Comments on: Conversation with a Taxi Driver http://romerican.com/2006/03/31/conversation-with-a-taxi-driver/ Dispatches from an American in Romania (was Transylvania) Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:48:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Walter http://romerican.com/2006/03/31/conversation-with-a-taxi-driver/#comment-71353 Walter Wed, 07 May 2008 09:57:06 +0000 http://romerican.com/?p=139#comment-71353 The supposed driver has such a good accent. I think it's actually staged but I do not deny that they may act very close to that. The supposed driver has such a good accent. I think it’s actually staged but I do not deny that they may act very close to that.

]]> By: MrVoice http://romerican.com/2006/03/31/conversation-with-a-taxi-driver/#comment-47926 MrVoice Sat, 15 Sep 2007 03:51:47 +0000 http://romerican.com/?p=139#comment-47926 omg.... i love this blog....i visited RO and thought i would die in a taxi.....then i thought i would kill the driver for the price he wanted me to pay...grrr i am an american...and i will be back in RO very soon... i need help! i need american/english speaking friendlys....i have NO idea where to go or what to do... HELP omg….
i love this blog….i visited RO and thought i would die in a taxi…..then i thought i would kill the driver for the price he wanted me to pay…grrr
i am an american…and i will be back in RO very soon…
i need help!
i need american/english speaking friendlys….i have NO idea where to go or what to do…
HELP

]]> By: nanet http://romerican.com/2006/03/31/conversation-with-a-taxi-driver/#comment-45826 nanet Fri, 17 Aug 2007 21:05:08 +0000 http://romerican.com/?p=139#comment-45826 I am recently hosting an exchange student from Romania, but strange to me, she is very reserved barely share her families and romanian cultures, I wish it is not just language barrier. Sometimes can be frustrating we wanted to get to know more of her or how the teen age cultures in Constanti she seems dress differently and her ways. any input are welcome to educate me more so can understan her cultures I am recently hosting an exchange student from Romania, but strange to me, she is very reserved barely share her families and romanian cultures, I wish it is not just language barrier. Sometimes can be frustrating we wanted to get to know more of her or how the teen age cultures in Constanti she seems dress differently and her ways.
any input are welcome to educate me more so can understan her cultures

]]> By: Alex http://romerican.com/2006/03/31/conversation-with-a-taxi-driver/#comment-45157 Alex Wed, 08 Aug 2007 06:44:02 +0000 http://romerican.com/?p=139#comment-45157 Constanta railway station has the same problem, but far more ugly. There is a group of illegal black market taxi drivers who hover around the station and pester anyone who does not look Romanian. To add gravitas to their "$20" offer they might even take your bag and put it into the car (which is not a yellow taxi car). A group of 8 of us turned up at the station and we were literally swarmed by them. They took one of the bags and I forceably had to take it out of their car. We managed to get to the mini bus (we were heading back from Mamaia and needed to get to Bucharest) but the driver refused to take us claiming that there was no space. Strangely, the "drivers" seemed to know about this before the bus was even full. After we watched countless Romanians board the bus AFTER we had been told that there was no room, we saw one of the "drivers" shaking hands with the bus driver and handing him some notes. We quickly found two yellow cabs (who were not pestering us) and asked them how much to Bucharest. We ended up paying 25 euros each which isn't bad considering the fact that we just wanted to get out of there. The next bus could have left 3 hours later and we didn't fancy sharing our evening with those guys. We were told at the hotel later that these drivers can be EXTREMELY dangerous. There are countless horror stories of obscene overcharging, physical intimidation and much worse. They have a few of the official bus drivers in their pockets and I implore anyone who reads this NEVER to get into one of these cars. The blatant lack of infrastructure in Romania, especially along the coast, will only serve as a deterrent to tourists and and visitors. Until someone does something about these people Romania will not be taken seriously as a viable or safe holiday destination. I'll save the gastroenteritis part of my holiday for another post.... Constanta railway station has the same problem, but far more ugly. There is a group of illegal black market taxi drivers who hover around the station and pester anyone who does not look Romanian. To add gravitas to their “$20″ offer they might even take your bag and put it into the car (which is not a yellow taxi car). A group of 8 of us turned up at the station and we were literally swarmed by them. They took one of the bags and I forceably had to take it out of their car. We managed to get to the mini bus (we were heading back from Mamaia and needed to get to Bucharest) but the driver refused to take us claiming that there was no space.

Strangely, the “drivers” seemed to know about this before the bus was even full. After we watched countless Romanians board the bus AFTER we had been told that there was no room, we saw one of the “drivers” shaking hands with the bus driver and handing him some notes. We quickly found two yellow cabs (who were not pestering us) and asked them how much to Bucharest. We ended up paying 25 euros each which isn’t bad considering the fact that we just wanted to get out of there. The next bus could have left 3 hours later and we didn’t fancy sharing our evening with those guys.

