Taxicab confessions

When you feel down, he sends Angels. It's just plain and simple when you have a deep relationship with God. 

Walking from the third police station back to the hostel to get my bag was only a few minutes. Of course I was thankful for this as I did not want to accept a ride from the police officer after I was trying to make a statement about the injustice. 

Arriving back to the hostel, my plan was to grab my bag and head directly to the airport. 4 hours early? No problem. I just wanted to go home for the first time on the trip. You experience problems and you seek comfort. 

Outside in front there was a guy sleeping in his cab, I banged at his window a few times(not very considerate, but business is business). He gives me a ride for $20, which is $10 less than the usual fare. Clearly he sensed my aggravation and he was the person to listen to it all. 

Talking to him felt like talking to an insightful therapist or psychologist. He had such insight into his own culture and the behaviors presented. He said some people are just completely ignorant while some people are nice-it really is case by case. While this whole good people and bad people thing is true, the cases proved themselves more than a few times- at least ten. This waitress at the restaurant who completely snubbed me and helped all the locals- this was real and happening in front of me. He did confirm my belief that Panama is discriminatory against Americans or to specify- does not like female backpackers. 

As he kept listening and responding, I realized this was all coming from personal experience. He was a therapist on his job while driving in the car. This was his profession too: listening to people's, problems and stories. He comforted, gave reassurance, and was helpful. Everything he did for me worked. He calmed me down, listened, validated my opinions, and thoughts. All his quotes and life references, it all successfully worked. 

When I informed him that there was a show in USA called "Taxicab Confessions", he could not believe it.  It was his idea to go move to New York and start taping. Taxicab driver really are therapists. It's a space where many people open up about their life and feelings. People know they will never see this person again so why not let it all out? 

This taxi driver was also religious and quoted some scripture. He made me feel hopeful and be more optimistic about my interactions with the Panama culture. As we were driving in the airport, there was some Bryan Adams song playing. The lyrics matched exactly what he said, it was a total "aha" moment. 

              This was IT

It was the end of the trip and this man was sitting and reassuring me of the beauty of people. His whole mission the taxi ride was to make me happy.

Mission accomplished! 

Splurge!

On my last day, there were a few more sites to see and I had limited time. If I wanted to it the "Priscilla way." I would walk to the bus station take a bus to one site, take a bus back to the bus station, and take another bus.  70 percent of tourists do not these time consuming routes, but a crazy thirty percent do. 
Instead of trying to see three sights by bus, I decided to do things the tourist way-private taxi.  This is something I almost never do because I do not like taxis. I prefer a bus any day and any time and surprisingly I feel safer on a bus because there are people. Not to mention when it's super hot and humid, the bus becomes less appealing.   

Walking by the market looking for my brand of water, I see a taxi waiting for some business outside. I see a Gordito(bigger man) drinking a Coca-Cola. 
"Hey you."
I jump in the car and say, "Hello."

He's not even startled because he's just as crazy as me.  I tell him that I would like to see the Masaya Volcano, The Blue Lagoon, and then go to Granada...and my offer is $25.  He tries for $30 and I say, "I'm like the most fun and entertaining person you'll have in a taxi. Come on it will be fun."
He shakes his head back and forth to indicate he has just given in to my plan. 
"Hi, I'm Benny aka Mr. Benny."

 We sat and discussed the most logical way to go(most tourists just go along with the driver), but I call the shots with this one.  For some reason, I knew this would be fun and I would enjoy my time with him and I did.


Our first stop was Masaya Volcano followed by the Blue Lagoon and followed by the 30 minute ride to Granada(the beautiful city of Granada) just 17 miles away.  We had such a great time laughing, blasting music, and throwing bad cashews out the window. When we would stop, he would offer to take pictures and he was pretty patient with my long stops, which he probably did not expect. Towards the end, he did lose his patience because it was raining and we could not find my accommodation. At that point, he did complain about not getting enough money.  I gave him $5 extra and he was happy.  The whole thing was well worth it and I was happy with my taxi purchase. I guess this touristy cab thing does work out okay sometimes. 

Saved by a Taxi

Instead of being saved by the bell, it's being saved by the taxi. There are times when the taxi comes through for me, but more times when they do not. It's not always the best experience with the taxi drivers and they can be dishonest, but there are those who are kind, they listen, and the do care. 

It was time to depart Leon and get some fresh air, which meant off to Matagalpa up in the mountains. As mentioned, there are only one to two buses per day. When you miss the last one of the day, you have to stay overnight. You show up back at your accommodation asking for your room back because you missed the bus. After all the running goodbyes, you are back and look irresponsible for missing the bus. That's a predicament I don't like to see myself in as it's already hard enough saying goodbye. This time the bus station was only ten minutes away, but I had to take a taxi. 

This particular taxi presented as the "happy driver that is aloof to reality," but I told him I had ten minutes to catch the bus. This guy took all kind of short cuts, zooming through the streets, and I sat frozen in fear he was going to hit someone. He had his music blasting and a poor child dropped their hot dog when they saw him coming their way. I asked him why he was speeding because we have time to catch the 3pm bus. He said, "I catch 230 bus-no 3pm one." I asked three people and everyone said 3pm.  Everything I told him, he would just repeat back or he would say, "Okay, okay."

When we arrived, I had my head out the window saying, "Matagalpa, Matagalpa" just like the bus guys.  This guy says, "Si" and pulls my bag out of the car.  This is the "last call" way of boarding. The bus keeps moving at a slow speed pulling through the bus park and then you try to get in while it's still moving. This sounds ridiculous, but this is really how it goes.  Now when they see a tourist, they usually stop, but for a local they just keep moving and let them jump in. They think that if they keep moving the bus, they are keeping on schedule or it's a sales technique to make the bus look appealing while it's moving?  

Almost always I make it on time and don't go running toward a moving bus, but the added adventure is always exhilarating.

Thanks to this taxi I made it to the bus just in time for my four hour ride to Matagalpa! 

        

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