"So what's your favorite restaurant in Goa? Martins or Britto? I prefer the grilled prawns at Britto on my annual escape to Goa. I can't wait to get there this year again" he smiled. This was no ordinary conversation between friends. It was David, my cab driver in a London taxi telling me all about his holiday, his family, his medical check ups and the improvements needed in UK's National health service etc etc. A taxi ride is probably the most interesting way to get to know a city. Taxi drivers not only know the roads well but seem to have information and interestingly a strong opinion on everything about their city.
David went on to tell me that his grandfather was born in Darjeeling and he had a special connection with all things Indian. He seemed to take pride in the fact that chicken tikka masala was now the national dish of UK. We soon moved to the topic of cricket versus soccer and just as we were moving to the topic of the royal family and their fashion statements, we reached Oxford circus. Unfortunately, it was time to say goodbye. In the 15 min taxi ride , we had become great pals And I was wishing for a longer ride and some more interesting conversation. Wishing each other a great weekend we parted ways. |
In every city I try to do at least one city tour to get my bearings and to get to know the city well. But definitely, a taxi ride with friends such as David gives a peek into the real city.
Of course the sightseeing tours can also be really interesting depending on your guru guide or driver. In Paris, I decided to try the fun way to see Paris in an old Citroën. Known as 2 CV tours, these old cars have a roof that can be opened and you are driven around by a driver guide. My driver for the hour was Cyprien , a young good looking Parisian. When he asked me what route I wanted to take, I asked him what was his favourite area. He seemed taken aback happily because no one had ever asked him that before. We broke the ice and Cyprien then drove me around the narrow streets of Paris, whizzing by the popular monuments into narrow lanes of the Latin quarter pointing out interesting cages and local hangout places. He generously offered to take my photographs all the time, a definite help for a single!
Given a choice I do prefer to be driven around by locally born drivers such as Cyprien to get a taste of the real city. But equally interesting are my immigrant |
 friends who seem to have taken over the taxi service in many countries , specially in the US ! On the way to the hotel after a wonderfully exhausting shopping spree in Macy's, Jagpal my cab driver who's as originally from Amritsar, started the conversation with "can I ask you a question?" on learning that I was from Mumbai and noting my pride in saying that he stumped me with his next question. "So, why don't you clean Mumbai?" he went on to elaborate and drew parallels with San Francisco which was also an immigrant city and went on to cite examples of how the city had maintained cleanliness and infrastructure and why couldn't Mumbai do it? When I tried to explain that Mumbai was a linear city from north to south and not circular making it difficult to expand , he dismissed my explanations and said that we could develop alternate areas towards the mainland in the north. "Where there's a will, there's a way" Jagpal's words kept ringing in my ear for a long time after the trip was over... |
