Lisboa, Portugal

I have experienced some pretty amazing cab rides during my travels-each an adventure in itself…memories and moments not soon forgotten-you can really meet some very interesting characters in the short space of time in going from one stop to another…a few short recollections-

He pulled over to the curb in a shiny black Peugeot, barely stopping long enough for us to  clamber in, and JUST enough time to close the door securely, before our taxi driver barely turning his head towards us, heard Jenna utter “the square” simultaneously and instantly accelerated forward, surging into traffic at a speed that left me grinning and Jenna, wide-eyed and quickly attempting to pull on her seatbelt. Darting in between lanes, as if we were in the latest Fast and Furious movie, we were tossed back and forth (I had not put my belt on yet) sending us knocking into each other and the safely (we hoped) closed doors of what we realized in a matter of moments, was a cab ride akin to an amusement or carnival ride…I took the briefest moment to observe him, our cab driver, as he honked repeatedly in irritation and squeezed by the stopping bus, again with a quick lane change, narrowly missing the taillight and bumper of said bus, darting into the left lane, and again accelerating as he slammed the manual stick shift into third, cutting narrowly and swiftly in front of the now moving bus, the very bus we were moments ago behind, another horn blaring -at us this time, I presumed from the annoyed bus driver. Our driver had dark glasses on (expensive), obscuring his eyes, his hand left the stick shift and began slowly twisting his mustache ends, one side then the other into a slim point of “cool”, not quite what we’d consider “handlebar” but similar in style, and it struck me just a bit comical, I had to fight down my giggle. He was an indiscriminate age, as with glasses I could not see any telltale lines, either laughter or of age, good skin, well kept hands,  his hair short and neat, silver flecking throughout as with his well trimmed and shaped, longish goateebeard…all the while tapping the hand on the steering wheel to a Portuguese hit…we paused briefly at the red light, his impatience evident, yet he utilized the time productively I guess one could say, as reached for a comb across the stick shift by the glove compartment and began to comb and smooth his beard, briefly flipping down the visor mirror-did his eyes notice me smiling in amusement from the back seat while he was doing all this? He seemed to, but no expression was evident in his face and I could not see his eyes, just a bit of a head tilt indicating maybe he did?…the white T shirt stretched across broad shoulders as he reached back over to place the comb back in the cubby by the passenger side…the light turns green and we are jolted back in our seats again, as he weaves in and out of traffic, I found the whole thing greatly amusing, a bit thrilling even, and again had to bite back my laugh, as I study him some more, the many, many tattoos…almost a sleeve on the left, a cursive name “Filipe” on the forearm, what looks to be coins scattered as well up his forearm beginning low on the wrist and partially on his hand, a circle with a Batman emblem on the space between thumb and forefinger…my eyebrows go up…a bit surprised at this apparent DC comic reference…the faint smell of cigar and some spicy cologne, a not unpleasant combination …a very intriguing individual, fashionable jeans and shoes (the Portuguese have beautiful leather and cork products especially shoes.

…I will have to say best, if not MOST interesting cab ride and “cabbie” (almost…one other I can think of) to date…as he pulled over and Jenna very pale and wobbly, likely fighting down nausea as she often experiences car sickness, quickly climbed out upon the hot concrete and cobbled sidewalks-me exiting with a huge smile (though I did feel bad for Jen) -attempted to give a generous tip but he just waived it off, nodded and accelerated-maybe he had as much fun in observing our reactions to the ride as he had doing it – 🙄😂 as I said INTERESTING