I have a love/hate relationship with
transportation in Guatemala, everything from waiting for the bus, the mechanics
of the bus, passengers, road conditions and the drivers and ayudantes. All these things make the camioneta
experience what it is. I had my share of traveling in September, it was nothing short of spectacular and eventful. So eventful that I have decided to write a series of entries
on the amazingness of camionetas.
An average bus rides for me can range from 2.5 hours to the
East and 3.5 to 6 hours to the West depending on my destination. The roads are
extremely unpredictable, especially during rain season, making the ride that much more fun. Potholes have become normal to me, its
almost as though the drivers are laying frogger so be sure to hold on tight as
they bob and weave on the road to avoid the pot holes bigger than your head. Every
once in a while there are kids filling holes with dirt asking for a Quetzal
from drivers for their hard work, I often wonder why some of these kids who
appear to be as young as 7, are not in school learning instead of shoveling
dirt into potholes. After days and nights of heavy rains it is very likely to
hear of or see landslides and deteriorating roads, some can be fixed quickly
and others take some time causing major detours through the back roads that are
not used to being dominated by big buses all day long.
I usually anticipate my travels pretty well and get to my
destination in a timely manner, especially when I leave my site at 5:30am. The
last few occasions have been particularly extraordinary. The first trip, the
bus broke down about 30 minutes after leaving resulting in all the passengers
getting off and hopping on the back of a pick up truck at 6AM for an hour and a
half ride into the nearest town to catch another bus.
Picture this: 15 men, women and
children, a basket of chickens and a tire on the
back of a pick up truck winding around a graveled mountainside dodging potholes,
chuchos, chickens and cows through early morning fog. I give props to
those who do this frequently; my tailbone was sore for a good two days or
more.
After I caught the second
bus I thought I was home free and the little set back was nothing, I was wrong.
A short trip turned into a three and a half hour ordeal, you see the bus I got
on was only going half way, ayudantes have a lovely way of collecting your
money and then tell you when they get to their last stop that this is as far as
they go and give you your change.
So, I had to get on another bus and then wait in traffic for almost two
hours because a cement truck drove off the mountainside the night before. Amazingly
the driver was fine and somehow someone managed to drive the truck away, only
in Guatemala.
In the end a trip that on a normal day takes me 6 hours,
took me 9 hours. Expect the unexpected when traveling.
Hasta la Próxima!
No comments:
Post a Comment