The driver must have been a chief in his previous life. He did not say a word or make eye contact, not even as a reply to the destination, corner of 95th and Broadway in Manhattan. He wore a large black fur hat, even inside of the car. His face looked as if it were carved out of incredibly ancient wood. His eyes hidden, very quiet, focused. He used rubbing alcohol straight from a plastic bottle to wash his entire face while driving. He did not use the phone like many others do. He paid for Triboro Bridge toll using his EZ-Pass. (A first in my New York experience.)
He intelligently dodged traffic. Ran two red s where it made sense. (He seemed to report to a different authority.)
When nearly at destination, he used one single word: “WHERE?”
There is no such thing as a typical New York Cabbie.