First night there..we're staying at a hotel out on the beach..can't remember the name..we couldn't get a rent- a car at the airport..told they were all gone..so we took a taxi...I'm somewhat gregarious on vacation, and tend to overtip those I like....was joking with the bellman who took our bags into the hotel..we had a dinner resrvation that night at the floating Indonesian restaurant in town..really neat place..wonderful food...I asked the bellman how long a ride it was..he told me, then suggested that his brother was a wonderul cab driver, and he'd be happy to arrange to have his brother pick us up at 8:30 that night..I figured that I was being scammed a bit, but always enjoy someone with a good spiel...so I readily concurred..That night, we;re dressed, come down to tthe hotel lobby at 8:25..there are are about 75 coupeles in the lobby screaming and yelling because there are NO cabs, and they all have to get to restaurants all over the island..I see MY doorman..he waves at me..calls us out to the front of the hotel..waves his arm..his brother and his taxi appear right in front..and there are 50 or so dumbstruck people looking at us like we must be royalty or something..It was station wagon, so after my wife was seated, I turned to the mob, announce where we were going said that we could take 4 more with us Two couples jumped in..turned out to be a wonderful evening...they were all really nice..and they wouldn't let me pay for either the cab both ways..because of course "MY" cab met us for the return ride..and our diner.. we spent several nights with them both that week...
oh so you are a gran poohbah on Aruba ; ) great story!