phone booth stuffing and other items

The last time i was on a bus (greyhound type) for any length of time was in high school 32 years ago. Another 32 can pass and i´ll be fine with that. Two seats per side, bathroom in back, and a ratio of 1 athlete per seat or 2. Those with rank got a pair of seats to them selves, lower ranks shared.

Fast forward to Peru 30 years later, the year is 2007, June 5 and the setting is a 5 hour ride from Arequipa to Cabanaconde over a variety of road surfaces. We arrive a little before departure and are happy to get tickets. We find these tickets enable us to stand;Niall and Emily took the isle and I sat on the engine cover next to the bus driver. There is a door that separates the bus driver and the passengers, but in this case the bus was so full that people were on both sides of the door. When we got on we thought the bus was full and we´d depart soon. Wrong both times. By Peruvian standards the bus is not full until standing room only has been exceeded and the bus does not move until the bus is full. Well, not entirely true. The people in the isles were not moving back as quickly or compactly as the driver wanted so he began to back up the bus. People outside were yelling, the cargo doors were open, and riders were still trying to board the bus. Undeterred the driver quickly backed out of the spot - - - and then hit the brakes - - - and laughed. After the third time, there was much more room and 25 more people got on board, seventeen of which joined me in the cab with the driver. That´s right, 18 people in the cab, not counting the driver, so really 18 people in 2/3s of a cab. One of the most interesting passengers was the machette weilding one, he wore it in his belt.
emily may have added his picture. Quite a ride. When you get a chance ask Emily about her Rosa Parks involvement in all of this.