Transport In Guatemala Part 1

Nothing summarizes capitalism gone mad in Gautemala better than the "public" transport system. I put public in quotes because it doesnt recieve a drop of goverment money outside the capitol and in the capitol its litterally a drop, a tiny subsidy. Many of you have probably heard of Chicken Busses. What they are is old(1950s-1990s) american school busses. These are chosen because they are cheap and have a great safety record(when new, on good streets). They are often brightly colored, and always privately owned. And they are almost always packed way beyond full. In benches meant to seat 2 school children you find 3 or 4 adults and then they pack they ailse full and but lugage on top, and the money collector usually rides leaning out the front door. Sometime the baggage handler rides on top with the luggage. And then despite this they race around Guatemalas rough, bendy, hilly and pot holled streets and speads no american school bus driver would consider. Why? Because if they dont they wont make any money. Take the Guatemala Ciudad to Antigua route. It costs 8 Quetzales for a 60km ride.(roughly a $ or .80€). There is no indusrty regulation no scheduled bus times, he who gets there first gets the passengers, hence the speed, and because the fares are so low there is always room for one more, always.