El Autobus de Pollo
The primary, and most often only, means of transportation in Guatemala is via what gringo's call a "chicken bus". The exact etymology of this slang is unknown to this traveller, but I can tell you that the term is most definitely apt.
According to lonely planet, after school bus's are decommisioned in the states, they are driven down to Mexico, where they are 'tricked out' - custom paint job, removal of safety devices. After that, the chicken bus makes its way to Guatemala, where it becomes the beating heart of the transportation industry
The paint jobs are often intricate and are almost always centered around "el senor," por que solo Jesus puedo cambiar tu vida! If you are lucky, seating is three to a seat, as in the picture below. If you are unlucky, a 225 pound lady is sitting in your lap, elbowing you in the neck, breastfeeding 6 inches from your face, and actively fighting you for your seat while the bus creaks, moans, and jolts through the mountain pass. My back is not the same after a five hour ride from Xela to Guatemala city.
According to lonely planet, after school bus's are decommisioned in the states, they are driven down to Mexico, where they are 'tricked out' - custom paint job, removal of safety devices. After that, the chicken bus makes its way to Guatemala, where it becomes the beating heart of the transportation industry
The paint jobs are often intricate and are almost always centered around "el senor," por que solo Jesus puedo cambiar tu vida! If you are lucky, seating is three to a seat, as in the picture below. If you are unlucky, a 225 pound lady is sitting in your lap, elbowing you in the neck, breastfeeding 6 inches from your face, and actively fighting you for your seat while the bus creaks, moans, and jolts through the mountain pass. My back is not the same after a five hour ride from Xela to Guatemala city.
posted by chubalicious at 1:07 PM
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