How do we pronounce.......y las guerras de los taxis
by Ironwood 
, Monday, February 03, 2025, 11:42 (485 days ago)
edited by Ironwood, Monday, February 03, 2025, 12:09
"Bajaj".....stickers I've seen on the backs of several pick-up trucks in town.
Ba-ha-ha? Ba-ha-dja? What's it mean?
A friend was told that one word to describe this holiday weekend was "el puente" or maybe "al puente".....which I guess makes sense as a "bridge" to the next week. But when I tried the word on a couple of taxistas, they both blamed the crowds (in Spanish) on the fishing tournament. I doubt most of the national tourists are here for that reason.
Yesterday, as we walked from Paty's Marimar toward the taxi stand further up the street, a taxi which had just dropped off customers at Paty's stopped beside us, asking if we wanted a taxi. Knowing full-well what the outcome would be, I said "Si" and we got in. Immediately a very large taxista stepped into the street up ahead of us and yelled "Hey" and I said to my spouse "watch this." As we turned the corner toward the Thompson, several taxistas yelled at our driver. Another taxi blocked our forward progress, while another did the same in the back. Our driver explained/pleaded his case, several times using the word "caminando".....to no avail. Obviously, we had to get out of the taxi
and into another.
We understood the issue clearly. The system, however, is really puzzling. It appears those taxis at the stand in question sit there for hours, waiting for a fare. We use those taxis 4,5 or 6 times a week.....and all they get is their posted rate of 70 pesos to Centro. (The officially-sanctioned rate may well be less. We pay the 70 pesos.) So a taxi may sit in the queue for several hours....for a 70 peso fare? Sometimes Mexican economics is really puzzling.
How do we pronounce.......
Isn't it a name brand motorcycle?
BTW
Can someone tell me the proper pronunciation of "Xunta." It was
a tapas restaurant in Manhattan, 1st and 10th.
I met a painter in Sevilla, who lived near the place and he corrected me when I said "Shoonta."
He explained that the letter X was similar to the letter J and that
it it should be pronounced "Hoonta."
But then, why did all my Latin American friends say "Shoonta?"
Inquiring minds want to know.
How do we pronounce.......
by frostbite , Hamilton MT, Monday, February 03, 2025, 12:11 (485 days ago) @ Yandosan
I think both pronunciations are wrong. I think the correct pronunciation of both letters is like the German CH, which can't be written in English but sounds a bit like the sound you make when clearing your throat.
How do we pronounce.......
by jaui , Zihuatanejo, Monday, February 03, 2025, 23:00 (484 days ago) @ Yandosan
Isn't it a name brand motorcycle?
BTW
Can someone tell me the proper pronunciation of "Xunta." It was
a tapas restaurant in Manhattan, 1st and 10th.
I met a painter in Sevilla, who lived near the place and he corrected me when I said "Shoonta."
He explained that the letter X was similar to the letter J and that
it it should be pronounced "Hoonta."
But then, why did all my Latin American friends say "Shoonta?"
Inquiring minds want to know.
This reminded me of the Brazilian entertainer XuXa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xuxa
It sounded like when XuXa wa spoken to, it sounded like:
"Shúsha". Other names that begin with an X,
the pronounciation seems to vary somewhat.
Like the female name "Xochitl" (sp?) sounds like they called her Sóchi, fo short.
Definitely can be tricky, Good luck.
How do we pronounce.......y las guerras de los taxis
by ZihuaRob 
, Zihuatanejo, México, Monday, February 03, 2025, 12:25 (485 days ago) @ Ironwood
"Bajaj".....stickers I've seen on the backs of several pick-up trucks in town.
Ba-ha-ha? Ba-ha-dja? What's it mean?
A friend was told that one word to describe this holiday weekend was "el puente" or maybe "al puente".....which I guess makes sense as a "bridge" to the next week. But when I tried the word on a couple of taxistas, they both blamed the crowds (in Spanish) on the fishing tournament. I doubt most of the national tourists are here for that reason.
Yesterday, as we walked from Paty's Marimar toward the taxi stand further up the street, a taxi which had just dropped off customers at Paty's stopped beside us, asking if we wanted a taxi. Knowing full-well what the outcome would be, I said "Si" and we got in. Immediately a very large taxista stepped into the street up ahead of us and yelled "Hey" and I said to my spouse "watch this." As we turned the corner toward the Thompson, several taxistas yelled at our driver. Another taxi blocked our forward progress, while another did the same in the back. Our driver explained/pleaded his case, several times using the word "caminando".....to no avail. Obviously, we had to get out of the taxi
and into another.
We understood the issue clearly. The system, however, is really puzzling. It appears those taxis at the stand in question sit there for hours, waiting for a fare. We use those taxis 4,5 or 6 times a week.....and all they get is their posted rate of 70 pesos to Centro. (The officially-sanctioned rate may well be less. We pay the 70 pesos.) So a taxi may sit in the queue for several hours....for a 70 peso fare? Sometimes Mexican economics is really puzzling.
You did NOT have to get out of that taxi. You do NOT have to use "sitio" taxis just because they tell you to. While I thank you for relating the incident here, the sitio taxi drivers were in the wrong and did not deserve your patronage. The customer is always free to use the taxi of their choice.
"Bajada" means "drop off" in the transportation business. "Bajadas frecuentes" means frequent drop offs, i.e. frequent stops.
How do we pronounce.......y las guerras de los taxis
by Ironwood , Monday, February 03, 2025, 13:45 (485 days ago) @ ZihuaRob
You did NOT have to get out of that taxi.
So easy to say, such a pain in the ass to implement. We have better things to do than spend an hour (or longer) stuck in between sides in a dispute we want no part of. As I said, we use that sitio almost every day. What kind of future reception would we get if we refused to get out of the first cab?
How do we pronounce.......y las guerras de los taxis
by frostbite , Hamilton MT, Monday, February 03, 2025, 13:57 (485 days ago) @ Ironwood
We have always used Pedro Moreno for transportation. He's honest and speaks perfect English. 672-119-2398 or pedro.91477@gmail.com
How do we pronounce.......y las guerras de los taxis
If you knew it was going to cause problems, why did you get into the taxi in the first place?
How do we pronounce.......y las guerras de los taxis
by Craig AKA the cruise ship guy , Tuesday, February 04, 2025, 09:13 (484 days ago) @ Bart
A few years back we would stay at the Azul Grand for a week every October. We became friends with a taxi driver, we would make reservations for dinner or fishing in Zihua with him. He told me the other drivers would make him wait for 2 hours before they would allow him to skip the line but that may have been only for the ride back to the airport. A couple of years ago he showed me their rate sheet which was much higher than the official rates that Rob posts. I still find it hard to believe even with the inflated rates that they can make a living with so much time in between rides. In Cabo the prices got so high Uber came in and is very popular. Hope this does not happen in Zihua, would start a huge fight as it did for a while in Cabo.
How do we pronounce.......y las guerras de los taxis
by Ironwood , Wednesday, February 05, 2025, 17:42 (483 days ago) @ Bart
If you knew it was going to cause problems, why did you get into the taxi in the first place?
I guess I hoped the driver could "run the gauntlet".
But in our defense, he solicited us, not the other way round. Perhaps your question should get directed at him: surely he, of all people, should know "the rules."
Several times over the years we've tried to flag down empty taxis as we walked up towards the "sitio." They usually point up the road to the taxi rank.
