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I managed to piss off 2 taxi drivers within a matter of about 8 minutes.

Asshole #1:
One day this past week, about 7pm, my girl and I get in a taxi near my apartment, a couple blocks from Hospital Calderon Guardia (near Sportsmens) and want to go to Mas x Menos, right there off Calle 11 and Ave 1. I didn't tell him the street numbers, didn't want his head to explode trying to figure out where Calle 11 and Ave 1 is. But I assumed they all should know where Mas x Menos is. Apparently not. So my girl tells him it's next to the bus stop to San Pedro. I don't know if this is an accurate description or what.

This idiot decides to take us to San Pedro Mall. As I notice him going in that direction, I asked where we are going, he says San Pedro Mall. I calmly said "NO, we want to go to Mas x Menos", she tells him again that it's in front of the bus stop to San Pedro.

So he proceeds to go back towards the general area of where it is, but he keeps going past where he should have turned, so again we say, you are going in the wrong direction. He stops and tells us that we don't have to pay (1,200¢ on the meter) and we should go find another taxi. I said good idea loud enough to make sure he would hear me. We got out and I slammed the door as hard as I could. Luckily it didn't fall off that piece of shit he was driving. He threw us out in the park in front of the Holiday Inn.

Asshole #2:
My girl wants to walk to M x M since it's only like 3 blocks more, but we'd have to go past Del Rey and that whole area where people keep getting jumped. I'm like "No way, we are taking a taxi". She now thinks I'm a big pu*sy. Anyway, we get in and tell the taxista where we want to go and he says that it's close and we should walk. I said no, it's OK, take us. So he gets all pissed off and starts to go. As we pull up to M x M, the meter still says 405. I give him 1,000¢ bill and say give me back 500. But he literally shoves 600¢ in my hand, I tried to give him back the 100¢ coin but he wouldn't take it, all pissed off muttering something under his breath that I couldn't make out.

Can anybody explain this to me? I always thought it was their job to take people where they wanted to go as long as they paid the correct fare. Maybe it's different in Costa Rica. Those of you who take a taxi from DR to the Prez, do you find the same attitudes?

No, it's just you.

The same attitude prevails in many cities. Cab drivers are reluctant to take short hop fares as they are always hoping for a longer ride.

Some years ago I needed to catch a cab from the terminal at JFK, where my flight landed to hangar 3. I told the cabbie my destination and he immediately declared he did not know where that was. I told him no problem I could direct him. He still refused and only relented when I told him I was going to call a cop over and complain. Surprise , he was able to get me to hangar 3 without asking me for directions once.

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

I know, I know....I'm going to get a lot of grief about walking, but I have little luck with the "asshole cab drivers." I prefer to walk most everywhere as opposed to putting up with the "petty thievery by cab drivers."

CASE IN POINT:
Several weeks ago, I took a chica out of the NYB. I wanted to walk back to the Castillo, but she wanted to take a cab, so I relented. I flagged down a cab, we get in. I immediately detect "a little bit of an attitude" with the driver, when I say "buenos" to him and get no reply. He starts the maria, we get to the Castillo and the meter says 470 colones. I hand him a mil note and he hands me back a 100 colone coin. I said "Where's the rest?" He shrugs. I said the meter indicates 470 colones. He immediately clears the meter back to "libre" and then tells me the meter had said 870 colones. I said "yeah...right," and we got out of the cab. I am assuming that he thought that I would think the 100 colone coin he gave me, was a 500 colone coin. I wasn't about to start an argument over the 430 colones he cheated me out of [less than $1].

For now on....When I take a chica back from the NYB or anywhere, I am first going to get some change, so I have the proper amount to pay the cab driver....and I don't have to depend on the driver to give me back the proper change.

Zebra

Things Muy Taxista de la Mierda....

Got into a cab outside KL. Asked the driver repeatedly to turn on the taximeter. He refused. We got to the Amistad, and he demanded 2,000.

