Taxi Driver: Hey, welcome to Boston. I guess you've seen our lovely airport already! Good job making it out alive. Where you headed?

You say: I'm going to Cambridge.

Taxi Driver: Then Cambridge it is.  Here we go.

You say: Is it a long trip?

Taxi Driver: Hey, we're almost there...!  So you heard good things about this town? Planning on going to the North End, right?

You say: Is the north end a good place to go?

Taxi Driver: I love the North End.  It's like Littly It'ly here.  My parents were Italian, you know.  

You say: So were my parents.

Taxi Driver: My parents were Italian, born and raised in Boston. My dad's side is Sicilian, though.  Lots of Sicilians running around there.  Some ugly stuff happens sometimes, you know?    

You say: Ugly stuff?

Taxi Driver: Well, we got some shady business in this town.  

You say: Oh?

Taxi Driver: Yep, I even had some Godfather type in this very cab a couple weeks back.

You say: Wow.

Taxi Driver: Was wanting me to be cruising around to unlit storefronts and other shenanigans.  I told him where he could stick it.

You say: Interesting.

Taxi Driver: He gave me a wad of cash and then took off. 

You say: You think he had anything to do with the mafia?

Taxi Driver: Sheesh.  

You say: What do you mean, sheesh.

Taxi Driver: Hmmm... So, you know about Boston basketball right?

You say: Um, yeah, actually.  What do you think of the Celtics?

Taxi Driver: I give the boys in green a pretty good shot this season, but without Bird, as always, it'll be uphill.

You say: You can say that again.

Taxi Driver: Will you be able to catch a Celts game some time while you're here?

You say: I don't think so, got a tight schedule.

Taxi Driver: Why don't you think so, got a tight schedule?

You say: No, I'm pretty busy.

Taxi Driver: I've got tickets for this Wednesday night.  Gonna be great.  Out with the guys.

You say: Sounds like a plan.

Taxi Driver: Anyways... So, are you into the sports or high culture or what?

You say: Oh, sports, definitely.

Taxi Driver: Sports!  I love 'em.  I am a big basketball fan (whad'ya think of the Celts this season?). But sometimes these days -- you know, I'm gettin' on in years -- I prefer to take a book to the MFA and sit with the Masters in the quiet.  Whatever.

You say: What's the MFA?

Taxi Driver: The MFA is right down that street there.  Anyways, I am realizing I love art.  Those Renaissance masters were really great.  I hate that modern art crap.

You say: Oh, I totally agree. Modern art is terrible.

Taxi Driver: I really like Michelangelo.  And Raphael, and Botticelli.  What do you think of them?

You say: Botticelli is great.

Taxi Driver: Well, speaking of Botticelli, you should read the newspaper.

You say: What's in the paper?

Taxi Driver: Take a look at today's paper.  Seems the Italian government is on the brink of falling apart.  You know why?

You say: No, what happened?

Taxi Driver: Apparently some of the best paitings in the country have been stolen from the museum there in Florence.  

You say: Really?

Taxi Driver: Botticellis, apparently.  He was pretty good I think.  You like art?

You say: Yeah, it's OK.

Taxi Driver: ... Y'know, Boston is a really great city.  Never boring, you know?  Can be filthy and expensive and unpleasant and you can be killed in traffic.  But never boring.

You say: No, it's not.  The traffic is horrible though.

Taxi Driver: No kidding,  They drive like maniacs around... HEY!  OUTTA MY LANE!  So, what was I saying?

You say: We were talking about art.

Taxi Driver: Well, speaking of Botticelli, you should read the newspaper.

You say: Yeah, I just saw it.

Taxi Driver: Interesting...

You say: Yeah it is.

Taxi Driver: Hey! Is that a police car I see?  I think the cops've had their eyes on me lately. Maybe those Italian guys I've had as fares lately. 

You say: Which Italian guys?

Taxi Driver: Well, we got some shady business in this town.  

You say: How so?

Taxi Driver: Well, we got some shady business in this town.  

You say: Oh?

Taxi Driver: Well, we got some shady business in this town.  

You say: You already told me that.

Taxi Driver: Well, we got some shady business in this town.  

You say: Hey!

Taxi Driver: Well, we got some shady business in this town.  

You say: You have a bug!

Taxi Driver: Well, we got some shady business in this town.  

You say: I want to get out!

Taxi Driver: Well, we got some shady business in this town.  

You say: Let me out!

Taxi Driver: OK.  Need a hand with that bag?  Have a good one.