So camioneta-riding is normally a crowded and fairly uncomfortable experience, but for public transportation around the whole city at a mere 4 cordobas (which is about 15 cents), it's hard to complain. In fact, the discomfort is part of the charm. It's kind of fun to hop onto the back of the truck and hang onto the overhead bar, the truck bumping and swaying as it makes sharp turns and sudden stops. But today I had a particularly memorable experience riding the beloved camioneta, and by memorable, I mean so incredibly uncomfortable and crazy that it was absolutely hilarious! The camioneta was already filled to absolute maximum capacity, with people spilling out...but I was desperate. Ingrid and I were meeting with someone at el terminal in 10 minutes, and not wanting to wait another 15-20 minutes for the next truck, I decided to hop on. The conductor managed to find an microscopic space for me to stand - a space on the outside ledge only big enough for me to place one foot (...
Learn about my work with Amigos de las Americas in Nicaragua and Paraguay, and follow my journey as a Chinese-American reconnecting with my roots through language and travel.