Discover The Secrets Of Taxis In ManaguaTaxis In Managua, - “Where to boss? ”- It was the first phrase that I hear as I arrived at the terminal of Southern buses in Managua – “To Las Palmas, near Montoya” -I responded to the taxi driver- “Come on, then!” - he told me in happy tone, I did not get into the taxi without negotiating the price... As you know, in Nicaragua there are no taximeters and we must negotiate “the career” of the taxi driver – “I will take you for twenty-five pesos” – he says. It has been more than one century since the peso disappeared, but we always referred to the “peso “as the cordoba – “No... they always take me for twenty”- I told him.. He smiled and told me –“ok for twenty”-he seemed like a good person. Not your typical taxi driver, bold and talkative. I get into the taxi, thinking about how my day of classes would be. My thoughts were interrupted by his question : “Are you from Granada? ”- he inquired while putting the car in motion – “No, not... I am from Rivas” - I told him – He continued with the conversation, somewhat typical of the taxi drivers around the world I believe...
While we were crossing the city, stopping occasionally at the lights. Children would immediately run directly to the car to clean the windshield and to ask for “one peso” with their sad and dirty little faces... Children with sweet little faces without infancy. Those children caused a spontaneous conversation about the social justice and the lack of worry of the government for these “children of the state”. It was the first time I had heard something so wise and the so level-headed from a taxi driver... It is not that I underestimated this man or his trade, but usually the taxi drivers are impassioned for a political party, be of left side or of right, perhaps for lack of opening mind. What was more of a surprise to me, was his impressions and ideas on the socio-economic and political life of the country were exactly equal to mine. There was no doubt, he was a very observant and a very intellectual man. We had just arrived at the entrance to the University and slowing for the lights when a car in front of us ran into one of the window washer kids!! Talk about pandemonium… The two police officers could not provide enough support when suddenly someone yelled out “The boy is alive… a doctor please!!”
The taxi driver bolted out of the car. I left by breifcase and ran after him. I was surprised when he knelt down and began to examine the boy and continued to give him first aid until the Red Cross paramedics arrived. I saw him remove something of his wallet, it looked like a card, one of the paramedics said to him: “Doctor, thanks for attending the boy”... “Great surprise a medical taxi driver.. Why?” – I asked him - “... Friend, because I have wife and daughter, and my squalid doctor's salary was not sufficient”... I recalled an old Spanish song: “The life gives you surprises, surprises give you the life”. For the Spanish version of Taxis In Managua click here.
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