believe it or not, we decided not to do much of anything in costa rica. the country is more expensive than the others and we want to get going on our boat ride from panama (we still don't have a boat lined up)
we arrived by bus last night. the book warns that the taxis will mess up fares, etc.
but these guys take the cake.
we ask the guy, "do you know this place?"
"oh yeah, i know it."
we agree on a price and get in. we are already in route when the guy says "it fills up quickly, so maybe we should call just to be sure." he dials some number (who knows if it was the one i gave him) and hands me the phone. the guy on the line says he is at hostel sol y luna and they are full, bla bla bla. now the taxi dude wants to take us to a place he knows.
yeah, we know this trick mister. take us to this hostel that we have lined up as alternative #1
"no no, that other hostel is all the way across town. it will cost you more for me to take you there. this one that i know is close and won't cost more."
it's dark and we are tired, so we give in. normally, we would insist.
the place is of course a total dump and there are raoches the size of speed bumps walking around. and, conveniently, there are no other hostels around in visual range (san jose is decentralized). whatever. just give me the key so i can go to bed.
in the morning, we catch a cab to check out alternative #1 from the night before.
this cab has a meter. hmmm.
the new hostel is across town. but we also figure out that buthead taxi #1 drove us all messed up for a bit, to cover about 4 square blocks!!!!!!
here is the best part.
taxi #2 has a meter, and even though i just saw him make 3 right turns (come on! we aren't stupid, just let us out here) the trip still costs LESS than last night. grrrrrr.
the lady at this new place says the bus station is 6 blocks away. ok we will go and get our stuff.
we get cab #3.
he has a meter. he knows the owner of the roach inn and takes us there. in the meantime, he tells us that tica bus, the company we need, is over on THIS side of town. and he proves it by driving by it, 3 blocks from our hostel. grrrr.
this fare ($1350) was even less than #2 even with the extra turn to the bus station!!!!.
GRRRRR
so we find a place around the corner that we didn't know about the night before because it wasn't in the book, negating the need for the 2 taxis in the first place.
we decide to go on the historical walking tour of the center of the city and hire taxi ass #4.
we ask "how much?" and he points to the meter (indicating that we need not worry about that right now) however, the meter does not appear to be readable to us. he drives directly to where we want, chatting nicely and pointing out stuff. on arrival, the meter says $1340 colones. but the numbers are flashing. he punches a button and it clears and he says "$2000."
"no i don't think so. we went farther this morning and paid less than $1700"
"oh, but there is alot of traffic now."
"no, there was more traffic this morning. and the meter just said $1300".
"no, that was a previous fare"
"so, show me ours."
"i can't it's not working".
OHHHH! so you are a crook!
jason handed him $1700, essentially splitting the difference. we gave him more than what he deserved, but less than what he tried to swindle us for.
and he had the nerve to call us cochinos (filthy, pigs) as we got out.
GRRRRRR.
moral: taxi cab drivers are not the best way to become aquainted with a culture. fortunately, we got over it quickly. being tricked is becoming old hat. it's just the tricks that change. and besides, it was over $1.50.
the walking tour was a far better option.
tomorrow we head for panama city.
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