Knowledge is Knowledge

Little known facts about the Hippcampus: The classroom seats are really large and that ain't all-- watch where you step.

But seriously, London cab rides are an experience so interesting that it's all you can do to resist blurting: "Follow that Phaeton. There's fifty quid in it for you, Neville."

The little Sterling Cabs are purdy Neat tho' ....... even if the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the Car ... which is why, I guess, the Brits drive on the wrong side of the Road ... Must be because of Brain Rot, caused by eating things like, "Spotted Dick" and "Marmite"
 
Or is Marmite the Brits' punishment for driving on the wrong side of the road ???
 
 
Which came First;  Yeast, ... or the Pitman Arm???" .......

Ah London cabs and drivers, one of our fondest memories.

Black cabs and red, double-decker buses.

Ah, fond memories of trips to England.

In 2009, a black cab driver in London started asking passengers about their favorite quotes or proverbs.

On July 4, 2011, he published a book of them called Black Cab Wisdom.

His name is Mark Soloman. He is now world famous, since stories have been been written about him far and wide.

I have communicated with him via e-mail.

Nice fella.

Cheers.

Reach him at:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Cab-Wisdom-Mark-Solomon/sim/1849531269/2

I unfortunately have never been to England or London or anywhere I needed my passport for that matter...  I do know that if I went anywhere, I would REALLY like to use a cab.  I DON'T KNOW directions...  If you can't tell me left or right, you might as well save your breathe, because I'm going to get lost.  I can thank my mother for my inability to navagate because she thinks everything is on or off of just one street.  Hmph.  I guess I can be thankful that I'm not that bad.

My first experience on my own with a London cab was when I arrived from the airport and wanted a cab to Brompton Mews where my friend lived (I cannot believe I remembered that--I know its erroneonous information )...first driver "You don't need a cab..its only 6 blocks that way Miss," I was politely told as an another passenger got in. Next cab in the line "You don't need a cab Miss" but I have luggage and I am so tired. One last try.

It was a lovely walk right past the Victoria and Albert and I felt quite good as I arrived at my friends' flat.

I wonder if the advent of the GPS will have an influence on licensing regulationso and the need for Hippcampus.

..Bom Bom Bom England swings like a pendulum do bobbies on bicycles two by two. Westminster Abbey the Tower of Big Ben the rosy red cheeks of the little children  My favorite line with wife and baby in tow way back in the 1980's in my southern drawl was "221B Baker Street, bud". Just smiled and got me there. Seemed elementary to him.

Our London cab driver kind of adopted us ignorant Americans when we were there.  He became our tour guide and friend teaching us things English and worrying that we would be okay once we left London.

I have never actuallly seen (nor would I fully understand) the London taxi driver's exam. I do have a copy of the New York City exam. Suffice it to say that it makes the Nee York bar exam look like a walk in the park. I've been an intermittent bidder on auctions for London taxis for years. There are newer variants that are essentially replicas of the look of the eaingular feature thatrlier cabs, save for the fact that they have automatic transmissions, ir conditioning, and no oxcart suspension system. The earlier variants, however, are my weakness. Riley Princesses look like miniature Rolls Royces or Bentleys.....

Its interesting to me BERT that the NYC taxi driver's exam is difficult. As a life long NYC cab passenger I believe that perhaps actually passing the exam is not part of the process! In the old days there were professional cab drivers as in London but now it would behoove you to know your route.

CD ~ I have a theory about that. I think one person actually takes the exam and many, many use the license.

Not to be unromantic or anything ...... but don't we now have cell phones and car after-market gizmos with GPS for things like this?

I went to London with my Dad when I was 14. He was there on business--we stayed at the Savoy and I ate at the Savoy Grill.  Unforgettable. I did take some taxi rides.  I went to see tennis at Wimbleton and I saw Prince Phillip play polo.  Not a normal experience for a 14 year old.  Last weekend I made a quiche using Chef Deb's recipe, modified by Rusty's comments about prebaking the crust.  I think I'll have the left overs for lunch today. Very satifsying. Thanks for posting.

