Friday, October 26, 2007

Chicken Bus

Where are all the pictures from Guatemala? Due to technical difficulties (read - Brendan no es intelligente) there are no pics at the moment.

Soon. I hope.

I took my first `Chicken Bus`on the Guatemal adventure. A Chicken Bus is what the gringos call the Blue Bird school buses that travel the roads of Guatemala. you get on the bus and don´t try to wonder how long ago it was that this same bus was transporting the youth of America. One bus had `South Bend Schools`on its side.

Yesterday, i went to a town that is no more than 50 miles away. it may be 30 - difficult to judge distances. to get to that bus i had to take a minivan across town ($0.15 for any ride). After the mini dropped me off, i only had to walk 10 or so blocks to the chicken bus terminal. However, if you can´t speak the language, the 10 blocks can take an hour.

Security man: Go down 4 blocks and on the right.

Store owner 3 blocks later: go back past the market and go for 2 blocks

Street kid: No se

Security number 2: Go to the corner and take a left, continue for some blocks.

Shop keepers just past the corner where i took a left: Go down (the avenue i just came from) and go past the park.

etc.

An hour later, i happened to run into the bus i wanted.

I got a ride back from the town in a minivan. it was much better than the chicken bus.

All the chicken buses have a driver and a guy who yells the destinations and collects te money. today, i saw that he has another job. While going up a hill, the money man may have to hop out of the moving bus with a little bucket of water - which he throws at the bus´radiator. Repeat 5 or so times. i cried because i was laughingso much.

This weekend is a big market weekend in Xela. it has something to do with October and the Virgin saint of the town. i will take some pics.

if all goes well, i may be able to post them.

todos por ahora

bjm 26 october

6 comments:

Slippery Rock said...

Hola me hermano Brendan! Why are all the blog settings in Espanol...? Help!

Carolina Rocha said...

Hey B the world is waiting 4 yours pics !!! hahahahhahaha Come on my friend it is easy !! if you have problems whit the pics download, let me know on msn and I will give you some tips that I learned in a free Harvard course by mail ehehhehehe. Seriusly .... Ponete las pilas !!! Espero que estes bailando mucha salsa !! y como decia Celia Cruz: AzĂșca !!! bye bye From Uy

Slippery Rock said...

Brendan - How are you feeling? Are you over the cold that was settling in when we saw you in Conn.? Hope you are feeling better!
I guess you wanted an adventure of a lifetime and it sounds like you are getting it. Stay safe, bro! Clare

Slippery Rock said...

password is not working. nsm

Slippery Rock said...

lost the whole mote I wrote cuz the password didn't work. I used another "title" and then it worked. Duh!
Won't try to replicate my note - it's dinner time.
Maybe I'll do so manana. mom

Slippery Rock said...

Eve of the holy dead - halloween.
I plan to let JJM answer the doorbell. A few friends and I are planning a ritual tomorrow based on the Mexican feast called Day of the Dead. We're inviting some of our "ghosts" to join us. I'm bringing Liz and Mary Leo.
Gorgeous weather here; leaves are still green and still holding on to the tree limbs instead of falling.
I like your photos (or pics) altho I need one of you in your new landscape. til soon, nance