Taxi!!! Taxi!!!!

This blog may be the funniest I have written. I do feel however, that it should be taken serious because at the time the events occurred it was not funny, but do enjoy! Taxi's in Ecuador are one of the main ways of transportation, taxi's or buses. I however do not ride the public buses because public buses here are dangerous. It is always extremely crowded which allows for easy pickpocket which happens normally here. Pickpocket is a big deal here and what makes it so bad is that these pickpocket's are good and you may not even notice your missing something until you need it. It happens like that all the time. For example my friend studying abroad here got eleven dollars stolen from her book bag while on the bus. I know eleven dollars is not a lot but it goes to show you that no amount is safe. With this being known I always take a taxi. Taking taxi's may seem easy just flag one down on the street and go but NO! Not here in Ecuador. Yellow taxi's are extremely dangerous here. Yes I know that sounds crazy but yellow taxi's are targeted. I was told once I got here about two young girls that were international students had been here for a year and decided to take a taxi off the street instead of calling one the taxi driver took them somewhere and people jumped out the trunk and robbed them. It could had been worst. Let me make this clear getting in a yellow taxi or ANY taxi (unmarked) is dangerous if you did not call a taxi company. If you call a taxi company your trip will be known and it is a less of a chance something can happen to you. Well one night after the movies I had mandatory meeting that I was notified about and hour before the meeting. I had to get to my destination so I went to the safest place I could think of to get a taxi drive. In front of the mall is the safest because the taxi driver's work for the a taxi company and they drive unmarked cars. I got into a taxi in the front seat. I do that because I do not like to appear like I am in a taxi. As the taxi driver is taking me to my destination he is talking to me. I do not understand anything because he is talking so fast so all I could say is no comprenda (i do not understand) but he just kept on talking. Once we got to the neighborhood the taxi driver did not know where to go I pointed to the left and all of sudden he bit my finger. I was so pissed I back hand slapped him and told him pare pare (stop) le taxi!!! I jumped out he was laughing like it was funny! I threw a dollar in the car which I should not had done is what people told me, but I did not want him to follow me. I was so mad and my anger took over. I would not suggest slapping the taxi driver, but I would suggest you to do something, because if you let anyone especially a man (no women drive taxi's here) they can sense that fear and take advantage of it. I know make sure I call my taxi because I know that is the safest way to deal with things. I just keep looking back on the situation, what if I did not jump out the taxi? What if he got mad that I slapped him? SO many things came into factor after the fact. I now look back and laugh at the situation because the thought of telling other people my finger got bit by a taxi driver seems to be unreal. Well I am a live example of that.