I have a love/hate affair with taxis. They are convenient. They can still get stuck in traffic. They beat the heat of the summer. They can be smelly. They allow you more freedom than public transportation. They can be impossible to find when it is raining out.
Taxis can be dangerous (or at least the drivers driving them can be). My friend and fellow JCI Ben were in Monaco and had to go to Nice at 4 am to fly back to the States so our hosts arranged a taxi for us (since they were still partying). We crammed our enormous suitcases in to the taxi (mine definitely took up more space than his) and we were off. You would have thought we were on the Autobahn. We were zipping dangerously around curves in the French mountains. We were speeding on dark roads and God forbid if we met oncoming traffic or someone going too slow - we wove in and out of lanes like we were Mario Andretti. Ben and I had death grips on the holy shit handles and hoped we would make it to the airport in one piece (we knew we would be on time).
My husband Tom arrived in India after I did last fall and had to take a taxi from the airport at 1 in the morning. His first visit to a 3rd world country, he was leery, as we soon found out he should be. He did not get cheated out of money, as a voucher is pre-purchased, but he was almost cheated out of his dinner (as vomiting could have occurred) . The cab driver made the 45 minute drive from the airport to the hotel in 18 minutes. As Tom careened back and forth in the back seat, they dodged cows, rickshaws and elephants like they were playing Frogger.
Taxis can be used for odd events. In Panama, Lori, Lisa and I wanted to go to the Panama Canal so we hired a taxi for 3 hours. The driver drove us to the canal, we visited it, we ate lunch, and then the driver who would could not identify from sight came back up to us and asked if we were ready to go. I guess paying only 1/2 your fair up front helps keep the driver committed to you. It seemed odd to us to continue to pay a taxi driver to work for us while we were eating lunch, but everyone was doing it. When in Rome......
Taxis can be deceiving. This past weekend some friends who had over imbibed at Universal City Walk went to the taxi area, hopped in a yellow car and asked the driver to take them the 17 miles back to our hotel. When they got there, they asked, "How much?" The driver indicated, "I don't know, I am not a cab driver." What would possess someone to take my friends 17 miles without mentioning this???? They gave him $40 and got the hell out of there!
Finally, taxis can be downright unreliable. I was visiting NYC with an ex in December 2005 for a long weekend. We were having a great time until the last day. The taxi drivers decided to go on strike - there were NO taxis running in NYC. It felt like Armageddon. The streets were like canyons that you could run down, it had a Will Smith, I am Legend, feel. As we scrambled to find transportation to the airport, we cursed the taxis. How could the government let this happen? When thousands of taxis stop running, it impacts EVERYTHING!
Oh well, taxis are good, and taxis are bad. They make me curse, but they give me the freedom to explore!
Showing posts with label Monaco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monaco. Show all posts
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Luxury is Not Overrated
Remember the helicopter ride to Monaco and all the suitcases I was schleping across Europe? Well what I did not tell you is that I did not help my suitcase "situation" when I arrived in Monaco. I was staying at Le Meridian which is known as a luxury hotel. People who say that "all they need from a hotel is a clean and safe place to stay" are liars. I admit it, I have said that, but clearly it sounds better than "I am being cheap and don't want to spend a lot of money." But let's face it, if we had the money, everyone would be staying at luxury hotels when we traveled.
Let's start from my arrival. My car door was opened and a small army rushed to unload my suitcases without a smirk, eye brow raise or any indication that my looking like a runaway with all my worldy possessions was unusual. I was whisked to the front desk to give my information and then shuttled directly and quickly to the elevator as we started our ride to the penthouse floor.
When they opened the door to my suite, this is where if I were in a movie, white light would have splayed on me, my hair would be swirling in the wind (when there wasn't any) and the gospel music would have started. This suite where I was going to be ensconced for the next 5 days was bigger than my house that I live at for the other 360 days of the year!
I walked into a bed room with a bed that looked bigger than a king size bed (is there even such a thing?), a flat screen TV that dwarfed my love seat at home and then you stepped down into the office and sitting area. This led directly out onto the balcony that overlooks the Mediterranean, just like you see in the movies. Looking left, I could see France, looking right, the yachts in the harbor of Monte Carlo. I felt dizzy - I want to live like this always!
