| I have been on buses from Nicaragua to the | | | | splatter of debris that came with the crash. |
| end of the Pan-American Highway in Chile. I | | | | With a spider-webbed front windshield, their |
| have crossed the Andean mountain range, the | | | | solution was to drop us off at a Sheetz-style |
| Atacama Desert, the entire length of Costa | | | | roadside rest stop to wait for the next two |
| Rica and several bays by ferry on buses. | | | | hourly buses to pack us in. |
| | | | |
| The quality of bus can be predicted by the | | | | But sometimes quality is not measured by |
| length of the voyage and the level of | | | | solely by a comfortable interior. Even though |
| development of the country. For example, my | | | | I will never again ride one, the diablos |
| friend traveled half the length of Bolivia in | | | | rojos, or "red devils" as the lovely people |
| a school bus. The only solution offered for | | | | of Panama have termed their city buses, are |
| those who wished to relieve themselves, was a | | | | my favorite. These buses are simple U.S. |
| muddy hillside directly next to the bus. | | | | government issued school buses - with a |
| | | | twist. Each driver has carefully created a |
| My favorite bus system would be that in | | | | graffiti work of art out of the plain canvas |
| Chile, where for overnight journeys, the bus | | | | of the iron monsters. The destinations can be |
| assistant offers hot coffee and cookies to | | | | found above the windshield tagged in |
| the passengers. These of course are equipped | | | | multi-colored neons for your gazing pleasure, |
| with onboard bathroom, reclining chairs and | | | | along with whichever favorite quote or image |
| television screens, and stop every meal time | | | | the driver chooses to include. The downside: |
| at a rest stop along the highway. | | | | they have a bad reputation of exploding. In a |
| | | | traumatic incident last year, about 39 |
| The quality of the bus line cannot always | | | | passengers were killed when a bus caught on |
| overcome the elements, however. On a 6-hour | | | | fire and the emergency escapes failed to |
| return bus ride to the capital of Chile, our | | | | open. This bus was survived by many a |
| inattentive driver struck and killed a horse | | | | sibling, all of whom continue to reach |
| that was dawdling along the side of the road. | | | | maximum capacity at rush house. My advice: |
| Not even my last-seat window was spared the | | | | choose wisely. |