I just plotted a 12 minute journey by car from a [random] hotel to the gallery. Walking would have taken 30 mins - not a great deal of time but the weather may have made the cab ride worth €9.70, with the convenience factor on top.
Taking cabs can be part of the ‘deluxe’ element of being on holiday. A small indulgence well worth the price.
On the other hand, this.
We were in Milan, and due in Paris for another shoot. My boss said “Kid, let’s go by train and eat our way there.” Great idea. Our producer told us we didn’t need to make reservations, just turn up and go. The trains were booked solid.
We took a cab to the airport in something of a rush to try for a flight leaving soon for Paris. Lew made for the ticket desk. I rounded up the gear and paid the cabbie.
This was pre-Euro. Italy was still on lire. I discovered that I had paid the cabbie 10x the fare - all those zeros on lire notes. I dashed outside to see scores- hundreds - of yellow Fiats. There had been trade fairs and every cab in Milan was shuttling to and from the airport.
I 'fessed up. Lew took it very well - we had bigger problems.
We were still at the airline desk when the cabby appeared and paid me back the excess I’d given him …
Or equally musée d’orsay to notre dame metro is one stop on the RER for €2.55, about 10 minutes. Or similar price but slower on bus 72 where you can look at sights on your way.
Now that I’m aware of this scam I’ve started noticing how much rests on trust. We were in a bar the other night in Germany and the waiting staff with the handheld terminals didn’t actually show the amount to the persons paying at any stage. No one was scammed to my knowledge. But it would be very easy to do.
I spent a lot of time in Paris on business, for many years at least once a month. Often just a taxi ride from CDG to our La Défense offices, overnight in the hotel Scribe and back to CDG. The reason I’d stay in the Scribe rather than the very convenient Sofitel in La Défense was because Paris is such a “walkable” city. Instead of being stuck in La DéfenseI would amble out, walk for a hour or so, find somewhere small and homely to eat in and then amble back.
I prefer to think positively about people…
He’s a hard-worker and a nice guy… nothing I’ve seen/heard about him gives me any pause for thought about legalities… and I’ve known him for years.
I think tax evasion is far more embedded in ‘the system” than a honest soul like yourself may realise Jane. In the South the nod, nod, wink, wink economy is thriving and I’m sure small businesses and AEs are not exempt.
Italy used to be the epitome of the parallel economy. That was fixed when it was mandated that receipts must be issued and the financial police started stopping people exiting shops asking to see them, with penalties for the vendor and customer. It has turned everything around.
I think in Europe the tax compliance deteriorates the further south one goes.
I agree, I had to do a weeks formation when I started my first AE. The question was raised about putting everything through and the teacher said that most would not declare around 30% as otherwise it was so hard to make ends meet. I was shocked at the time but now get it.
And that was the teacher I’m always going on that there are the “rules” and there are local (either national, regional or communal) customs and practices. You can find out the “rules” easily enough, it is only by talking to locals you’ll find out what is really observed and what is not. After doing that, based on one’s appetite for risk, one can decide where on the scale to land
I’ve a little (missing) planning permission issue I’ve been mulling over for five or six years. It’s only a patio so nothing serious, but I’m continuing to take local advice and mull some more before talking to the powers that be. If I mull long enough the problem could disappear.
And that was the teacher 
