Uber favorite - Rafika

 Did you know? That you could favorite your favorite uber drivers so that the next time they're in the area, they can be notified specially to pick you up?

Now I do.

With my halting French, I asked the Algerian if the night was going well, and behold - she spoke back in halting English. Goodwill filled the car, stronger than the smell of clean leather.

'Do you like Paris?' I asked

'Yes!!' Unhesitatingly. 'It's beautiful!!' 

I laughed

Then hesitatingly: '..No?'

'Yes! I love it! But I barely got to see it, you know, with lockdown and all... You've been here for how long?' There was an inaudible sigh in there somewhere.

'8 years.'

'Wow.'

What a picturesque night. Empty of people, but Paris shone on nevertheless. Rafika had taken the path through Champs-Elysses, and before that, we'd passed by the Eiffel Tower too. Almost as though to prove her point.

'Before you know.. all of this, what would be your night outs like?'

Enthusiastically: 'Ohh nights out in Paris! So many things to do! Clubs, bars, dancing, where to begin. Maybe if I went by - how do you say it - districts?'

We were next to the Seine. 'Tell me everything.'

And so she did.

'You know Bastille? 11th district? Yes, tons of music. Boom boom boom, young people with their endless energy. Clubbing. 18th district, Montmarte? Oh it's a chill place. Simple place. Lots of older folks, the literature guys, poets, smart, dressed down, simple, you know? Lots of bars. Here, around the isle in the 1st and 2nd, rich rich people. Uptown, classy bars where rich people sit around drinking. 13th, lots and lots of restaurants right by each other. Chinese restaurants. It's a proper chinatown. 16th, chic area, people who are too cool to party. Nothing obviously in the 17th. Oh! There are these parties, how do you say, party of the neighbours? -

- Fetes des les voisins? -

Yes! You know it! People just invite neighbours over to break bread. And there, you know Republique? That's where all the manifestations are. Ah I do miss Paris.'

She was an animated chatter, constantly turning her face around to project her voice back at me. Not fully around, there was still the road to watch, but enough to give the impression that she was talking to the car space, and not just out in front of her. I admired the side profile of her face each time, and wondered if she knew, theatrically speaking, she was sharing her mask to her captive audience in the backseat. 

'How is New York like?'

'Ah, I lived there for 6 years, beautiful place, beautiful night life. East village - the gay bars and the jazz bars. West village, big weird underground bars and weird pubs, great supper places even. Time square, all the tourists. Hells kitchen - small theaters and diners and pizza places. Union square, youth hanging around doing nothing, skateboarding.'

'I guess it's all changed too.'

'Yeah, I have a friend living there who told me the other day he was on the streets and ran into a mother, and the mother hugged her child tight and shuffled along. Pretty sad.'

We sat in silent commiseration. French style.

I have to end the trip on a better note, 'It's the park life now. Instead of the bar life. But it's not bad you know? Canal Saint Martin. Drinks by the water. Sometimes even Jazz. Sunshine.'

'Ah, that's not bad at all.'

She took off her mask and looked over as I got out. 'Hey! See you around! Next trip maybe. You know you can favourite me on the app? That way I can pick you up if I'm in the area.'

And that, kids, is how I learnt to use the Uber app.



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