I take cabs everywhere and one consistent downside is the Tico inability to give a straight answer, especially if it means possibly disappointing someone.
"Hola, sabes donde esta el Bar Snoopy en Escazu?"
"Claro, que si."
"Exactamente donde esta?"
"Eh...bueno, lo buscamos juntos."
"No. Estoy en una prisa."
"Lo buscamos rapidemente."
No. I don't want to freakin' "look for it in a hurry", I want to get there in my lifetime, without floatin' around Escazu pissin' away my time and money. Aaarrrrggghh! Once again, what I wouldn't give for a simple "NO." I moved on to the cab behind this one and, as the next driver told me that, "yes", he knew exactly where Bar Snoopy was and I climbed into the back seat, the first driver got out and began yelling at this driver. What the Hell? Did he really expect me to roll the dice and ride with him? We sped off and a while later pulled up to the Snoopy having gotten there quickly and, also, treated to a brief history of why that bar is so well known.
I have moments when I think that I might prefer my own car. It might be easier sometimes. Today, while leaving Parque de Diversiones, I walked up to the three cabs lined up at the park's exit. I asked the three drivers standing together on the side-walk if they we're available. They said yes and asked where I wanted to go. "Pavas. Plaza Mayor." They looked at each other and one said, "3000 colones." These were all Co-op cabs and I asked why the flat rate. I was told that they drive from the park all the time, traffic is bad at that hour and that's just how they do it. I rolled my eyes and got in to the first cab. I've been through this before. It was starting to drizzle and I could either walk (no way), call a cab from my cell and cool my heels in the rain while I waited for a taxi that might not come or just get in and get it over with. Traffic was unusually light and when we arrived just a few minutes later after a super fast drive through a really crappy neighborhood, I said in English, "Well, that was a quick 3000 colones." The driver laughed and said, "2000 esta bien." Among the many nuggets of wisdom collected over the last few months are; never assume someone doesn't understand more than they let on and a little snark goes a long way. The rain sometimes makes me want a car. Getting a cab can be next to impossible once the wet stuff starts. Calling is often a waste of time and schlepping out to the road to flag one down can leave you soaked by the time an empty taxi rolls up. Still, despite some nasty drivers, drivers who've shut off the maria (meter) suddenly and quoted a price well above the one they just erased, drivers who've smoked, driven maniacally or cluelessly meandered down the road swearing all the while they knew how to get where I wanted to go, I've actually gotten to like taking taxis. Not having a car, I don't worry about where I'll park, if I'll get broken into, insurance, gas, dings or dents. More often than not I get some pleasant guy who makes small talk, teaches me some new (to me) Tico slang and gets me where I want to go relatively quickly and at a very fair price. I've been offered other services from a flat-rate day-trip to Sarchi to an ounce of premium weed. I still haven't gone to Sarchi. Eventually, we may get a car. I'd at least be able to avoid the look of horror on some drivers faces when they answer a call only to find me waiting with two dogs and a cat for the occasional trip to the vet. Until then, I'm just going to look at riding in Tico cabs as part of my education here. Improving my Spanish and my ability to deal with stress one little argument, negotiation and long-winded address at a time.


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