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During our trip to Europe last month, my husband Will and I flew from Naples to Portugal. At Lisbon airport, we got a taxi. Naively, we didn't think to ask in advance what the fare would be or to question the absence of a meter in the cab. Friends who have been to Portugal a few times had told us taxis in Lisbon were inexpensive.
Our taxi driver drove quickly to downtown, which isn't far from Lisbon airport, and arrived at our Airbnb apartment. He told us the fare was 35 Euro (about $57 CAD). This wasn't cheap, perhaps a little more than we'd pay for a similar ride in Calgary, where I live. We gave him cash, since he didn't take credit cards, and didn't add a tip to his inflated price. The taxi took off and we found the phone number for Pedro, who was was to meet us at the apartment to let us in.
Before we could phone, a police car drove up and parked. The officer strode toward us.
"How much did you pay for that taxi?" he asked.
"Thirty-five euro."
"It should only be fifteen euro from the airport," he said. "I want to take the driver to court. Can you show me your passport?"
We looked down the street and noticed the taxi and another police car were stopped. Presumably, the first police car had followed us from the airport and notified the second car to block the taxi from leaving the narrow street.
Pedro heard the commotion from our balcony and came down to see what was going on. He and the police officer spoke for a while in Portuguese. We guessed the officer was explaining the situation. With Pedro there, I felt assured the officer's request to see our passports was legitimate.
The officer photographed Will's passport and told us that we wouldn't have to go to court, but he needed the information for the case. He asked for our phone number and Canadian address.
"Did you pay cash?" he asked. "What bills did you give him?"
"A fifty-euro bill."
"Did you get change?"
"Yes."
"What denominations?
"Five and ten-euro bills."
Details make the story convincing for a court case.
Still holding onto Will's passport, the officer jogged to the taxi and other police car. He returned and handed Will his passport along with a twenty-euro bill for our overpayment.
After the officer and all the vehicles left, Pedro led us into the apartment building and said, "I hope this is only bad thing that happens to you in Portugal."
"Oh no," I said. "It was interesting."
Evidently, Portugal appreciates the economic value of tourism and wants visitors to feel welcome in the country. Authorities are using police and legal resources to discourage locals from taking advantage of foreigners. Certain matters, like taxi fares, are less regulated than they are in some other countries and tourists should be alert to this.
At the same time, locals need to earn a living. Was fifteen euro too cheap for that airport taxi ride, given the cost of gasoline and car maintenance? If our driver had charged us a fair rate, I hope we'd have tipped him generously.
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| Looking down to the spot where the second police car cut off the taxi driver at the pass |
