1st time in Coz Mar 22-26th

[rje634]

No taxi, gracias
No taxi, gracias
No taxi, gracias
No taxi, gracias
No taxi, gracias
No taxi, gracias
No taxi, gracias
No taxi, gracias
No taxi, gracias

But I love it just the same.

OH Yeah, How could I forgot about the taxi drivers!
OK OK, so it is just the lesser of two evils.
The taxi drivers tend not to be as agressive as the sales guys.

 

[TheRedHead]

The taxi drivers are very nice...just so many of them on the seaward side. And I can't ignore people either. I'm not wired that way. I spend a lot of time saying "No, gracias."

 

[ggunn]

We just walk on the ocean side of the street, problem solved

I see lots of complaints posted about how much of a nuisance the hawkers are, but really, I don't see what the big deal is. I mean, most of us are rich compared to them, and we bring tons of money (by their standards) to throw around when we go there. I don't see how we can hold it against them that they do what they have to do to try and steer some of it their way.

I am always polite and friendly (though firm) in my refusals, and occasionally I'll stop and talk to them, like the guy I posted about earlier whom I jokingly tried to get to let me give him a tour of his island. Or sometimes I'll stop and ask one of them, "Do I look like a tourist to you?" (Of course I do). It always gets a laugh. These guys do not bother me in the slightest; it's part of the deal.

 

[rje634]

I see lots of complaints posted about how much of a nuisance the hawkers are, but really, I don't see what the big deal is. I mean, most of us are rich compared to them, and we bring tons of money (by their standards) to throw around when we go there. I don't see how we can hold it against them that they do what they have to do to try and steer some of it their way.

I am always polite and friendly (though firm) in my refusals, and occasionally I'll stop and talk to them, like the guy I posted about earlier whom I jokingly tried to get to let me give him a tour of his island. Or sometimes I'll stop and ask one of them, "Do I look like a tourist to you?" (Of course I do). It always gets a laugh. These guys do not bother me in the slightest; it's part of the deal.

I agree with everything you say, I've been hawked all over the Caribbean.
And the hawking doesn't bother me, like you say they're just out to make a living.

However what does start to get mildly annoying is after a polite "No Gracias" the following down the street harassment. And in some very rare cases being called "gringo barato" (cheap american), thinking I wouldn't understand. Which usually gets an apology after a "porque usted llama me barato?" response.
Most are good people just trying to get your attention.
But then this is all part of the Cozumel experience.

 

[TheRedHead]

I admire them; they're so hardworking. I really hate the Nasty Rasties in the USVI demading money from me for no other reason than they think I might have some.