Public transport story

 

So the other day Cory and I where coming back home from some food shopping up in Puerto Plata. On the last leg of the trip, that is to say, the taking of a public car that runs the route between Imbert and Luperon, seven people squeeze in to the early 90’s honda civic, Including the driver, made a total of Eight. Cozy.

 

To my immediate right, Is a older gentleman, noticeably very sick. One of those coughs that never seems to end. It gurgled. More then a little bit. Hopefully nothing serious…Tuberculosis isn’t contagious right? but do have to say was very pleasant and even made the effort to shake my hand when we arrived at his stop…

 

Half way home, The Driver suddenly looks very concerned, and starts to slow the car down a bit, even going as far as to shut it of completely going down the hills, until, eventually we finally flat-out come to a stop. Out of propane, and no gas in the tank.

 

“Fantastic”

 

  Everybody hops out and starts pushing the taxi (with the help of a few random guys walking on the street) over the crest of the hill and we all scrambled back into the rolling car. 

 

  Fortunately for the driver, he knew somebody on the next hill with a motorcycle(actually we probably could have stopped at any house and they would know somebody), so he has his buddy take off with his propane tank to fill it up. Afterwards, he hailed down passing truck for us, and then demanded that we pay him. We gave half the fare (we only made it halfway mind you) and thought that was fair. Nope. 35 pesos per person, full price.…according to him, it was because he didn’t just leave us stranded. Flawless logic…How could we argue? We where just going to hoof it the rest of the way, but oh well. Life in the DR.