Taxi Stories
Edinburgh
Taxis done up as a plane or cow or even an elephant, adorned with streamers and balloons, filled with children, armed with water guns to spray water on not just people but also policemen on their way from town center to the beach.
Sounds like a fairy tale?
It happens every second Tuesday of June in Edinburgh. Taxi drivers take time off to deck up their taxis and make their way down the Royal Mile to the beach alongwith children for a day of festivities and joy.
The vibrant taxis along with castles, colorful flowers and men in skilts, make Edinburgh truly a fairytown
Melbourne
In Melbourne, if you are driving, you must master the hook turn. Hook turn is a unique manoeuvre in Melbourne, where you use the left lane to turn right! Well, if that sounds baffling, ditch your self drive rental and rely on your taxi driver 'mate' to take you around the creative capital of Australia. Taxi drivers here are extremely friendly and will do thier best to take you yo your destination in the most straight forward manner from Melbourne Cricket Club to any of the cafes that dot the city. On the way, they would happily talk about cricket that makes them extra friendly towards Indians. If things start getting heated up over India-Australia series, just mention Ashes and find a common enemy to bash!
London
Black London cabs are a perfect reflection of a modern city seeped in tradition. I first came across the word 'cab' in a Sherlock Holmes story when the famous detective chased villains in the streets of London riding in a hansom cab. Unlike the Victorian era cabs that were literally powered by horses, cabs today are driven by the engine horsepower but I can still imagine Sherlock Holmes stepping out of a London cab, impeccably dressed in his tailcoat and bowler hat
Amsterdam
Step out of the Amsterdam central station- there is a shiny Mercedes taxi waiting for you. The driver greets with a smile and puts your bags in the boot. As you settle in the leather seats, he reglaes with Amsterdam stories in perfect English (and not Dutch). But soon, you are in for a shock, as you hear the amount of bill you have to pay. After all, he brough you via the scenic route and you caught a glimpse of Eiffel tower on the way! No wonder the taxi services here are ranked 19th amongst 21 in Europe (wonder who the last 2 are). So next time in Amsterdam, just carry a backpack and rent a bike, like the locals do!