Then there was the bathroom, complete with a jacuzzi, shower, 2 sinks and a toilet. As I glanced at the toiletries I stopped dead. They were Hermes - Hermes of the purses, scarfs and expensive clothing and they were all complimentary. 2 big bars of soap, 3 small bars of soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and a full-size bottle of perfume were provided every day! Let's just say I was very dirty in Monaco, because everyday I needed new supplies and my luggage continued to bulge and the seams started to burst!
Now I was off to visit my friend Scott. While I was the JCI Vice President assigned to Monaco, he was the big kahuna, the World President. Imagine my reaction to his suite. His suite had an elevator from the servant's bedroom and main entrance to his area. An elevator for one floor? In a non-handicapped room? Are rich people's calves that underdeveloped? As we took the painfully slide ride up 1 floor (we could not disappoint the rich and their standards) we marveled at the hotel. When we arrived into his sitting area, it was amazing. He had couches, 3 flat screens, a bar area and 2 bathrooms in his suite. He too had Hermes, which was totally unappreciated on him, so he told me to leave him a couple bars of soap and the rest was mine! I flew through the rooms like a contestant on Supermarket Sweep! No lotion, shampoo or perfume escaped my bag.
Back to my room, I decided I had better see if I needed any other of the complimentary items. Of course I did! I needed the stationary, the shopping bags, the pens and even the fluffy white slippers (they were free!) I was like a blue hair (old person for those unfamiliar with the term) at a buffet!
After a successful week of meetings and events in Monaco, and a suitcase that weighed about 25 pounds more than when I arrived, I was off for my back-breaking journey home with all my loot. But you know what, you can't put a weight on luxury!
Let's start from my arrival. My car door was opened and a small army rushed to unload my suitcases without a smirk, eye brow raise or any indication that my looking like a runaway with all my worldy possessions was unusual. I was whisked to the front desk to give my information and then shuttled directly and quickly to the elevator as we started our ride to the penthouse floor.
When they opened the door to my suite, this is where if I were in a movie, white light would have splayed on me, my hair would be swirling in the wind (when there wasn't any) and the gospel music would have started. This suite where I was going to be ensconced for the next 5 days was bigger than my house that I live at for the other 360 days of the year!
I walked into a bed room with a bed that looked bigger than a king size bed (is there even such a thing?), a flat screen TV that dwarfed my love seat at home and then you stepped down into the office and sitting area. This led directly out onto the balcony that overlooks the Mediterranean, just like you see in the movies. Looking left, I could see France, looking right, the yachts in the harbor of Monte Carlo. I felt dizzy - I want to live like this always!
Then there was the bathroom, complete with a jacuzzi, shower, 2 sinks and a toilet. As I glanced at the toiletries I stopped dead. They were Hermes - Hermes of the purses, scarfs and expensive clothing and they were all complimentary. 2 big bars of soap, 3 small bars of soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and a full-size bottle of perfume were provided every day! Let's just say I was very dirty in Monaco, because everyday I needed new supplies and my luggage continued to bulge and the seams started to burst!
Now I was off to visit my friend Scott. While I was the JCI Vice President assigned to Monaco, he was the big kahuna, the World President. Imagine my reaction to his suite. His suite had an elevator from the servant's bedroom and main entrance to his area. An elevator for one floor? In a non-handicapped room? Are rich people's calves that underdeveloped? As we took the painfully slide ride up 1 floor (we could not disappoint the rich and their standards) we marveled at the hotel. When we arrived into his sitting area, it was amazing. He had couches, 3 flat screens, a bar area and 2 bathrooms in his suite. He too had Hermes, which was totally unappreciated on him, so he told me to leave him a couple bars of soap and the rest was mine! I flew through the rooms like a contestant on Supermarket Sweep! No lotion, shampoo or perfume escaped my bag.
Back to my room, I decided I had better see if I needed any other of the complimentary items. Of course I did! I needed the stationary, the shopping bags, the pens and even the fluffy white slippers (they were free!) I was like a blue hair (old person for those unfamiliar with the term) at a buffet!
After a successful week of meetings and events in Monaco, and a suitcase that weighed about 25 pounds more than when I arrived, I was off for my back-breaking journey home with all my loot. But you know what, you can't put a weight on luxury!
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