The taxi ride I remember the best happened when I was somewhere around 16. I had to get to one of the New York airports, I don't remember where or why, but I do remember that I had a lot of luggage. I struggled to get all my gear in and out of the cab--the cabbie didn't help me at all. What I remember is that after he let me out and I had struggled to get all my luggage together, he yelled at me for not giving him a tip, he said something like no tip for me lady? I was too young and intimidated to tell him why. I just scowled at him.  I think it was that trip where I realized it is not a good idea to travel with more than what you can carry by yourself.  I'm much better at that now.

I, too, made ChefDEb's recipe over the weekend.....yum!!  When is that cookbook coming out?  ****I think at least 99% of New York cabbies picked up their driving "skills" in Pakistan.  Karachi traffic/drivers are totally insane!!  Right out of the airport is the trickiest part of any trip.  You're disoriented and usually tired and dazed.  That's when you really need a taxi.  But that's also when you really need an honest driver, no matter what country or city you're in.

I have never had a problem with a black cab anywhere in the UK, I did have problems once in a while with "mini" cabs and if I ever make it back I'm sticking with the tried and true.  There are cities where I won't take taxis...Paris, Prague, Pittsburgh...I think I'm starting to see a trend...

Little jump-seats, for want of the proper term, in London taxis are time-out-of-mind wonderful, and enable them to hold more passengers.  But then, I loved every moment in England, and was dragged, kicking and screaming, away. So I am biased....
 
Yet and still, I'm with JP on this one: iconic indeed as is that taxi, its driver should be entitled to play by the usual rules during the Olympics.  Thank you, JP, for the fascinating tale of preparation to drive one.  So like the Brits.
 
Someone mentioned the map of the tube: Such a thing of beauty is it, I wish I'd bought one. 

Chef Debs recipe was very good . our daughter said she would do it and it turned out better that I expected. A chilled viognier from Wa.State was a great companion. Thanks for the recipe.

Nachista--funny about the P cities and cabs...  is it a Peterman thing????  I think the cabs in Prague are better than they used to be.  I wasn't ever ripped off when I was there, but my companions were once.  Paris cabs--a lot of the drivers are great, but the problem is when you call a cab they start the meter from where they are, so you can enter a cab and see 5 to 10  or more Euros already on the meter. My husband goes nuts if it's anything over 5.  Can't say I've been to Pittsburgh, but I'll remember your advice.

http://www.amazon.com/London-Underground-Map-Poster-Print/dp/B000UZS00C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1338309016&sr=8-3

I Marjorie, I think it boils down to regulated vs. unregulated cabs really.  Prague and Paris I got ripped off by people thinking they'd take the American on the "scenic route" and then refused to open the trunk and let me get my luggage until I'd tipped them.  Pittsburgh I had 2 cabs both of which got lost and then got in fender benders and left the meters running while they were out yelling at the other person involved in the accident.  But it has years since I've been on a real vacation somewhere so maybe it has all changed. 
 
I've found if you have a friend in the area you are visiting and they can't collect you at the airport or train station, get a reference for a cab company from them.  I did so in Glasgow about 10 years ago and the company my friend recommended was about half the price of all the other cab companies I'd used.

I'm with the Cabbies - Do they have a Union? There's some WI state reps I will gladly send over to help (12 to be exact). They seem to be on the side of the Unions.

Never been to London the Cabs in Moscow tho are a fun ride.

Does anyone else have the scene from European Vacation running thru their minds? Look Kids Big Ben Parliament....

I took a cab to London bridge. Fell down, somewhere in Arizona. I won't make that mistake again.

Georgia .... Me too

CAROL, MARJORIE, RWH1...so glad you enjoyed the quiche. RWH1, what were you dubious about?

I wonder what kind of hippocampus the drivers of those little green VW taxis in Mexico City attend?  I think I would add those to Nachista's P - list.

Do cab drivers make a salary, get a small hourly wage (like restaurant servers) or do they rely only on tips for income? Does the cab company pay for the gas?  I am totally ignorant on this subject.  I have never been to London, but have always wanted to go...been to large cities in the U.S....NYC many times, and take cabs at times, although I'm a huge fan of public transportation.  My thought is if the Cabbies in London don't want to work the Olympics, they shouldn't be forced to.  On the other hand, if they choose not to, would they be giving up a "boat-load" of cash in tip $$?

Forgot...Hippcampus...is that like U.C Berkely in the 60's? 

