Buses in Guatemala, sometimes referred to as "chicken buses," are old school buses discarded from the US that are given new paint and a roof rack to hold freight and luggage.
Chickens carried inside and goats on top were often seen years ago but seem to have disappeared, possibly because the number of trucks has increased.
Cramming in passengers past the point of overloading is still the norm. At least three adults must fit into the seats designed to hold two high school students, with the person on the aisle actually getting only half a seat. Then children and packages are added into the mix.
On the first leg of my journey to Huehuetenango, two rows of seats in front of me held eighteen people, until others standing in the aisle prevented me from keeping count. Some were standing next to the front windshield as well as on the steps by the always open front door.
Traveling on buses through mountains is somewhat similar to riding a roller coaster, swerving side to side on constant turns, and a view down the mountainside just a few feet from the wheels carrying you.
As thr driver accelerates around blind curves, blasts of the extra loud horn signals to anyone ahead that they'd better get out of the way because the bus would not be able to stop.
On my way to Quetzaltenango, also known as Xela (SHELL_ah), the driver accomplished a sort of grand-slam triple-crown, by texting on his cell phone and speeding around an uphill curve in the oncoming traffic lane while passing a pickup truck carrying three people and a black and white cow.
Absolutely thrilling.
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