Lisa – 0, Taxis – 3

It has been noted and documented that I have a running battle with taxi drivers which began in Barcelona (See Easter in Barcelona). The current score is Lisa – 0, Cab Drivers – 3

The trouble began in Barcelona and continued with a hostile cab driver in Athens, Greece. After taking a cab home one evening with 6 passengers, we thought we would try our luck again and hopefully fit 5 people in one cab that next day. We (Jason, Braden, Anna, Angela and myself) had the hotel call us a cab to take us to the city center to meet up with the rest of the group. Upon arrival, the cab driver promptly informed us the limit was 4 people. After serious negotiations (through a significant language barrier) it was decided that Jason and I would take the cab and Braden, Angela and Anna would catch another.

So off Jason and I went, taking the “scenic” drive along the coast, followed by a severe traffic jam on the outskirts of town. About 20 minutes into the ride we got a call from Braden saying they had just gotten to city center and were wondering where we were…we, were still 45 minutes away (how that math works out, I am still not sure). Sensing our frustration, the cab driver got frustrated (or nervous, I couldn’t tell) and he “suggested” that we get out and take the tram, an alleged 10 minute ride. After contemplating our options and making approximately 20m of progress in the traffic, Jason and I decided to take the tram. So, we paid the EUR20, got out of the cab in the middle of the road and hopped on the next tram to city center. 45 minutes later we reached our destination to find out the cab for the other crew was only EUR15 and it got them all the way. Ah, the price of traveling...

So, with two strikes against me, you would think I would learn my lesson with cab rides…Which I did, sort of. While in Budapest the other weekend, before even getting in the cab, I kindly asked the man how much he thought it might be to get back to the hotel. He quoted the trip at 4,500 HUF or 30CHF. To put this in perspective our 30 minute cab ride from the airport to the hotel was 4,500; from where we were, it was no more than a 15 minute drive.

Using my powers of reasoning, I thought this seemed high, so I suggested we take a different cab. Another cab arrived and I asked the same question, to which I got the response “I don’t know, I run the meter.” Not seeing another cab and feeling pretty comfortable around the city, we hopped in. A short 10 minutes and 6,000HUF (per the meter) later we reached the hotel. Feeling scammed, I still paid the fare, but promptly asked the hotel concierge the appropriate rate, which turns out to be 3,500HUF. I was, this time, duped by a fixed meter… man, I can’t win!