3 pesos trick

[tunafish]

just wanted to share my experience with this type of scheme in late night Havana. We were attending a Buena Vista concert in Rosalia Castro hotel/theater and were going back to the ship at about 2330. just as you exit - there are tons of offers for a taxi and I negotiated with one guy who said he has classic car ready for us. They wanted 20 CUC but the top fare there is 10, so he agreed on ten. when we get into the car , I realized he has a driver also, so the guy was in the front passenger seat. when we arrived I handed him 10 CUC bill over the front row bench that immediately disappeared in the dark and he pulled the 3 pesos bill of CUP currency to show me saying this is what I paid him demanding I "actually pay 10 CUC" with "correct" money. 

I have some street smarts and I can tell that it was a cheap shot. They did have any intention to harm us and wanted to use shock to score some $$$. I can see how it can be very scaring for people who never was in a situation like this. I was thinking for a second what to do as the car did not have the handles to open the back door but did have a window rollers. I was trying not to escalate the situation using the offensive language, so I firmly said to stop playing the game as I paid him correctly. He got out of the car and opened the door for my wife o get out and keep saying "you need to pay more, my friend". I then got out of the car and told him to stop playing the game and we walked away. Cuba does not have guns in circulation and they were clearly testing the ground with us also. Pulling the cell and telling Im calling police would be a good strategy also I think. The best way to make sure you have only one person in the car with you who is the driver. Had zero problems with hiring cabs this way.

[pbenjamin]

The 3 CUP note features a portrait of Che and makes a nice souvenir.