out of the fish bowl...

Over crowded, loud, and dirt cheap... and if you're lucky, a free thrill ride!... the infamous Guatemalan chicken buses are the preferred mode of transport by locals. They are old US school buses that have been repainted, fitted with roof racks for transporting goods and added handle bars along the inside ceiling for those brave enough to stand. Speakers are usually placed at various locations inside blaring some kind of music (some good, some bad, but usually bad) at volumes too loud and at ranges too great for the speakers to reproduce with quality. In seats designed for 2 children, you typically sit at least 3 adults to a bench (no avoiding coodies on these buses!), and if you're the third person, it's advisable to get as much of your bum on the seat before your bench buddies get too comfortable. In that bit of space between you and the other 3 people jammed sitting on the bench across from you, there may be another 1 or 2 people standing. And just when you think they couldn't possibly fit another soul on the bus, it will stop another 10 people will somehow make themselves fit.

Just to add to the confusion a little bit more, when the bus stops to drop off and pick up more people, kids and teens jump onto the bus and walk (or push) their way down the aisle selling drinks, bread, hot food wrapped in banana leaves or corn husks, fresh fruit, nuts or little toy trucks. They’ll usually walk back and forth 2 or 3 times tempting you to buy their goods… that is if you haven’t already bought something from the person shoving food and drink through your window. If these kids are lucky, they’ll be able to make their round and get off the bus where they started, if not, get off a little later along the side of the road – or the alternative that is sometimes taken is to run out the back door of the bus while the bus is speeding away (a neat trick that I’m sure would give any mother a heart attack). And every once in awhile, to add a bit more to the chaos, someone will start evangelizing at the front of the bus or try to convince you to buy “magic” bright green health pills.

But the thrill really comes when your driver puts the pedal to the floor - pulling G's you wouldn't think possible in a school bus, beaning around blind corners along a cliff-side highway (that has no guide rails) passing all other cars and trucks. On the wrong side of the road of course.

Ahhh... good times ;)

# posted by doris : 3:42 PM