docs: def directions(client, origin, destination,
                 mode=None, waypoints=None, alternatives=False, avoid=None,
                 language=None, units=None, region=None, departure_time=None,
                 arrival_time=None, optimize_waypoints=False, transit_mode=None,
                 transit_routing_preference=None, traffic_model=None):
      """Get directions between an origin point and a destination point.
  
      :param origin: The address or latitude/longitude value from which you wish
          to calculate directions.
      :type origin: string, dict, list, or tuple
  
      :param destination: The address or latitude/longitude value from which
          you wish to calculate directions. You can use a place_id as destination
          by putting 'place_id:' as a preffix in the passing parameter.
      :type destination: string, dict, list, or tuple
  
      :param mode: Specifies the mode of transport to use when calculating
          directions. One of "driving", "walking", "bicycling" or "transit"
      :type mode: string
  
      :param waypoints: Specifies an array of waypoints. Waypoints alter a
          route by routing it through the specified location(s).
      :type waypoints: a single location, or a list of locations, where a
          location is a string, dict, list, or tuple
  
      :param alternatives: If True, more than one route may be returned in the
          response.
      :type alternatives: bool
  
      :param avoid: Indicates that the calculated route(s) should avoid the
          indicated features.
      :type avoid: list or string
  
      :param language: The language in which to return results.
      :type language: string
  
      :param units: Specifies the unit system to use when displaying results.
          "metric" or "imperial"
      :type units: string
  
      :param region: The region code, specified as a ccTLD ("top-level domain"
          two-character value.
      :type region: string
  
      :param departure_time: Specifies the desired time of departure.
      :type departure_time: int or datetime.datetime
  
      :param arrival_time: Specifies the desired time of arrival for transit
          directions. Note: you can't specify both departure_time and
          arrival_time.
      :type arrival_time: int or datetime.datetime
  
      :param optimize_waypoints: Optimize the provided route by rearranging the
          waypoints in a more efficient order.
      :type optimize_waypoints: bool
  
      :param transit_mode: Specifies one or more preferred modes of transit.
          This parameter may only be specified for requests where the mode is
          transit. Valid values are "bus", "subway", "train", "tram", "rail".
          "rail" is equivalent to ["train", "tram", "subway"].
      :type transit_mode: string or list of strings
  
      :param transit_routing_preference: Specifies preferences for transit
          requests. Valid values are "less_walking" or "fewer_transfers"
      :type transit_routing_preference: string
  
      :param traffic_model: Specifies the predictive travel time model to use.
          Valid values are "best_guess" or "optimistic" or "pessimistic".
          The traffic_model parameter may only be specified for requests where
          the travel mode is driving, and where the request includes a
          departure_time.
      :type units: string
  
      :rtype: list of routes
      """
  
      params = {
          "origin": convert.latlng(origin),
          "destination": convert.latlng(destination)
      }
  
      if mode:
          # NOTE(broady): the mode parameter is not validated by the Maps API
          # server. Check here to prevent silent failures.
          if mode not in ["driving", "walking", "bicycling", "transit"]:
              raise ValueError("Invalid travel mode.")
          params["mode"] = mode
  
      if waypoints:
          waypoints = convert.location_list(waypoints)
          if optimize_waypoints:
              waypoints = "optimize:true|" + waypoints
          params["waypoints"] = waypoints
  
      if alternatives:
          params["alternatives"] = "true"
  
      if avoid:
          params["avoid"] = convert.join_list("|", avoid)
  
      if language:
          params["language"] = language
  
      if units:
          params["units"] = units
  
      if region:
          params["region"] = region
  
      if departure_time:
          params["departure_time"] = convert.time(departure_time)
  
      if arrival_time:
          params["arrival_time"] = convert.time(arrival_time)
  
      if departure_time and arrival_time:
          raise ValueError("Should not specify both departure_time and"
                           "arrival_time.")
  
      if transit_mode:
          params["transit_mode"] = convert.join_list("|", transit_mode)
  
      if transit_routing_preference:
          params["transit_routing_preference"] = transit_routing_preference
  
      if traffic_model:
          params["traffic_model"] = traffic_model
  
      return client._request("/maps/api/directions/json", params).get("routes", [])