Buses in Guatemala

These are large old 1950's style American buses. Some are painted yellow some have new paint jobs with fancy patterns on and stencils. They have real character. Unfortunately they also pump out the worst exhaust gases ever. I guess they run on diesel so the smoke that comes out the exhaust are large black clouds, especially when they are stopping and starting. There was one place in Guatemala, Chemaltenango, where a lot of buses would come through, it was a transport hub. Just waiting at the side of the road in a cafe i felt over whelmed by the fumes. It must be so bad for people's health who work around there. But then even riding in the buses, especially when the bus is parked, you feel overwhelmed by fumes coming inside. I'm sure it gave me a head ache. I had to get off the bus for fresh air, which turned out wasn't very fresh because we were on a road.

Well if the fumes don't kill you the diving might. These huge beasts of a bus go faster than cars, literally burn along the motorway or wherever. And the guys who collect tickets often climb outside the bus while it's moving. These guys pack the bus full of people so every available seat and standing space is taken. The seats on either side of the bus are long benches that should only fit 4 people each but if you put 6 people in then the person at either end of the seat, who only has half a seat, kind of props themselves up against each other. This works especially well when the bus is going at 700mph and swerving and turning round tight corners and bends because you are so packed in there is no chance of falling over cause you are squished between people. Unfortunately this isn't so much fun when it's two fat smelly blokes.

Well just when you thought you were so packed in you couldn't possibly fit any more people on the bus the bus conductor then decides he needs to collect everyone's tickets so he literally pushes his way past everyone, it doesn't help he is about 300 pounds either. When he gets to the back of the bus he doesn't turn around and come back to the front though he climbs out of the door at the back up and onto the roof and down into the front door. And if he can't fit in the bus just hangs off the side. And he does all this while the bus is careering down the road at 150km/h!! I can't imagine bus conductors last long in Guatemala. Often they all seem rather young.