Next day while walking down Avenida Central with Hola B., a taxista runs over my white cane and snaps it in half. He does not stop to offer assistance.

Taxista drops me off near the Presidente....immediately next to a lagoon of a puddle. Splook.

Most drivers with whom I've ridden have been okay guys. Some of them have attitude...like no other city has cabbies with attitude....

Yes, Zebra is right. Carry coins to pay fares. Know the customary fare between points, i.e. ZB to del Rey +/- 760 CRC.

Orient yourself with a map prior to coming to SJ. Learn landmarks. Speak enough Spanish to give directions, or carry business cards with the tico directions printed on them.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

I argued with a taxi about the fare to the Presidente, he wanted 1500 and told him 1000. He reluctantly agreed but when i got out of the taxi and gave him the 1000c bill, he told me Beso me culo

"Sticks and stones............."

probably would have revoked a response from me, such as......sóplelo fuera de su culo aka (blow it out your ass)

OK a muy taxista story...

A bunch of us closing down Idem and going to Le Grillon. Hop in the cab and he heards north...and north...and north...all of a sudden we are a block away from the Rey. He's I think a pakistani and speaks English. I call bullshit. He pulls over to the curb and says get out if we don't like it. I'm thinking ok its a 200 - 300 colone detour...just fuckin drive moron. THEN! 800kc at LG the newbies in the back start throwing 1000kc notes up front. Paki boy smiles and says thank you, thank you...I'm sittin up front, say no no no no no and take em back. He's pissed!

AHHHHH - HAAAA

Always gotta watch these guys. Some are decent but I think at least 50 % of them will stick it in if you bend over... Stay attentive...

Orange, a question...

What time of day/night did you want to take a cab near the hotel?

PHX

It was already dark, maybe 7-7:30pm. But it wasn't in front of a hotel. We flagged down a regular, red, metered taxi. It was dark enough where I didn't want to chance it by walking thru the park by Holiday Inn and past Del Rey down the hill towards Central, and I'm sure that she thinks I'm a big pu*sy now.

some of the taxi problems could be due to some of the problems we face here.!!! gas prices...it changes how people live (when we see gas hit $3.75
a gallon ) some of that same bullshit may happen here

In my opinion, the problem I had with the cab driver was not so much the gas prices.....as he just had a "hater" on for gringos, especially ones who are with "stunners" as Greengo mentioned above.

Zebra

I got into a cab on the paseo colon and the driver refused to take me anywhere!! After thinking he did not know where the clarion was I said just take me to the hotel del rey. That bastard just shook his head like he did not understand me

Another day I got into a cab on the paseo colon.... at dusk by the way, when people were whisltleing at me and I was being asked for change by someone who I am sure was an accomplish to someone who wanted to rob me......I explained to the driver that I wanted to go to La Amistad. He drove on but did not know where I was going. I explained, in spanish, about 15 times that it was 100 meters from the ramp of hospital calderon but to no avail, WHY??? I got in the only cab in san Jose that did not know where the hospital calderon was!!!!! I tried to direct him but he went to far and turned down some strange street and in two minutes we were lost. Had to ask him to take me to the HDR just to feel safe

As you know a VERY smart move in my opinion, I would NEVER walk that stretch after dark, especially with a chica in tow or less than 3-4 guys to watch each others backs.







Been there done that.. You would think a taxi driver would know Hospital Calderon but I have encountered many who do not.

My next landmark when directing a taxi is edificio INS en Avenida siete, must DO know this, or like you, my last ditch is Hotel Del Rey. Sounds to me like you know your way round and in that situation I would have grabbed the 1st taxi possible as well. It just amazes me how the taxi drivers don't know their own city..

Maybe this thread should be moved to the "Muy Tico" thread..

Sun goes down around 6:30 every night of the year and so dark by 7:30, true, but I always felt safe anyway walking around until at least 9 - 9:30 - just my opinion. But still, why would a taxista get pissed over a three block 405 colone fare? Seems like he makes out good in that deal