Standing up for a cause....

Things are changing here in Cusco.  Whilst many of the changes are for the better, it's clear that tourists have added to life in a different way.  Most things here are cheap by our standards - our money can go a long way.  So when things are so cheap, we (tourists) don't mind paying a little extra - and in doing so, we inflate the price for everyone. 

Which is the case with taxi fares.  There are no meters - just stand prices for certain areas.  The standard price from where we live to the plaza or our school is s/3 - but because we are 'gringos' we tend to get charged a little more - s/3.50 or even s/5.  Not much more, and really wouldn't mind paying it - but, it's the principle. 

So when we hail a taxi, we tell the driver our destination, and if he's willing to take the fare we jump in.  He may then tell us his price, and if it's more than s/3 we jump out and send him on his way.  I think our record so far is ..... 2 times jumping into a taxi and jumping out before we got one at the right fare.  Our instructions are 'not to ask the price' - jump in, say our destination, and at the end of the journey, pay what we have been told is the fair price.  It works sometimes.  Zac does all this really well - and often sets us on our way each morning to school - like a good boy!  But on other trips, we have done the negotiation ourselves - and have been known to jump out and dismiss the driver - standing up for a cause. 

Price of fuel here is between s/12 - s/15 per gallon!!!!!  (not per litre) - as explained by my communication teacher. 

When in Iquitos, our moto-taxi pulled into a service station to refuel.  We were asked to hop out while this happened.  We had no sooner hopped out than we were asked to hop back in .... he had put s/2 of fuel into his motorbike!!!!  About s/3 to a $1!!!  But off we went again.  It's all an experience..