What it’s like to never have to wait for a bus

Getting the bus in Peru, is almost incomparable to getting it in England. Back home, getting a bus usually goes like this: walk to the bus stop and see 3 drive by, get to the bus stop, wait half an hour, then 2 turn up. And I have never known a bus timetable to be right. And if you’re almost at the stop when a bus is there it will make sure to not wait for you.

As hectic and scary the buses in Peru seemed when I first arrived, I wish english bus companies would model themselves on them. You barely get to a street where the buses go by and you already have a guy, hanging out of the bus door shouting at you the destination of the bus to see if you want to get on. There are no bus stops in Peru, which I was surprised to find works amazingly well. Stand anywhere on there rout and they’ll stop for you. 

When I got on a bus here for the first time, I thought I was getting shouted at by the bus assistant to get on faster. He was saying “SUBE SUBE SUBE SUBE!” (which means get on) and when I got off he shouted “BAJA BAJA BAJA BAJA” (which means get down). It turns out that the guy stood at the door is actually shouting it to the driver so he doesn’t drive off while someone is getting on or off. Thoughtful really. 

I’m so used to hearing “TRUJILLO TRUJILLO TRUJILLO” (the main town all buses go to from Huanchaco) shouted at me in the street  from all the buses flying by, I miss it already.