The art of being RIPPED OFF

a lesson:
if you want to be ripped off big time in a foreign country...just go there. More specifically, just go to Naples, Italy. Take the train to the Napoli central station, where you think you should get off. On your way outside to find a taxi, be surprised by the person inside who says do you want a taxi, then shows you to another person, who then asks where you are going..you show him, and be surprised when he says you are at the wrong station. THEN, be surprised when he takes you, not out front where taxis normally are, but around to the parking lot, where his father smokes in the car. Then be surprised that there isnt a meter in the car to tell you how far you have gone or how much you must pay. Be surprised at how nice he is though. And be surprised at the fact that he offers you a cigarette. Be surprised when he says it will take you 20 minutes to get there. Do the calculation in your head...20 minutes, how many kilometers (question mark...by the way, this computer doesnt have normal punctuation marks), dont be surprised when you guess, especially with the way he is driving, 20 minutes means about 20 to 25 kilometers. Dont be surprised that he says it will be 2 euro per kilometer and then shows you a piece of paper for a second saying this. Be surprised when he shows you the train station you SHOULD have gotten off at. Be surprised when it looks like were going much further than the directions on the hostel website said we should. Dont be surprised when he turns around and basically comes back the way we came. By now, it would be easy to not be surprised by anything. Not after how he drives. Not after I almost died in his car. Not so surprised anymore. But surprised, still, one can be...do not fear. Just wait until he stops the cab and tells you how much. Be surprised when he tells you 200 Euro (which is equal to 300 dollars) for a 20 minute cab ride. Dont be surprised at his reaction when you question this. Dont be surprised when he says that you pay for the way there, and his trip back to the train station. Dont be surprised when he says he told you this. Dont be surprised when you tell him no, you wont pay that, he says yes, you will. Dont be surprised when you tell him you have only 50 Euro, he says okay, we go to the bank. Dont be surprised when you tell him you will give him 20 more, he says no. Dont be surprised that he keeps hounding you for even coins. Dont be surprised that he has his dad get out of the car to get your bag in order to let you know that you should pay 2 more euro for that service. Dont be surprised that when you tell him no, he laughs and pinches you on the cheek. Dont be surprised that this man has just stolen your fucking money, all because you are a stupid, stupid, tourist.