Christmas Taxi

Carriage: Taxicab taxi drivers light up Raleigh with Christmas mood.

Robinett, 66, has been a Taxi Taxi of Raleigh chauffeur for about three years. The last two he has dressed up his taxi for the holiday season and wrapped it in several chains of light strings that are neatly fastened with watertight straps. That year, it took Robinett about 20 long tedious work to place about 9,100 heads above every centimeter of his Toyota Prius in a lattice design that still allows humans to get in and out of the car, he said.

ROBINET said he had about 4,000 candles on his taxi last year because he thought it would be more enjoyable than redecorating his home. That year he doubled the number of headlights because they were so well received by the folks in his taxi. And Robinett said he's got fare on as a second car.

Robinett, a native of Houston, withdrew from the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra after serving as deputy Trombone player for about 35 years. Estimating that he had been playing the trumpet for about 50 years, he had to stop after some dentistry made playing harder for him, he said. Robinett, who wasn't able to retire and remain still, came up with the plan to run a taxi for Taxi Taxi because he liked to talk to and drive around locals, he said.

A member of the orchestra, Robinett performed all kinds of Christmas songs in December and traveled several tours to North Carolina to visit every corner of the state. Robinett in another way still brings cheers to others as he rides the Raleigh roads in his colourful taxi flowing down the street.