I LOVE Chicken Buses!

I spent the day yesterday in Guatemala City as a volunteer with Camino Seguro.... a school project right next door to one of the big city dumps.

What an experience!

First of all, I had to board a chicken bus "Primorosa" for the 1 to 1.5 hours bus ride. It cost 7Q's to get there and 8Q's to get back. Not sure why it cost more to come home. I figure it's because they can charge whatever they like.......as people do not what to get stuck in that neighbourhood!

The bus ride was crazy and I LOVED it! Public transportation at it's best is what I say. A very crowded bus with bench type seats on each side where 3 people can fit. The very narrow aisle just lets you walk sideways down it. People sit on the benches and stand in the aisles. They try to squeeze as many people in as they can. More people, more money! I was okay with this as I was sitting....and you do not give up your seat to anyone. Seniors, disabled and pregnant women are out of luck in this country! Okay, maybe some would.

The driver does not collect the money, he has another guy helping him out. This guy stands at the front door (which is open by the way) and he just hangs out yelling where we are going and waving his hands. "Guata" "Guata" "Guata" "Guata". Coming home they have to say "Antigua" "Antigua" over and over......it's like a rap song! He then walks down or should I say crawls over the people to collect money..they don't think of collecting the money when people step on board, no....it's when we are going around some wild curve and the guy doesn't need to yell out where we are going as there are no people to pick up...his down time.

They also have people come on board to sell food and small merchandise (like calendars or cards). We bought some peanuts that you cover with this hot sauce on the way home. I ended up getting the sauce all over my shirt while we were going around a curve.

Driving around curves can be very scary.......they do not slow down....and the driver just blares his really loud horn..........and if you are a small car...you get out of the way! Other chicken buses don't....that's why they are called what they are. They dare each other on!

Dangerous....but I loved it! Especially the loud loud latin music playing on board.

Calgary transit should try some of this craziness............maybe more people would take a bus.

AND........you wouldn't need any bus stops!