Sunday, January 16, 2005

Shanghai taxi Yesterday we decided to have a donut breakfast at Mr. Donut on Nanjing Xi Lu / Renmin Guangchang. I flagged down a taxi and told the driver where to go. However, the (lady) driver did not know how to get there. I was very surprised as Renmin Guangchang (People's Square) is about the most central place in Shanghai, and even if you don't know much about this city you should at least know this location. Anyway, so I had to guide her to there. She told us that she is a new driver, and just started two weeks ago. I am not sure if she meant that she just got her license two weeks ago, but it certainly looked like that. She did not drive faster than 20-30 km/h, and even breaked for green lights... She drove me nuts when she even did not pass a stopping bus on a 4-lane street. Arriving at Renmin Guangchang I noticed that Mr. Donut had closed, so I sent her another branch on Huaihai Lu. I again had to tell her how to get there, although Huaihai is the main shopping street of Shanghai... I wonder how new taxi drivers are recruited. Do they have to pass a test or just pay some money? Do people actually check whether they can drive, 'cause this one certainly had no clue. I learned my lesson, next time I see a driver with a license number starting with 26 (the newest ones) I will not get in. At least the breakfast was good. And quite cheap: among the two of us we had 6 donuts, 3 coffee and 1 tea  for only RMB 29 (EUR 2,80). 12:16:00 PM    comment []