Hours before the evening Christmas performance (to be detailed later),  side streets leading to the Plaza were particularly packed.   Cars take the center of the single lane and buzzing streams of motorcycles weave between the cars and curbs, taking every opening given.  Horns are used liberally when one doesn’t move quick enough or just to express annoyance at the situation.  It’s not unlike New York, except these street were built 200-300 years ago.

Such a traffic hot mess makes for an entrepreneurial opportunity for some brave fellas.  At this intersection, a block from us, traffic from the right has the right of way.  Moving so slowly that there are no openings, the traffic from their right can’t advance.  Thus enter the self-appointed local traffic cops.  He ( in the middle of the intersection above photo) stops traffic and waves a couple of the stuck cars through.  

Mr. Traffic Cop then  dashes down the street (above) to the cars he’s waved through (they haven’t gone far, traffic is still creeping) and hopes to collect a tip.  He then scrambles back to the intersection to again risk his life in the dark for tips.