Does anyboyd remember the TV series "Taxi"?  It had Judd Hirsch and Danny DeVito and a host of others...........I always enjoyed that show and will never forget the episode where Jim is trying to take his driver's exam--and has to have a little help.  I remember laughing so hard my sides ached.....it probably would be only faintly amusing now, but I certainly the laughs then.....

I just did a reread of my early morning post, and.....egads! No more trying to dictate prose from my handheld device, fat finger syndrome sets in, and I need a jeweler's eyepiece to properly proofread the copy.

Don't worry,  Bert~ it's just a variation on Berting. Always great to hear from you. x

Has anybody seen that mutt Floyd? And is anybody cooking for the train? I have a cauldron of chicken soup and some garlic bread to share.

I'm thinking thesepia train is in for repairs...I don't know for certain, though...it's been quite a while since the last adventure.  I thought last time that the seat covers could use replacing, as well as some of the china, and the glassware -especially the glassware - we're very hard on glassware, we should be ashamed but we don't have to be because it's thesepia train glassware, so all's okay.  But we can't go on a decent adventure without the accessories, so maybe that's where the train went.  With Floyd on it, probably.  He has an incredible fondness for thesepia and its creator... that soup sounds wonderful Hazel, keep a stash of it ready for traveling once the train comes back - and it will I just know it - we'll have a fete in the club car, featuring soups, and yours will be featured.  I happen to have a pot of rustic potato onion on the stove right now, it's the cheapest best soup I've ever made and I've made it a lot as well as garlic bread, and a caesar salad...gee, we need to find that train and our mutt. Come back home, little traveler, and bring thesepia train back with you....we promise a bone as big as the Ritz waiting for you in your bowl in the caboose.

Thanks, PARK4~
I'm all for soup like 'rustic potato onion' with a few chunks of garlic bread.
 

Park, potato and leek is one of my favorite soups. I just know I'd love your rustic potato onion soup.. and of course, I can't resist garlic bread. You and Hazel are making me hungry.

It was the first time my daughter had attempted quiche.

It's too warm 83+ here for soup to sound tasty.......I did do a pulled pork in the crock pot, however, and a baby bok choy salad and some scalloped taters...........ice cream for dessert..

I'm off to bed. Nos da dear people. x

Nos da, Hazel xx

My trips to London always include cab rides and I much prefer the London black taxis to the others. Those drivers are lovely, interesting and the actually do know everything. Once I wanted to find a particular little (tiny) shop that sold special kinds of potpourri. The driver knew it and took me there in short order. I didn't even know the NAME of it. And they know interesting things such as how the drive to the entrance of the Savoy is the only street in London where the traffic drives on the right side of the road so that a taxi pulls up to the door with the driver and passenger on the doorman's side. London wouldn't be the same without them!

Carol ~ Remember it? Lived it. What does a yellow light mean?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvn-tBeLpCk

My trip to London was all delight...yes, took black cabs everywhere, as time was short, and then the tube once to get across the city. We stayed in the Ritz, so were close enough to walk to lots of nearby sights.

We hired a lady cabbie/guide to drive us to Canterbury and she gave history and verse all the way and back.

Loved walking the little winding streets that seemed almost alleys, but had a pub somewhere on every one. Hope to go back before too long. I'm not getting any younger. I do think the cab drivers have a point, but considering the narrow streets and the need to get athletes, judges, and ticket holders to venues, you can understand the Olympic committee's rules.

We had that issue when the Olympics were here in Atlanta in 1996 and the traffic kept some athletes from making their events! Our traffic is bad any time, but during the Olympics there are soooo many more visitors....I can't imagine how London will manage to get everyone where they need to be! Seems they could organize the cabs and pay them to be part of the transportation scheme.....(?)

When our New York cabbie looked to be in the wrong lane for the Midtown tunnel, I asked what his plan was.
He mumbled something about a sinus condition that made the tunnel impossible.
When I told him that we paid the same amount every trip to La Guardia and it didn't matter to us whether his tip got used up in miles and minutes or not, he took the tunnel and survived.
One guy dropped us at the corner instead of going around the block and pulling in front of the building and his tip was in the odd coins making up part of one dollar.

Carol...yummmm