Well today I almost got my wish never to see a bus again. Our taxi was thirty minutes late picking us up from the hotel. His excuse? He was tired so he slept in. Unacceptable! He arrived at the hotel five minutes before the bus was due to depart. We were all hoping that the bus would leave late as as seems to be it's custom, but you can never be sure.
When we finally arrived at the bus park, it became evident that we were too late and the bus had indeed gone without us. “No problem” says the taxi guy as he puts his foot on the accelerator. At time of writing I’m feeling pretty pissed about the slow to none existent internet connection, so I’m not telling the story very well.
Anyway, we're in a dodgy taxi with a very dodgy taxi driver speeding through the town centre trying to catch the bus. After a few minutes we're right on it's tail and the problem becomes trying to get it to pull over. We're all hanging out the windows frantically waving and yelling and eventually it stops. Now comes the problem of payment.
The hotel told the driver the night before that we would pay him 10000 Burundi Francs. But then again, the driver told us he would come at 5.45 am, and he didn't. In my mind, the deal is off. He was late, we missed the bus, now he'll be lucky to get any money from us.
But he insists. He wants the full 10000. “Not a chance mate” I tell him in French. “I'll give you 5000 maximum.” This is more than fair, as it's enough to cover costs and still make a profit. I explained to him why I couldn't give him the full amount. “You were 30 minutes late. We missed the bus! Had you not caught up with it we'd have given you nothing. So really you should be grateful.” But the taxi driver, who was the size of Dave Brookchild, disagreed and followed us onto the bus. The bus conductor joined in the argument. “You have to give him more money” he says. Not a chance. So he insists on talking first to Karyn and then to Mike. They must look more generous than me. “They don't speak French mate. You have no choice but to deal with me.”
After another tens minutes of this I grew tired and gave him another 2000. It was enough to make him leave. And we were on our way home.
Here is a picture of the beautiful Burundi countryside.
When we finally arrived at the bus park, it became evident that we were too late and the bus had indeed gone without us. “No problem” says the taxi guy as he puts his foot on the accelerator. At time of writing I’m feeling pretty pissed about the slow to none existent internet connection, so I’m not telling the story very well.
Anyway, we're in a dodgy taxi with a very dodgy taxi driver speeding through the town centre trying to catch the bus. After a few minutes we're right on it's tail and the problem becomes trying to get it to pull over. We're all hanging out the windows frantically waving and yelling and eventually it stops. Now comes the problem of payment.
The hotel told the driver the night before that we would pay him 10000 Burundi Francs. But then again, the driver told us he would come at 5.45 am, and he didn't. In my mind, the deal is off. He was late, we missed the bus, now he'll be lucky to get any money from us.
But he insists. He wants the full 10000. “Not a chance mate” I tell him in French. “I'll give you 5000 maximum.” This is more than fair, as it's enough to cover costs and still make a profit. I explained to him why I couldn't give him the full amount. “You were 30 minutes late. We missed the bus! Had you not caught up with it we'd have given you nothing. So really you should be grateful.” But the taxi driver, who was the size of Dave Brookchild, disagreed and followed us onto the bus. The bus conductor joined in the argument. “You have to give him more money” he says. Not a chance. So he insists on talking first to Karyn and then to Mike. They must look more generous than me. “They don't speak French mate. You have no choice but to deal with me.”
After another tens minutes of this I grew tired and gave him another 2000. It was enough to make him leave. And we were on our way home.
Here is a picture of the beautiful Burundi countryside.
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