures! –Nick
Dude the Battle Cruiser is awesome. Good for you guys.
I’m still mulling over the idea of getting an old Pajero… Our van is on it’s way to Bishkek, but it will take forever.
You know what I was thinking would be an awesome car for you if you could find one? A Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. Preferably crimson.
Seeing what the power here did to my computer in Mauritania, it gives me chills to think about how it might cook my beloved Taycan. Maybe one day I’ll be posted in Frankfurt and I can take a short trip to Stuttgart and let the dream become a reality once again.
Edit: Definitely get an old Pajero if you can. You’re a diplomat now, you can’t be seen in a van :-P.
I drove a Pajero when I was working in Okinawa…nice high clearance and dependable.
Post some vacay pics from Senegal.