Buses

From my first day I was told the buses in Guadalajara were an experience and an attraction in and of themselves. I didn’t quite understand what this meant until my maiden and subsequent trips on the Blue and White. I will refer to the buses only by their color as the names of the various companies and lines are unimportant for my purposes. The Blue and White’s are the most prevalent in the city and operate in all the neighborhoods I have seen. Their passengers are those that prefer the least expensive form of transportation in the city and can be described as the commoners of Guadalajara. My first trip on the Blue and White was of no particular purpose beyond taking it merely for the experience because as soon as I hopped off I walked a couple of blocks down Avenida Chapultepec in the center of Guadalajara to catch the Blue and White to return to the University. The main draw, for me, to the Blue and White is more the opportunity to see the bus drivers than to observe the passengers. The maiden trip, made last week, was quite the thrill, the bus driver didn’t seem to care that I was a peso short of the standard fare and was more concerned with his phone conversation and getting to the next stop. The bus jumped into acceleration nearly putting me on the bus floor before I could deposit my short fare, maybe the driver noticed it was insufficient and his abrupt departure from my stop could have been his way of letting me know. I usually try not to generalize people, but here in this case it is impossible not to as all the drivers of the Blue and White I have encountered prefer shirts without sleeves, have a knack for smoking and talking on cell phones simultaneously while driving, and sweat profusely. I have no problems with and thoroughly enjoy sleeveless shirts and tank tops, to the dismay of a former girlfriend, and I use clinical protection deodorant to help with my own sweat issues, but I did have a bit of nervousness upon first sight of the triple tasking of my Blue and White driver, considering he was using two hands for three tasks one of which was operating a motor vehicle filled to maximum capacity. Looking around I could tell I was the only passenger with any sense of concern about this. And as it turned out, even though his driving can be seen as erratic and always on the offensive as he swerved through and in front taxis and other cars, often greeted with angry honks, my driver seemed in complete control. After that I have found a great deal of enjoyment in taking the Blue and White around town, it must be the thrill seeker in me, because I prefer the dilapidated Blue and White’s with its edgy and seemingly careless drivers to the tie wearing operators of the Red bus who get me to the same place, but without the showmanship. Just yesterday, having a bit of time to kill I took the Red bus into the center of Guadalajara, it was the first to come to my stop, for a leisurely stroll as it wasn’t too hot and there was a pleasant breeze. But, as I saw rain clouds approaching I made my way to a bus stop and was pleased to see a Blue and White coming to scoop me up. Along the half hour ride, there began a torrential downpour and although the windshield of the bus was being pounded by rain and clouding with fog my confidant driver maintained his ruthless control of the road despite the extreme lack of visability. Even with urging by one passenger to clean the windshield with his handkerchief, my driver not so respectfully declined as I feel he saw it as an attack on his capabilities. And for whatever reason I felt no concern or worry about the safety of myself or the other passengers, I like to think this guy knows exactly what he is doing and the Blue and White is not a machine he operates but rather a mechanical extension of his own limbs.