Meeting Strangers And Catching The Travel Bug: A Day In The Life Of A Maltese Taxi Driver
We all know that traffic on our small island is a big problem, and it’s also something we like to complain about from time to time. But what if your job meant you were in traffic all of the time?
How does that feel and what are the challenges and rewards? We spoke to Saviour Agius, a local taxi driver from Msida, who gave us a bit of an insight into his day.
“My day starts early,” Saviour smiles. “I’ll grab a coffee and a bite to eat and then I’m off. Traffic is already starting to get bad from 7am, so I like to be on the road just before then to get a head start.”
On an island where traffic is currently the butt of many a joke and complaint, how does one go about wanting to become a taxi driver?
“I’ve been working as a taxi driver for seven years now,” Saviour says. “I was doing something completely different before, but I’m a really sociable person, so I love meeting new people all of the time and I love driving. Cars are a big passion of mine, so getting to drive a lot is something I enjoy.”
“I mostly drive tourists around,” he continues. “I love being able to show them our beautiful island, recommend nice restaurants or beaches, and take them to the top tourist destinations like Mdina, Mosta, Rabat and Ta’Qali. In the last five years, I have noticed an increase in the number of people who ask to be taken to various government buildings so they can register to live in Malta. On the drive, I find out a bit more about why they want to move here. Mostly it’s because Malta has always been known as a safe haven – a place where people will be welcomed. British people also have a strong connection with Malta and love the fact that it is a home from home, but with a lot more sunshine!”
“I love meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures and trying to learn new things from everyone I meet, and being a taxi driver has encouraged me to travel to other countries”
“I’ve been to Thailand twice in the past few years, as well as Spain, Italy and the UK,” Saviour said. “Talking to tourists so much has really given me a travel bug and I have loads more trips planned. Another thing I love about my job is taking part in our annual charity event, where 70 of our taxis take young people who are orphaned or under-privileged in some way out for a 12-hour taxi ride. They get breakfast and are driven to destinations sure to put a smile on their faces, such as Splash and Fun and Esplora. We end the day with a party for them. It’s a great way for us to give back and the young people can forget their worries for one day, at least.”
But being on Maltese roads all the time does have its disadvantages… particularly one very predictable one
“The worst part of my job? You guessed it – traffic!” Saviour laughs nervously. “It seems to be getting worse in Malta. Although I know a few sneaky shortcuts, a lot of people are catching on to these too, so I’m always trying to find new ones to stay ahead of the curve. Oh and no; I won’t be sharing them with you guys!”
“I also work long days and sometimes it can get boring waiting around for new customers to come along if jobs are particularly far apart,” he continues. “I pick up about eight customers per day. This is because some of them book tours with me that can take several hours. Others just need to go to the airport. Sometimes I do more trips if customers leave things in my taxi, which is fairly common. Passports, phones and wallets are the main offenders!”
“People come up with some really unbelievable and clearly made-up excuses for ‘forgetting’ their wallets”
“One person said their dog was so highly trained to fetch, that it must have pinched it out of their pocket when they bent down to get their bag,” Saviour recounts. “I insisted on driving them back home to get it and kept talking about how I understood their dog’s love of the smell of money. They got a bit flustered, but I pretended I believed their story!”
“Being a taxi driver means you get to learn a lot of people’s secrets – who they might be meeting that they shouldn’t, telephone conversations that are really quite private,” Saviour continues. “Some people seem to think that you’re deaf because you’re driving them around. I’m a true professional so it isn’t a problem, but being a tax driver is great if you’re nosey!”
“My day can end at any time really,” Saviour concludes. “Sometimes I work into the early hours of the morning, other times I’m finished before 6pm. Because I’m self-employed, I can choose the hours I work. I try to keep a good balance because I love to socialise and unwind after work. In the summer, I like to be able to catch the last of the sun with a BBQ by the sea, loads of beer and good friends. It’s always nice when someone else is the designated driver!”
Featured Image Original Photo by VisitGozo.com
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