Any given day you have a new experience on riding the bus here. We have had people selling all kinds of things, pirated CDs and DVDs, many different kinds of food, fruit and sweets. Chocolate is a biggie though I can’t see it in the heat…you’d think it would get all melty and weird. Then we had the sweet little girls, two of them, all dressed up in white dresses who were riding along with their mom. They struck up conversations with us and as they departed gave us each a kiss on the cheek. One evening a full grown man got on board with his guitar, not unusual, however as soon as we got rolling he burst into song. Loud, off-key song. He sang two or three numbers as we rolled along, then took a break and tried to get donations for his performance. No takers, so thankfully he sat out the rest of the ride silently. Then we had the little guy, about four, who got on with his mom and took a seat right in front of us. He then turned around and burst into song…at the top of his voice. His mom tried to hush him up, but he wasn’t having it. He sang on for miles! The guy with the metal filigree cross taller and wider than him. The lady with the large wheelie cooler full of who knows what.
Then there are the drivers themselves, all of them nice to us thus far. But there’s one who’s entire bus is drenched in a bright pink ad for some beauty service. Can’t help but think he takes a ribbing from his peers on that one. One guy had his girlfriend on the bus with him and she rode in the seat behind him, hugging on his neck for several stops and then when she was ready to depart paused to give him a rather long kiss goodbye. Had most people chuckling. There’s the guy with a couple of rows of plush seats, like out of someone’s Honda. Standard issue are molded plastic seats, so catching this bus and finding those seats free is like a bonus. There’s the guy who’s bus is SO clean and graffiti free that you wonder how on earth he does it. There’s also a guy with a little steering wheel complete with a suicide knob. Think those have been illegal for years in the states, haven’t they? Some of the drivers have Jesus and/or Our Lady of Guadalupe all over the bus, some just stickers or laminated cards, but some are really elaborate, large statues or portraits. Lots of rosaries. Lots of diamond tufted leather/vinyl accessories, custom leather covers for the gear shift. Custom coin carriers. Their own boom boxes so they can play their tunes as they drive, and share them with all the passengers. One guy even has a small black and white TV to catch his telenovellas!! They have their own fans so they can keep cool…nope the average city bus is NOT air conditioned. Only the large green tourist buses in the Golden Zone are air conditioned, and for that you pay double to ride.
Since the drivers pretty much know one another, they will on occasion stop in the middle of their routes for a quick visit, blocking the street in both directions while they have their little chat. Even had one ride where the drivers were obviously angry at one another, and they were passing each other and cutting each other off on the narrow city streets, trying to rob fares from each other…that was a little on the wild side. There are also drivers who will stop to pick you up even though the bus is full. So you stand, holding on to the railing above your head until a seat opens up. Sometimes a gentleman will give up his seat for a lady or someone older (sometimes I qualify in both categories), but most times not…you just have to wait your turn. Luckily for us it usually clears out pretty well about five stops down the line, so we don’t have to stand for long. Gives your muscles a workout though!!
All in all, a lot of entertainment and transportation to boot, all for just four and a half pesos per person, each way!! Come on down, we’ll take you along for the ride.
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