Bus to Villa Maria

The bus journey from Miraflores to Villa Maria takes about forty five minutes and is always an adventure in itself. Yesterday the driver is going flat out as usual, then braking hard at every stop. Absolutely no consideration for passengers, old or young, blind or disabled. It's all the same to him, there being no women drivers, at least none that I've noticed.

Meantime fat guy sitting across from me is sound asleep, with his fat tummy sticking out of his red shirt and his head rolling about onb his fulsome chest. Manboobs I think they are called nowadays. He wakes with a start when the bus does a vicious swerve and comes to a very sudden halt. Then he gets off. The woman in front is banging her head against the window as she is also sleeping. In fact half the bus seems to be asleep, including the woman beside me.

We have constant entertainment on board. A couple of kids come on, brother and sister I think. He plays some kind of home made instrument and sings, meanwhile she dances in the aisle and sings along with him. How she doesn't end up flying through the window is a mystery, she has great balance and control, and is about nine years old, and is a beautiful wee girl. After they finish the performance she goes round the bus selling sweets (caramelos I think she calls them) from a large bag which suddenly appears in her hand. A few passengers appreciate her performance enough to buy some sweets. Such enterprise has to be applauded. They are probably earning the family dinner.

There are always people jumping on board to sell something, ice cream, drinks, glue, anything really that can be carried on board, Some of them make a long speech explaining how poor they are and how the money will be used, and praying to God at same time. It's great entertainment.

And there is alwys a soundtrack blaring out. Yesterday we had Freddy Mercury and the rest of the boys from Queen, doing the old Fandango song, followed by Dire Straits getting their kicks for free and then guess who, yes it's Robbie singing about his angel... incredible... though it's not always music from home, they do play Peruvian chart stuff too, like Shakira and that mad woman from USA, whose name I forget but might be Britney.

And the driver belts along as if we are all in a hurry to get there. There's a big picture of Christ hanging up behind him, looking down and watching over us. So we feel very safe. The bus is hot and the traffic is dense. I know Villa Maria is close as the smell of the fish market (pesquero) fills the bus. Thats my stop, my ticket is to el pesquero, and it costs just 1 sol 50 centimos. We are driving along Av los Heroes, but I'm not sure who the heroes are. Maybe from wars with Chile in century before last. Should ask someone.

The journey is never without excitement. Nothing like it back home. You would be thrown off.