A funny thing happened on the way to the forum

Taxis in Romania, as well as being driven by some of the most – ahem! adventurous drivers in the world, are price-regulated only in the sense that they have to display their costs on their door. These vary from 0.9 to 3 lei/km for the various firms, and then there are enterprising individuals who charge up to 10 lei/km. I presume they don’t get much repeat business.

This morning, the (enterprising individual) driver who has picked me up a couple of times was there again. He is a bit more expensive than the standard ones, but he speaks English and doesn’t drive the wrong way up the tram tracks, which counts for a lot in my book. We had the following exchange:

Me: The notice on your door says 1.5 lei per km, but the meter says 2.5 lei…
Him: It’s the cost of fuel. I must come back here after every trip.
Me: But the notice should say the correct price!
Him: But then if I am not in city centre and someone wants a taxi, I can take them for 1.5 lei.
Me: But the notice on the door should say what you charge everyone. It’s a lot more expensive than the companies.
Him: Look, the guys at the companies they don’t pay no tax. Everything is added up to zero! I go to the tax office every three months and I pay my taxes. Anyway we join the EU in one month. Then everything will be change.

I think I’m just amused at his indignation that I should imply there’s anything remotely dishonest about quoting one price and charging another. The difference to me is approximately £1, paid by expenses.

I was thinking that it was a sign of a newish economy where the free market is still not an embedded concept. But then I thought that probably the only reason I have never had this conversation in Greek (for instance) is because I don’t speak it.

In other news, I had breakfast sitting at the next table to an Italian general in full dress uniform. He was covered in medals. I was longing to ask what they were for, just as I always want to know what the Royal Family have won medals for.