Greek Taxi Stories #5 (and final)
Spirited Away One of the reasons that I take taxis in Greece is because when I'm there I'm often attending some kind of celebration. This normally means that at any time after about noon, all the members of my extended family who might offer to drive me anywhere are drunk. I mean drunk. I don't mean a few milligrams over the legal limit, I mean can't stand fetch-the-stomach-pump stotious. So occasionally, I make a principled stand and get a taxi. When I do this my in-laws complain "Why pay for a taxi? All the taxi drivers are drunk as well!" Ha ha ha. A drunk taxi driver. The very thought. We were hurtling through Athens on our way back from a wedding or christening or some such. By now I'd got used to the 'three-handed' driving technique of Athenian taxi drivers. One hand for the cigarette, one hand for the iced coffee, one hand for the mobile phone and a firm(ish) grip on the steering wheel with the knees. I know, it makes no sense, try not to think about it. The taxi driver rang off on his mobile and turned round to talk to us (a crucial part of the three-handed driving technique, watching the road with your free ear).
"That was the girlfriend! I've got a hot date tonight, going to have to ring the wife now and make some excuse." We pull up to some red traffic lights. The taxi driver is still talking to his missus on the phone. A policeman on a motorbike pulls up next to him, notices that he's on the phone and motions for him to wind down the window. Policeman: You're not supposed to talk on your phone when you're driving.
TD: do you mind mate, this is an important phone call you're interrupting. Policeman: Turn off your phone! TD: [winding the window back up] Sorry mate can't hear you, I'm on the phone! The lights change, the policeman shrugs and speeds off on his motorbike. With a fourth hand the taxi driver produces a hip flask that he proceeds to swig from, filling the back of the cab with powerful alcoholic fumes. "Good job he didn't see this isn't it?" We nod wearily in agreement.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
"That was the girlfriend! I've got a hot date tonight, going to have to ring the wife now and make some excuse." We pull up to some red traffic lights. The taxi driver is still talking to his missus on the phone. A policeman on a motorbike pulls up next to him, notices that he's on the phone and motions for him to wind down the window. Policeman: You're not supposed to talk on your phone when you're driving.
TD: do you mind mate, this is an important phone call you're interrupting. Policeman: Turn off your phone! TD: [winding the window back up] Sorry mate can't hear you, I'm on the phone! The lights change, the policeman shrugs and speeds off on his motorbike. With a fourth hand the taxi driver produces a hip flask that he proceeds to swig from, filling the back of the cab with powerful alcoholic fumes. "Good job he didn't see this isn't it?" We nod wearily in agreement.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
posted by Mark Stringer @ 09:09
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