We were told at the hotel later that these drivers can be EXTREMELY dangerous. There are countless horror stories of obscene overcharging, physical intimidation and much worse. They have a few of the official bus drivers in their pockets and I implore anyone who reads this NEVER to get into one of these cars. The blatant lack of infrastructure in Romania, especially along the coast, will only serve as a deterrent to tourists and and visitors. Until someone does something about these people Romania will not be taken seriously as a viable or safe holiday destination.

I’ll save the gastroenteritis part of my holiday for another post….

]]> By: Romer!can - Dispatches from an American in Romania (was Transylvania) http://romerican.com/2006/03/31/conversation-with-a-taxi-driver/#comment-42130 Romer!can - Dispatches from an American in Romania (was Transylvania) Sun, 08 Jul 2007 19:30:42 +0000 http://romerican.com/?p=139#comment-42130 [...] the airport, my first contact was with Romanian taxi drivers whom I shook off until the rental car arrived. I climbed inside and left the terminal in search of [...] [...] the airport, my first contact was with Romanian taxi drivers whom I shook off until the rental car arrived. I climbed inside and left the terminal in search of [...]

]]> By: clem http://romerican.com/2006/03/31/conversation-with-a-taxi-driver/#comment-31650 clem Tue, 01 May 2007 11:02:05 +0000 http://romerican.com/?p=139#comment-31650 calling for a cab in bucuresti is very important. try one of those numbers on the cabs, talk to the annoying operators, try to be polite to them, even though the treat you like dirt, but pay less, no manele, and no rude gipsy to talk really loud and over-friendly... and... i have to say... about what you say in your blog... so true...sadly. calling for a cab in bucuresti is very important.
try one of those numbers on the cabs, talk to the annoying operators, try to be polite to them, even though the treat you like dirt, but pay less, no manele, and no rude gipsy to talk really loud and over-friendly…

and… i have to say… about what you say in your blog… so true…sadly.

]]> By: Romer!can - Dispatches from an American in Transylvania http://romerican.com/2006/03/31/conversation-with-a-taxi-driver/#comment-22480 Romer!can - Dispatches from an American in Transylvania Thu, 22 Mar 2007 14:49:10 +0000 http://romerican.com/?p=139#comment-22480 [...] my very first trip to Romania, I had picked up a rental car at the airport after battling with taxi drivers. I hit the highway and noticed all the scantily-clad, beautiful women lined up for hitch-hiking [...] [...] my very first trip to Romania, I had picked up a rental car at the airport after battling with taxi drivers. I hit the highway and noticed all the scantily-clad, beautiful women lined up for hitch-hiking [...]

]]> By: Romer!can - Dispatches from an American in Transylvania http://romerican.com/2006/03/31/conversation-with-a-taxi-driver/#comment-974 Romer!can - Dispatches from an American in Transylvania Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:53:40 +0000 http://romerican.com/?p=139#comment-974 [...] At some point, we started the marathon timer to intiate a hurried quest in search of the best kebab in all of Romania. Our efforts were aided by the fact that I already knew how to find the place. We jumped into a cab and headed towards parcul central, yammering in English all the while expressly in order to draw the curious eyes of our taximetrist. [...] [...] At some point, we started the marathon timer to intiate a hurried quest in search of the best kebab in all of Romania. Our efforts were aided by the fact that I already knew how to find the place. We jumped into a cab and headed towards parcul central, yammering in English all the while expressly in order to draw the curious eyes of our taximetrist. [...]

]]> By: Romer!can - Dispatches from an American in Transylvania http://romerican.com/2006/03/31/conversation-with-a-taxi-driver/#comment-580 Romer!can - Dispatches from an American in Transylvania Thu, 25 May 2006 14:40:12 +0000 http://romerican.com/?p=139#comment-580 [...] Earlier I introduced my American friends to the talented hip-hop artists B.U.G Mafia which I believe it the most accessible, most marketable band in Romania (even if the record companies are quite bright enough to capitalize on it). Indeed, the review I posted on this very blog has been seeing a lot of search engine traffic from folks living all over Europe who are looking to learn more about baiatii nostri. [...] [...] Earlier I introduced my American friends to the talented hip-hop artists B.U.G Mafia which I believe it the most accessible, most marketable band in Romania (even if the record companies are quite bright enough to capitalize on it). Indeed, the review I posted on this very blog has been seeing a lot of search engine traffic from folks living all over Europe who are looking to learn more about baiatii nostri. [...]

]]> By: traveller one http://romerican.com/2006/03/31/conversation-with-a-taxi-driver/#comment-192 traveller one Fri, 21 Apr 2006 00:41:00 +0000 http://romerican.com/?p=139#comment-192 I just spent a good part of the afternoon reading through your blog. It brings back memories of Romania for me since we lived in Bucharest for 5 years from 99-94. I'll be back regularly to see what's new. I especially love your photos! I just spent a good part of the afternoon reading through your blog. It brings back memories of Romania for me since we lived in Bucharest for 5 years from 99-94. I’ll be back regularly to see what’s new. I especially love your photos!

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