Blowing in the wind

How many people do you fit into a 14-seat minibus? The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. But what I do know is that about two dozen seems the normal rate. Dora and I took the bus Sunday to get some nice waterfalls near Marangu (the entrance to the Kili National Park). When we hopped on the van was 'empty' - meaning there were no more people than seats...

Then people started to pile in and I moved further and further back until I was in the last row, second most spot to the right (with the door on the left - driving is on the left). So then the guy next to me (in the spot farthest from the door) wanted to get out. In a blink of an eye he had jumped out the window. Aha. I opted for the old folks version where several people had to get out so I could exit. This was particularly difficult with my not quite so small backpack. But patience is everything here and people tend to accept things.

I will say that I preferred the Guatemalan buses (those were old American school buses rather than minivans), but both systems are fascinating with the guy who collects the money hanging out the window or the door and trying to get more passengers as they drive along. The rates are written inside the bus (you don't pay right away - somewhat when the money collector feels like it, but certainly before you get off...), but the locals tend to haggle and get cheaper fares sometimes.

I am still interested in getting a bicycle instead.