When you ask a taxi driver what his name is here in Peru, you often get the name Juan or Juan Luis. (In Mexico they were all named Jose.) I think they do this out of ease, just like I’ve shortened my name to “Áli”, and Scott pronounces his name as “Escott” when asked.
Either way, the taxis and most taxi drivers here in Peru are awesome. I’ve definitely become immune to their craziness. It’s not just the insane driving, which seems to be typical in all countries but the US. It’s the amazing interior decor that makes each taxi ride unique and awesome.
Some of my favorite taxi memories:
- A tribute to the Virgin de Chapi (presumably for protection) that lit up every time the driver slammed on his breaks. I have also seen a similar effect with a hand that lights up in red.
- An inscription and signature on the sun flap by a famous person.
- A collection of toy boxcars lined up on the dash.
- Stuffed animal decor and a really scruffy taxi driver. I didn’t ask.
- Taxi drivers crossing themselves when they passed churches. I saw this most often in Arequipa.
- Hopping into a super pimped out ride (we’re talking lots of blinky lights) to pay $1 for a ride home.
- Stumbling through the explanation of how to get to Sumaq Marka, our Spanish school, every day. And having to turn around a few times. We got better.
- A super friendly, super smiley, driver at Plaza Vea who used to live in Miami and wanted to practice his English.
- The super aggressive driver at Plaza Vea. Yeah, that one. I always avoided him.
- Pleading with an old driver to go faster so we could make our bus.
- Decorations on moto-taxis: Batman, Spiderman, dolphins, flames.
- Near misses… there have been a lot of these.
- Taxi drivers not slowing down for old people or children in the street. And sometimes even honking at them.
- Taxi drivers turned tour guides in Cusco and the Paracas National Reserve.
- Calling the taxi drivers’s bluff when he offered to take 3 of us to our destination for 2 soles each. I asked him if he would take 4 soles if I didn’t go, leaving just 2 people. (Four soles is how much the ride should have cost.) The group of taxi drivers listening in caught it, and I’m sure he didn’t hear the last of it. We paid him 6 soles anyway.
- Committing to a taxi driver at the bus station, and then watching that taxi driver fend off other taxi drivers trying to get our business. It’s cut throat!
