We bussed into "Old Town" yesterday to the fabric stores and the central market and returned with arms laden with "goodies" -two big bags of fruit and vegetables and 6 meters of batting to make cushions for Adirondack chair located out on the deck.
Since many local residents here do not own cars, the bus transportation within cities and between cities is VERY good. Bus drivers often put their personal touches around the front of their busses, with their names and those of family members ornately painted above the windshield. Often, there is a picture of the Virgin of Guadalupe in a prominent spot.
We prefer to take the "chicken" bus whenever possible. These are the older busses, usually with cracked windshields and squeaky brakes, which provide transportation for a discounted price of 5 1/2 pesos (40 cents). The drivers tend to be younger, VERY confident and often drive the bus like a race car (especially when a cute young senorita gets on board and sits in the first seat OR when they are trying to get past another bus so they can pick up the fares.
These busses are crowded with local folks who carry all manner of goods - sometimes even a live chicken or two. Passengers may be entertained by fellow riders who sing or play guitar and then pass the hat for donations. Such performers tend to frequent the fancier, more expensive (8 peso) "tourist" busses, though
We actually were forced to take the newer, air conditioned Sabalo Centro bus into town because the older busses don't go downtown from where we live. Fellow passengers (mostly tourists) gawked at us as if we were crazy, when we boarded the bus to return to the Marina via the “Gold Zone” with our treasures!
Since many local residents here do not own cars, the bus transportation within cities and between cities is VERY good. Bus drivers often put their personal touches around the front of their busses, with their names and those of family members ornately painted above the windshield. Often, there is a picture of the Virgin of Guadalupe in a prominent spot.
We prefer to take the "chicken" bus whenever possible. These are the older busses, usually with cracked windshields and squeaky brakes, which provide transportation for a discounted price of 5 1/2 pesos (40 cents). The drivers tend to be younger, VERY confident and often drive the bus like a race car (especially when a cute young senorita gets on board and sits in the first seat OR when they are trying to get past another bus so they can pick up the fares.
These busses are crowded with local folks who carry all manner of goods - sometimes even a live chicken or two. Passengers may be entertained by fellow riders who sing or play guitar and then pass the hat for donations. Such performers tend to frequent the fancier, more expensive (8 peso) "tourist" busses, though
We actually were forced to take the newer, air conditioned Sabalo Centro bus into town because the older busses don't go downtown from where we live. Fellow passengers (mostly tourists) gawked at us as if we were crazy, when we boarded the bus to return to the Marina via the “Gold Zone” with our treasures!
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