U Eko taxiju sam već osam godina i svakodnevno mi se događaju vrlo zanimljivi susreti i neobične vožnje, ali jutros sam ostao prilično iznenađen strankama koje sam vozio od Glavnog željezničkog kolodvora u Zagrebu do Zračne luke Franjo Tuđman.
Mislio sam da se radi o još jednoj običnoj vožnji...
U vozilo mi je ušla grupa stranaca. Mislio sam da se radi o još jednoj uobičajenoj vožnji u kojoj će mi turisti reći da kasne na let, uzeti mobitele, tablete ili laptope u ruke i ne progovoriti više nijednu riječ zbog uživljenosti u slanje poruka, mailova i beskonačnog scrollanja po društvenim mrežama.
No, ne znam ni sam kako, ali odmah smo počeli pričati o tome odakle stižu, kamo idu i zašto su uopće u Hrvatskoj. Ispostavilo se da se radi o profesorima iz Švicarske koji su u Hrvatskoj bili na akademskoj razmjeni i to baš u Ravnoj Gori, odakle mi je mama. Ispričali su mi da su oduševljeni Hrvatskom i malom mjestu u kojem su proveli nekoliko mjeseci te da su uspjeli istražiti i okolicu te malo i proputovati po Hrvatskoj, iako ovdje nisu došli na odmor.
Nevjerojatne slučajnosti
Kad sam pomislio da je Ravna Gora i prevelika slučajnost, ostao sam pozitivno šokiran još jednom informacijom. Oni su, naime, iz švicarskog grada Winterthur, u kojem sam i sam rođen! Kad sam im to rekao, mislili su da se šalim s njima. Ipak, prosječna osoba ne zna o Winterthuru onoliko koliko ja znam, pa sam ih pitao za neka specifična mjesta u gradu. Tad su mi povjerovali.
Od svih mnogobrojnih taksija koji čekaju na željezničkom kolodvoru, oni su ušli baš u moj... Koliko se toga moralo savršeno poklopiti da se mi sretnemo! Osim što nam je svima vožnja proletjela u trenu, do zračne luke smo se već sprijateljili i razmijenili brojeve telefona, a ja sam ih pozvao ovo ljeto na Cres. Obećali su da će doći.
Uljepšali su mi dan i još dugo neću zaboraviti ovaj susret. Upravo zbog ovakvih priča volim svoj posao. Društven sam, volim dinamiku i svakodnevno otkrivanje grada te razgovore s različitim ljudima koji vode zanimljive živote. Unatoč povremenim teškoćama, mislim da sam našao posao koji savršeno odgovara mom karakteru, zbog kojeg ne volim biti na jednom mjestu i u monotonoj okolini. I uostalom, gdje još možete doživjeti ovakvu priču kao ja danas?
I have been working for Eko Taxi for eight years now and there are very interesting encounters and unusual rides every day, but this morning I was rather surprised by the customers I drove from Zagreb's Main Train Station to the airport Franjo Tudjman.
I thought it was just another regular ride
A group of foreigners entered the car. I thought it was just another customary ride in which tourists would tell me that they are late for flight, take mobile phones, tablets or laptops in their hands, and silently continue sending messages, emails and scroll through social media.
I don’t know how or why, but we started talking about where they came from, where they went and why they were in Croatia. It turned out to be professors from Switzerland who were in the academic exchange in Croatia, in the village Ravna Gora, where my mom is from. They told me that they were delighted with Croatia and a small place where they spent a couple of months, and that they were able to explore the surrounding area and travel a little bit, even though they did not come here for vacation.
Incredible coincidences
When I thought that Ravna Gora is too much of a coincidence, I was still shocked by another piece of information. They are, of course, from the Swiss city of Winterthur, where I was born! When I told them, they thought I was joking with them. Still, the average person does not know about Winterthur as much as I know, so I asked them about some specific places in town. Then they believed me.
Of all the many cabs waiting at the train station, they got into my own ... How many things had to be perfectly aligned, so we could meet?! Driving passed so quickly for all of us, we became friends and exchanged phone numbers on our way to the airport, and I invited them to come to the island of Cres this summer. They promised to come.
They made my day, and will never forget this encounter. Because of such stories I love my job. I am outgoing, I love the dynamics and everyday discovery of the city, and conversations with different people who are living interesting lives. Despite the occasional difficulties, I think I've found a job that perfectly matches my character. I don’t like being in one place and in a monotonous environment. Besides, where can you experience such a story as I did today?
