Seeing my friends shoveling snow in Chicago and Toronto just so they could pass and clean their driveways, I think we are lucky that we live in a tropical country although during summer, the heat at times is unbearable.
We are having a fairly lovely weather here. Our weather bureau PAGASA says the cold weather will stay until February. Nights and dawns are really cold and most of the time there is a cold breeze during the day. The sun is always late showing its face. And the nights are longer, right? Six am is still a little dark here.
I am at the end of the few chapters of a story about 19th century England. Yes, it is a historical fiction again. I just love them. Hansoms were often mentioned as transits used during those times. According to Mr. Wiki, “The hansom cab is a kind of horse-drawn carriage designed and patented in 1834 by Joseph Hansom, an architect from York. The cab was introduced to other British Empire cities and to the United States during the late 19th century, being most commonly used in New York City”.
I remember our calesa. When I was in grade school in our province, the chief means of transport for near destinations was the calesa. Back then, motorcycles and tricycles were unheard of. Buses were usually for long distance trips. In those days, traffic was also unheard of. People walk mostly to go to the town proper. Even calesa ride was a kind of luxury. Goods in farms were transported by carabao-drawn carts.
A typical horse-drawn calesa at calle Crisologo in Ilocos. Photo culled from the net.
Nowadays, you can only see them plying the streets in Chinatown, the picturesque Intramuros and in Ilocos province. I am not sure about the southern parts of the archipelago if they still use it. Now we have all the modern means of transportation but they also create heavy traffic along the roads. Private cars are no longer a luxury but are sorely needed if you want to reach your destination early. Public transports are so unreliable at times that you need to wake up early to catch a jeepney, GRAB or a bus to go to work. Going to one’s office has become a battle you have to encounter every day.
Today, a friend is celebrating her birthday. We have been friends for almost forty five years since I started working as a student librarian at the university where I spent my high school and college years. She replied to my greetings with these lovely words: “Thank you, Arlene😊 You are one of God’s blessings in my life❤️”. What a lovely way to start the day.
Happy Tuesday everyone!
Dreams And Escapes 
You must be logged in to post a comment.