www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I sometimes wonder about taxi drivers ability to speak their own language

If you happen to know your way around, direct the taxi yourself.

This works best for me...

dé vuelta a la derecha (turn right), dé vuelta a la izquierda (turn left), vaya derecho (go straight)

E.S.,
Hola amigo, I must point something out to you. I think it may be a CR thing or a regional thing, but they do not use derecho to mean straight, they use directo. I used to say derecho to mean straight but everybody kept correcting me and taxi drivers would turn right thinking I said derecha.

Here's what I say:

sigue directo- go straight
doble a la izquierda- turn left
doble a la derecha- turn right

I have found exactly the same Orange. The drivers know directo means straight and really are puzzled on derecho. May be a CR thing but I have found directo to be understood in Lima as well if I recall correctly.rbc100

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In Search of Fine Kittens,
Please... Bring back the Muff

Think it is difficult for taxistas to differentiate between derecho and derecha when spoken with a gringo accent. While it may not be text book Spanish I have always found using directo for straight is easily understood.

Never have found a taxi driver who misunderstood the following easy terms:

Derecho

Izquierda

Directo

Regreso

They may not be grammatically correct but they work

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

No soup for you

I stand corrected, although have noticed little problems my way.....

you see? The responses have pretty much summed up why I'd rather have somebody there to get me than to take a regular taxi. I guess I'm getting spoiled. The last three times I got there I had somebody waiting for me.

I'll get in touch with one of the boys and arrange something beforehand.