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It was early in the morning and time for my first driving lesson. The driving school is situated on a busy street so when leaving the parking lot my teacher was driving and I sat next to him. I turned to him and asked if we would go to any field or something similar where we could practice driving. He gave me a quick glance and said "No no, we're driving here on the street!".

He stopped the car on a less busy road, we changed place, and I felt a little sweaty at the thought that I was going to drive in the busy morning traffic on my first driving lesson ever. However, I am happy to tell you that I did not collide into any other cars, I learned to start and stop the car, indicate direction and reverse. I even drove on one of the most hectic streets of Nairobi. And, last but not least, I drove on the left side of the road all the time.

This is fun!

I went to the driving school, for my first lesson, this morning and did not quite know what to expect. It was theory lesson and when I stepped into the classroom a big car racing set was the first thing I saw. On it was a bunch of different coloured toy cars. I was a little early, a lesson was just drawing to a close and I looked amazed when the students drove around with the cars on the track.

I laughed but before I knew it I also sat there with a toy car in my hand. The teacher gave instructions such as "drive the blue car behind the red one". It was hilarious, but in retrospect actually also quite pedagogical.

Next lesson, I will go out driving!

I will take my driving license in Nairobi! There are many driving schools, of varying quality, here and when talking to friends and acquaintances I learned that the Automobile Association of Kenya (AA) is considered to be the best one.

So how much does a driving license cost in Kenya? Well, 11 000 Kenyan Shilling which is approximately 100 Euro. The price includes thirty lessons, membership of the Automobile Association, booking of driving test and use of an AA car when driving. Sounds like a pretty good deal don´t you think?

Given the busy traffic in Nairobi and that I am a real rookie in the driver's seat, this will be a challenge ... Wish me luck!

Homepage: http://www.aakenya.co.ke/

A few years ago a totally new highway was opened in Israel, number 6. The road will eventually go through all of Israel, from the northern parts of the country to the southern parts. The highway is extended continuously and many drivers choose this road daily.

Highway 6 is unique in Israel, since it is the only road that was built by a private company and that is financed by electronic tolls. Every car is registered when it enters the highway and when it leaves it. You then pay a fee depending on the driven distance. Regular users of highway 6 are subscribers, whereas others get an invoice by mail. If you drive on highway 6 with a rented car, the credit card you left at the car rental is billed.

In spite of the fee, it is worthwhile to choose highway 6, especially during rush-hours. The road is modern, quick and without traffic lights. Driving there saves a lot of time and gas.

Drive carefully!

Photo: Yaacov

I saw these really small cars while in Italy and thought I’d share these pictures with you. (Even though we saw other small cars, I thought this one was the cutest.)

The Pasquali is a small car with 3 wheels – perfect for driving through some of the narrow alleys in Italian cities. If you've been there, you'll know that some of the streets are just wide enough for 2 people walking next to each other.

I pity people who are stuck in traffic jams every morning getting to their jobs. I don't have a driving license (or a job for that matter!) so I don't have to worry so much about that. When I need to go somewhere I often take the matatu.

It's a small bus, you'll find them everywhere, with twelve seats. For ten to twenty Kenyan Shilling you can hop on and go where you like. It's usually pretty crowded in the matatus and the ticket boy often have to hang out through the window to get some more space.

I enjoy my rides with the matatus despite the fact that the drivers drive like crazy. If you want to experience Nairobi you should definitely try!

An exhibition to celebrate the centenary of one of the world's oldest cars, the Model T Ford, is underway at the James Hall Museum of Transport. Head of institute at the museum, Peter Hall, says it will showcase the historic vehicle. "We will be exhibiting seven models of the Ford Model T design, together with an array of early photographs on motoring experiences during the pioneering years and interesting advertising material of the period".

The Ford Model T exhibition runs until Wednesday, 31 December. It will celebrate the life and times of the iconic Ford Model T, from its humble beginnings and rise in status across the world. The history of car developer Henry Ford and his group, the Ford Motor Company - which still makes cars today - will also be explored, with an emphasis on the Model T.

The iconic Ford Model T is one of the world's most well-known cars. First built by the Ford Motor Company in 1908, it was the world's first affordable motor vehicle at a time when motoring was becoming popular. In 33 years of production, about 15,5 million Model Ts were sold worldwide. It is estimated that at one point, half of all the world's cars were Model Ts. A flex fuel vehicle, it could run on petrol and grain alcohol or ethanol. In those early days, petrol was not widely available, so the idea was that farmers could distil fuel from the corn they grew.

During World War 1 thousands of Model T cars and ambulances were used on the European battlefields by the Allied forces. Some 5 745 Model T military ambulances were built, with most sent over to Europe. Production of the Model T ended in March 1927. Its replacement, the Model A, went into production in October 1927 as a 1928 model.

The exhibition opens at 9am each day and closes at 5pm. For more information about the exhibition, contact Peter Hall on 011 435 9485/6/7. The Centenary of Ford Model T exhibition is on at the James Hall Transport Museum, at Pioneer Park, on Rosettenville Road, La Rochelle, in the south of Joburg. It runs from 19 July to 31 December, and entrance is free. However, donations are welcome.

Info credit to Joburg.org.za and image credit to dave_7

The Spanish island Tenerife is the largest of the seven Canary Islands and it´s the perfect place for a road trip. The landscape is fascinating and with your own car you can explore so much more than you do on an ordinary tourist bus.

Tenerife is often called a paradise island and for a good reason! The island experiences sunshine around the year and offers an exceptional choice of things to do along the road, all set against the stunning background of Mount Teide. Book your car with Travelstart and you will be ably to satisfy your curiosity in a hole new way.

Photo: hyperfinch

Randy´s tours is a family company that offers private shared transfers, private transfers and private tours. The company is based in Cape Town and can help you with everything from different tours to airport and dinner transfers.

There are not to many taxis at the airport in Cape Town and when a jumbo arrives with 400 passengers it´s hard to get a taxi and there is no public bus or train. To avoid the inconvenience of waiting for a taxi you can book one with Randy´s. Check the website for more info.