Since we are taking a taxi back to Fort Greene, Jim and I decide to take the subway to the airport. We left early but the trains were so slow and I am in a panic about them arriving without us to greet them! Jim assures me they could manage just fine! Sure enough, we step out of the elevator and there they were waiting for us! They said they had just gotten through customs and "no problem"!
We were all so excited that this day had finally come! They had a decent flight and I am glad I moved them to the exit seats for more comfort. Eddy said they asked him a series of questions making sure his English was passable. Naturally, he passed with flying colors!
Okay, I have ridden in 100s of New York taxis. Some drivers are not that talkative but most are friendly and helpful. We walk out to the taxi stand and are given a van taxi. This tall dude gets out of the taxi with a scowl on his face and not one single word to us. Just opens up the truck slams the ramp down to roll luggage into cargo space. This guy is huge! He can't just lift them up! Through the whole process he utters not one word. Now I am thinking, maybe he barely speaks English--not uncommon in taxi cab drivers, so ignore his rudeness.
I let Jim get in the back with them and I take the front seat. Of course, he has all this junk on the seat and I wait for him to move it. He just scowls some more and slowly gets his stuff off so I can sit. I tell him where we are going and he just nods. Not a word. I look in the back seat and it's becoming kind of funny getting this rude taxi driver! When we get closer to Brooklyn, I take out my phone to put it on the GPS. I look over and he's taking out his phone but he is typing in location while driving and suddenly the light turns red and he slams on the brakes! I ask him if he wanted to look at my GPS. "That's what I am doing", he snarls. But I can see his is not coming up with right location. I try to be tactful and tell him "well, mine is already here if you want to look" and show it to him. He begrudgingly takes it and grunts something to the effect, "OK".
Finally, we are at the apartment and he slings the trunk up as Jim goes to pay him. I guess he looked at the tip, Jim is always more than fair though this time I wouldn't have given him anything, and I guess he liked it as suddenly he became a bit more helpful with the luggage!
We are all laughing when he drives off and he was the source of conversation in the days to come! I am relieved when they like the apartment too and we go about getting settled.
Eddy tells me "it's like we are in a movie" and it becomes our theme for the vacation! We get settled a bit and walk over to Marina's apartment. Miles is a bit grumpy but he eventually manages to smiles. Marina is so excited to see them and her and Eddy are off to talking about the gift he brought them. He remembered how much she liked the parchment from the engraving museum and bought her one on paper that is no longer printed. She is ecstatic and they discuss the history for awhile.
I just keep looking at them and pinching myself to make sure it is really true! We go back to the apartment and rest up a bit as we will meet Matt and Marina later for dinner.
Dinner is at this small tapas restaurant just down our block. We decide to let Marina order and soon our table is filled with little bowls of food. Add a bottle of wine and great discussions and you have a perfect first evening.
We have a little patio in our place and we go out for a drink and smoke. But soon we hear Eddy, "I'm Bit! They are biting me, I am going in!" Poor guy, he was the only one they attacked! He says they will find him anywhere and leave everyone else alone!!
We say goodnight so everyone can get some sleep and tomorrow, New York City!
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