Three of us were on our way to Seville, Spain, very sure of ourselves as we headed to the "wonderful" hotel a friend of ours had recommended. The fact that he had been there five years before, did not bother us--as we thought--this is Spain, how much can change in five years. So we didn't give it any further thought.
We got our luggage, and headed for a taxi. We got this big taxi, driven by a middle-aged man, who seemed quite nice and chatty, giving us a kind of tour as he drove us, telling us little facts about places as he drove past them. Then he asked us what hotel we were going to--we gave him the name and address.
He suddenly got very quiet, then he spoke in a serious voice---I would not want to take you there, that neighborhood and that hotel are not good, they have seen better times. We said --oh no...this hotel was highly recommended to us...He turned to face us, look--you seem like nice people, I could not live with myself if I bring you there, but I tell you what-- I'll bring you there and go in with you, and if you don't like it I can show you a better hotel in a nicer neighborhood. We agreed and he took us to the hotel.
Look, he said, so you don't think I want to steal your luggage, I'll go in with you. So all four of us went into the hotel. And--oh my....we saw a shocking sight, something I thought you only saw in the movies. The place was big and very, very empty, the front desk was literally covered with about an inch of dust --all over--cobwebs were dangling from everywhere. The woman who was --I guess--the concierge, seemed as shocked to see us as we were to see her. At first she was speechless--then she found her voice and said --that ...oh yes...they had plenty of available rooms. Then we noticed on the side, this creepy looking man--just eying us--the same way a hungry tiger eyes his next meal.
The taxi driver gave us this knowing look---you see, I told you so. We did not need to see anything more, we practically ran out of that place and into the taxi. OK we said, where is this other hotel you mentioned. This unassuming man, then drove us to one the nicest hotel in Seville. And told us to enjoy our vacation in Spain, when we tried to pay him, he would not take our money.
We told him, but you saved us and our vacation, please take the money. No, he said, my payment is the knowledge that you will always remember Spain and at least some of its people in a good way; and with that he drove away. He was right, we will always remember him and his unselfish kindness.
