Chicken bus madness to roads less traveled.

Some time in the last year, the girls had asked if they'd ever be privileged enough to ride an American school bus. Having riden school buses (aka 'the cheese box') most of my school life,  I assured them that they weren't going to be missing anything other than feeling trapped on a moving vesel with insufficient air to properly breathe amung preteen boy flagellants. 

As of this weekend, our girls are 'one up' on any child who's riden the school bus. In the life of a school bus, you're lucky if you end up in Guatemala covered in bright paint, hauling locals and a portion of their belongings through the stunning countryside. 

Needing a break from what has been a surprisingly expensive trip, we headed out on chicken buses the last two days with no real destination. Hearing that this particular form of transportation can be dangerous, we've limited how far we're wiling to travel in an effort to see 'the real Guatemala'. Both days we've asked a local how far we could travel in about 20-25 minutes and then boarded a bus. 

Today after getting settled in our seats, a man boarded our bus who must have gotten the crap beat out of him last night. Poor guy had an eggplant for an eye and had yet to change his shirt covered in blood. One look at him and Jess was begging to not ride the bus...she was convinced everyone was right and this was too dangerous a feat for us.

After 25 minutes bouncing around the countryside, we made it to a local pueblo and began searching for what seemed interesting. Interesting to us, is what most would consider, 'the wrong way' or something that looks 'dangerous'. We ventured off on dirt roads and found ourselves amung banana trees, coffee plants and locals. One's reward for traveling isn't staying in the touristy towns paying 5 times the worth of everything.... it's venturing out where the locals are surpsied you've made it!

Tomorrow's agenda? Oh you know, hiking up the side of a volcano and then pitching a tent for the night once we make it to the top. 

Trying not to trade paint with a passing chicken bus.

Emma's trying to pretend she doesn't see the neighbor clearing his field with a machete

Coffee beans

Most Guatemalan women wear braids.

Home sweet home.