Podcast: Meet a London black cab driver

How's it going? Hoje eu falo pra vocês sobre uma pessoa que conheci no fim de semana: a black cab driver.

Transcrição

How's it going? This is the new episode of the Inglês Online podcast.

Please subscribe to this podcast using the Podcasts app for iPhone or iPad, or listen to the episodes using the Inglesonline Android app.

a black cab in London

Thanks for all the comments at the iTunes store and if you haven't yet left a comment for this podcast please do so: the more comments for the Inglês Online podcast, the more people will find out about it and listen to the episodes.

Thank you for telling your friends, your neighbours, your family and keep listening.

Today I'm gonna tell you about an acquaintance I made over the weekend. I went for a guided walk in central London, with a group, and as we waited for other people to arrive at the meeting point I struck up a conversation with this guy David.

He was born and raised in London, and now lives near Heathrow airport. He told me that he will soon be moving to a nice area further up north. I then asked him about what his commute was going to be like after he moved house, and he said that it doesn't really matter since he drives a black cab. So that's his occupation: he drives a black cab.

He told me that he had to pass a test in order to be qualified as a black cab driver. He studied for three years - yes, that's three years - to prepare for the exam. Just to give you an idea, David had to memorise over three hundred routes in London. Basically, you've got to know the map of London by heart, as well as all the important landmarks and buildings. Twenty-five thousand streets... How about that?

In London you have the choice of black cabs and mini-cabs. Black cabs are the more expensive option and now I understand why. The driver of a black cab is highly qualified and chances are better that, you know, you're not going to be ripped off or run into any sort of trouble. With that said, there are good reputable minicab firms as well - but it's a lot easier to become a minicab driver than it is to be licensed and qualified to be a black cab driver, so... It's just less risky to hop into a black cab than a minicab.

While we were walking, I told David where I live in London - it's an area called West Norwood which most people haven't heard of, but he obviously knew immediately where it was. Not only that, but he knew there was a somewhat famous cemetery in West Norwood, and he ended up giving me a few tips on local attractions that I could visit.

David then told me about his trip to the United States a while ago. I think he visited seven or eight cities, and his favourite one was New York, and the least favourite one was San Francisco.

So there you go: now you know a little bit about the life of a black cab driver in London. What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments and talk to you next time!

Vocabulário

a guided walk = uma caminhada com um(a) guia, que vai comentando os pontos de interesse durante o passeio

struck up a conversation = comecei a conversar

after he moved house = depois que ele mudasse de casa

commute = "viagem" ou trajeto, geralmente para o trabalho (e do trabalho para casa)

be ripped off = ser explorado

<a href="http://www.nytimes.