Crazy Service Stories from Beirut

To get a cab, or not to get a cab? That is the question. When you don’t have a car, and you’re wearing 6-inch heels, you don’t have much of a choice. Sometimes your encounter with a Beirut service is exciting, other times it’s annoying, and pretty much everyone’s taken a ride that’s been downright scary. Five people share their stories about taking a service ride in Beirut which was a lot more than they bargained for.

“I was in a cab one night and the a**hole sitting in the passenger seat offered the driver $100 to drop me and him off at the nearest hotel. I have never been so scared and humiliated in my entire life. It must have been my screaming that made them stop the car and let me out after a while.”
– Anonymous, 22

“I actually like service drivers and rides in Lebanon. The chauffer always has an interesting story to tell. I was coming home late one night and getting a ride home from this oddball of a cab driver. I don’t usually get scared, but he started making strange sounds and movements with his mouth like he was chewing on metal. Soon enough, he opened his mouth and showed me the small razor blades he keeps hidden in his mouth for self-defense. How he never cuts himself, I have absolutely no clue!”
– Tarek, 28

“About a year ago I got in a service during the daytime. You don’t expect anything to happen during the day but it did. I sat in the middle of the backseat and two random dudes got in a few blocks after me, and sat on either side of me. After a few moments of awkward silence, one of the men held a gun to me and forced me to hand over my phone and wallet. I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter so I did as they said. The driver must have been in on it because he didn’t react at all. At least they let me keep my SIM card. Maybe thieves aren’t so bad after all. 😛
– Faisal, 22

“Once during the summer I took a cab and sat in the backseat. The passenger seat was pushed forward and there was a small piece of paper taped to the seatbelt that read ‘If you don’t close your legs, you don’t have to pay ;)’ As soon as I read it, I realized that I never got a chance to check if the license plate was red. It was probably a bad day to wear one of my shortest skirts. At least it was still light out. I was relieved when the young driver didn’t take any wrong turns.”
– Laura, 23

“About two months after Christmas last year, the roads were quite empty and I got in a service with the oldest, strangest driver I have ever seen. He was wearing overalls with absolutely nothing underneath and a Santa hat. He started poking his head out the window and yelling “Happy Christmas” and “Papa Noel” between coughs to every passerby he saw. We barely rode a few meters before the other passenger got out of the car. I couldn’t be left alone with this bozo. I told him I forgot something and hopped out. I probably should have told him he was a bit late for Christmas.”
– Nadine, 25