Casa de Terrible: FUN TRIPS

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

As we have mentioned several times, Bucerias is a pedestrian town – a village almost - we go everywhere by foot. This mode of transportation is not too strenuous and undoubtedly healthier for us. It can be a bit of a hike from one end of town to the other, comparable to walking from Broad and High to Wexner Center (probably not even that far), especially with a load of groceries. But to go to the big city, Puerto Vallarta, we generally take the bus. And that is entertaining.

Those of you in foreign countries probably live in cities with well-developed mass transit systems. Your city is probably more densely packed than Columbus. By that I mean that you likely live very close to your neighbors in a more vertical environment with little green space that you personally own. Many of you also live where the government – either municipal, national, or an in-between level - subsidizes the transportation system, often rather heavily. Your city has busses, rail, and subways, and maybe special paths for bicycles. You may avoid driving because mass transit is quicker much of the time, especially during the rush periods. And gasoline is a precious commodity.

As most of you know, Columbus is sprawled out with mostly individual homes on sizeable plots of ground. The attitude in the US is geared towards individual private modes of transportation – cars and trucks rule. With the exception of roads, government subsidies are minimal. Hence, COTA - not renowned as a premier urban transit system. But it probably is no worse than transit systems in similar-sized cities.

Well, that is a bit of background to give perspective on the bus systems that we use. And they certainly aren't COTA or probably any of the operations with which you are familiar. But they are fun to ride.

First, there are two major bus lines which service the route from Bucerias to Puerto Vallarta and in the opposite direction a bit beyond Bucerias as well. Compostela seems to be the more modern company – we are speaking in relative terms – and ATM, Autotransportes Medina de Puerto Vallarta, the lesser but perhaps more frequent service. Busses from one or the other company come by every few minutes headed towards PV. Both lines charge 10 pesos, about $1, for the trip. Trips to places in between, Mezcales and Nuevo Vallarta, cost proportionally less. And journeys in the other direction up the coast to LaCuz, Punta Mita, and Sayulita, are also priced according to distance from one's embarkation point. (For longer trips one needs to take Pacifico, Vallarta Plus, or another Greyhound-like line.)

The bus companies have a very smart arrangement. The busses to PV do not go to the inner, older, more interesting section of the city. They come in just beyond the outskirts (They do go to the Wal-Mart.) and then one needs to change to another bus system (We call it the blue bus system even though the busses are in several colors.) for the trip to Centro for an additional 5 pesos. The same process operates in reverse to come back home.

COTA would find the busses unacceptable. No air-conditioning – just open windows and often open doors. (Sometimes there is a second person standing shotgun in the open door to assist with tickets and other items.) Some busses are rather nice, at least adequate with better seats. Many were built by companies you would recognize, such as, Mercedes. Generally they all run well enough and get from point A to point B. Most are decorated, apparently by the drivers. Many have extensive customization of the interior décor. A rosary is almost a requirement. Often they have curtains to shade the sunny side. Busses in the blue system are the worst and are indeed rather poor. Seats are generally hard plastic or metal. Many blue busses have broken seats and other states of disrepair. Decorative additions are minimal. Many appear to be hand-be-downs after hard use in some Ohio school system.

But we like to ride the busses for the entertainment. First, it is often amusing to see what freight other than human passengers will be aboard. Household supplies and other purchases are normal; that is how most of us transport things back home from Wal-Mart, Mega, or one of the other big stores. We have seen buckets of clams, lumber, bundles of blankets for the market, and many other items. A couple had their surfboard with them. We have heard that livestock might even occasionally make an appearance. If you can get it on the bus, it probably can be on the bus.

And there is live entertainment. Virtually all the busses are equipped with a CD player and radio which drivers do not hesitate to play. Busking, which we usually reward with a few pesos, is quite normal. Many buskers do not have bus money and request permission of the bus driver, which they do not always receive, to come aboard and perform for their fare. Guitar players are probably the most common musicians; some are rather good. We have had simple guitar players, couples, a blind man with his guide person, and several other variations. One of the more notable was a gentleman who gave quite a Lenten sermon regarding our duty to give alms to the poor of whom he with an empty stomach was a bonafide member. His entreaties were worthy of many pulpits, but one of the parishioners on the bus requested an end to the preaching and a return to the guitar playing: 'Shut up and play' is a rough translation. We had a couple accompanying their singing with drums. We were joined by a clown who made balloon poodles for which he requested one peso. But perhaps the best singer we encountered was an older gent under the influence of too many cervezas; he just liked to sing a cappella and did not request any compensation. There is usually some kind of show to lighten the trip.