Most of the buses we take around town are mini vans like the one you see here. Each mini has a driver and an assistant. Most of the time these are packed. In fact, after ending up in one that had 32 passengers and both Gail and our friend Chris were standing up (and bending over) we have learned a few things. 1. The assitant´s job is to get as many people as possible and he will NEVER say that the bus is full. 2. Guatemalan people seem have an amazing ability to fit into tiny spaces, even if they are carrying a basket of fruit and a baby. 3. We are much bigger than they are, and we have a very different comfort level. 4 There is always another bus very close behind the packed one, often 1/2 empty. Now we have learned to ignore the frantically waving and yelling assistant, and wait for another bus.
On our recent trip to see some Ruins near the town of Retalaulu (Reu) with Chris and Connie, we took 5 different forms of transportation and it took about 4 hours to get there. Reu is 36 miles from Xela, and the ruins another 12 miles or so. From our house we took a mini van. Then a very crowded, slow, chicken bus. It is common for the bus driver to allow sales people on (for a cut, we think) The salesman then stands at the front of the bus a shouts his pitch as loud as possible. Usually it is some type of supplement, or hair growing formula, This particular bus came with an enthusiatic Billy Grahm style preacher, praying for our souls, and the bus driver, and the journey, and accepting donations, of course. For a while it was entertaining to try to understand him, then we were glad to see him leave.
When we finally got to Reu we took a Tuk Tuk to catch another crowded chicken bus to another town, Then we had to hop in the back of a pick-up truck for the final leg. We were standing in the pick-up and, because it was not crowed, this ended up being the most comfortable leg of the trip. The ruins were really beautiful, but I am ashamed to admit that I (Gail) was on the verge of a meltdown at the thought of another 4 hours of hot crowded bumpy buses to get home, and perhaps whining a bit. However one must be careful what one wishes for because the return trip only took about two and a half hours because our (chicken) bus driver was training for the Indy 500 and gave us a version of Mr. Toad´s Wild ride. There is nothing to compare with the experience of traveling up a curvy mountain road in a old Blue Bird bus, passing another old Blue Bird on a blind corner. We were even wishing for the preacher to be back, in case the blessing of the bus actually would work.
Valentine´s Day (Dia de Carnino) at the Project was a big deal. The kids don´t have to wear their regular uniforms, and they dress up a bit, many of them in their traditional clothes. The senoras made pizza (really good), popcorn, jello with lots of fruit, and whipped cream, and bought giant bottles of pop. There were games and pinatas, and we got to accompany the kids from the day care class to the zoo. What a blast there were on 6 kids (3 - 4 years old) and we thought with 4 adults - no problem. Still we last one for a few minutes, and ran after them quite a bit. The zoo is really quite nice, by Central American standards. In addition to the small assortment of animals they have, there is lots of open space, and large playground, where we did not manage to kill or injure any of the kids in spite of the concrete slides, and swings with sharp edges.
Today, after we go to a neighbor´s house and buy some delicious Chili Rellenos for lunch, we are headed off to a birding resort to the south of here for the night. It will be warmer and Pat will finally get to see some birds.
Happy Valentine´s Day and much love to all.
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