Taking a Taxi: Just Beware.

When I travel, I avoid taking cabs.  They are obviously expensive and I like the thrill of navigating a city on public transit, but the bigger issue for me:  I don't trust cab drivers. 

I will make one exception to this rule:  cabbies in the UK are honest, kind and you should feel comfortable taking a ride with them.  Bill Bryson also sings their praises in his book Notes from a Small Island. So if both Bill Bryson and I have had amazing UK cab experiences, they must be okay, right?

We had this cab driver in Belfast who was taking us to get our rental car and was passing along little tips and directions for us as we were planning to drive up the coast to County Antrim.  When I confided in him that I heard Irish drivers could be impatient and we'll most likely be taking our time on the curvy road, he turned to me as said, "Love, you don't worry about anyone behind you.  Just be safe."  So if you are in UK and feel like spending a small fortune or really just want to ride in those vintage, black taxis, well go for it.  You have my blessing.  Anywhere else though: beware! 

I'm not trying to be dramatic.  From Miami to Mexico City, I have had sketchy situations with cabs.  Some pretend they didn't hear the hotel or street; others pretend that they forgot to turn on a meter; others do not give change back properly...I have a long list of grievances here, which has given me pause. But the reality is, you cannot always hop on a train or subway or just walk, sometimes you need to take a cab.  Here are a few important tips if you must take a taxi:

1.  Know where you are going.  When I'm traveling, I study a map so I see cross streets and have a good sense of where my destination is in the city.  For instance, Philadelphia is on a grid system and I took a cab from 30th Street Station to the Rittenshouse Hotel, close to 20th Street.  When I saw we passed 20th street, I queried the cab driver who thought I said the Ritz Carlton, not the Rittenhouse Hotel.  I leave it up to you to determine if the cab driver made an honest mistake or deliberately took us 5 city blocks out of the way in rush hour, almost doubling the fare.  (You can probably assume what I believe happened.)  Smartphones are super handy these days in pulling up maps in the cab or as you are in the taxi queue so you are always prepared.

2.  Know the system.  It would be nice if all cabs used the same method--meters, flat fares, negotiated rates, but alas, the world is a big, inscrutable place so how the fare is determine varies.  Before traveling to a new location, always do a quick check of taxis from the airport (a lot offer flat fees) as well as if it's okay to hail a cab from the street (it's not okay to do this in Mexico City, for instance). 

3.  Be smart.  Always be alert.  Study the road to ensure you are going in the right direction.  And, if you feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts and just  ask the cab driver to pull over and get out.

You don't want a whole trip spoiled over a scheming cab driver. If you follow these tips and take taxis only sparingly, you should be okay!

Visiting Northern Ireland.

The idea to make Northern Ireland part of the UK trip was all Kevin's idea.  We both had visited Dublin, but really, had not seen much more beyond a crazed, day trip to Glendalough.  Plus, we didn't know anyone who had explored Northern Ireland and we figured we wanted to give it a try.  I know--at least my whole lifetime--Belfast has been associated with violence and turmoil.  So of course I was a little nervous.  Looking back, I realize we followed a few simple rules:

Stunning cliffs, near Giant's Causeway, County Antrim.

1. Do not discuss religion and politics.  I think this rule should be followed all the time when traveling, but in a place like Northern Ireland it must be strictly observed.  Stick to pleasantries--weather  (it's a hot topic), sports, tips on the driving on the left, etc.

2.  Do not visit residential neighborhoods in Belfast without an organized tour.  Tensions are still easily on display with a wall cutting through the city, keeping the Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods apart.  We chose a black cab tour to take us through these areas as learning the history from a local and seeing the separation and amazing murals are not to be missed.

3.  Take some time to learn about "The Troubles."  Kevin and I came away realizing we knew so little about the situation. I felt really ignorant.  I was glad we kicked off our time in Belfast with a trip to the Ulster Museum, which breaks down the region's cultural and political history. 

Northern Ireland is a lovely place to visit filled with beautiful countrysides and friendly people.  If you practice common sense, you will be fine and thankful--as we are--that we had a chance to visit.