In a cab in Podgorica, Montenegro.
Driver (thick accent, reasonable English): Where are you from?
Me: England. Cambridge.
Driver: Ah you like football? [Not the normal reaction when I mention Cambridge, I have to say]
Me: Yes
D: I like Manchester United
Me: Mm-hmmm. (thinks: Oh, how original)
D: Your home town team are very good
Me: (surprised) Cambridge Utd?
D: Yes, they are top of the league
Me: they are in the fifth division.
D: yes, but top
Me: No, I'm sure they aren't [wonders what's going on here]. I think Aldershot are.
D: Ah yes, Aldershot. But they lost yesterday, to Salisbury.
Me: Really? [Incredulous at the fact that a Montenegran taxi driver should have this information at his fingertips]
D: Yes, but I think still top.
[Driver's phone rings]
D: (stream of Slavic conversation) blah blah blah Gil Vicente blah blah blah (apparent expletive) blah blah Gil Vicente blah blah blah. [Hangs up]
Me: Did you say Gil Vicente?
D: yes, I am betting.
Me: Do you want them to win or lose?
D: I need someone to score in the first half. That's all.
Me: [Speechless]
D: All Montenegrans are betting very much. Today big problem, lot of betting in French league. I hate this league, not good results.
[Phone]
D: Blah blah blah. Gil Vicente nula nula? (excited) blah blah blah. (Hangs up). Gil Vicente score. Very good.
It went on like this for some time more with reference to Salamanca, getafe and AEK Athens, all of whom he also had money on. The number of betting shops here is insane though. They're like Starbucks in the average US city.
Driver (thick accent, reasonable English): Where are you from?
Me: England. Cambridge.
Driver: Ah you like football? [Not the normal reaction when I mention Cambridge, I have to say]
Me: Yes
D: I like Manchester United
Me: Mm-hmmm. (thinks: Oh, how original)
D: Your home town team are very good
Me: (surprised) Cambridge Utd?
D: Yes, they are top of the league
Me: they are in the fifth division.
D: yes, but top
Me: No, I'm sure they aren't [wonders what's going on here]. I think Aldershot are.
D: Ah yes, Aldershot. But they lost yesterday, to Salisbury.
Me: Really? [Incredulous at the fact that a Montenegran taxi driver should have this information at his fingertips]
D: Yes, but I think still top.
[Driver's phone rings]
D: (stream of Slavic conversation) blah blah blah Gil Vicente blah blah blah (apparent expletive) blah blah Gil Vicente blah blah blah. [Hangs up]
Me: Did you say Gil Vicente?
D: yes, I am betting.
Me: Do you want them to win or lose?
D: I need someone to score in the first half. That's all.
Me: [Speechless]
D: All Montenegrans are betting very much. Today big problem, lot of betting in French league. I hate this league, not good results.
[Phone]
D: Blah blah blah. Gil Vicente nula nula? (excited) blah blah blah. (Hangs up). Gil Vicente score. Very good.
It went on like this for some time more with reference to Salamanca, getafe and AEK Athens, all of whom he also had money on. The number of betting shops here is insane though. They're like Starbucks in the average US city.
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