TOSSER-FREE TAXIS

One key difference between Perth and Melbourne is the taxi drivers. This week’s trip to Melbourne was a classic illustration. Our driver in Perth was “white”. Although as he described it “frog, wog, and bog” with French, Maltese and Irish heritage. And a local, living in a nearby suburb. He’d had coffee at our local cafe and knew all about the croissanterie down the road. With 8 grandchildren, he only drove when it suited him and, only for ‘nice’ people. Phil, our new best friend, described his cab as a “tosser-free taxi”. He gave us his card - because we were clearly of the “nice” variety - and we’ve already booked a return trip with him. Every taxi driver I’ve had to date in Perth has been “white”. 

Walking past the queue of taxis at Melbourne airport, there was every tone but “white”. Our driver was of Ethiopian heritage but he’d been in Melbourne long enough to call the previous Labor Premier, Daniel Andrew’s, a dickhead - for all the disruptive train construction going on. Not quite the right tone for his middle class left of centre passengers but equally as chatty and chirpy as Phil.

And now Susan and I are in Melbourne for a week, we’re in the world of trams and trains with the former rattling past our window and the latter just across the road. We have a fabulous view of Flinders Street Station from our window. There is a bus from Willagee to Perth but as it only goes every hour, it’s not going to be our favourite transport option.





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