Loca(l)motion

Every weekend we try to explore a new part of the region. Our trips often entail a combination of the local metro, which takes us either to Viña del Mar or Valparaíso. From there, there are lots of connections to bigger bus companies or micros, small Chilean busses that take you along local routes. Riding a micro in Chile is an adventure in and of itself. Once you enter the bus and find a seat (if you are lucky), the micro driver lurches ahead, horn blasting for every imaginable minor traffic offense. There seems to be a timetable that only the micro driver knows — there are certainly no bus schedules posted anywhere — and he yells with clenched fists and screams through open windows at the other drivers who may be infringing upon their potential bus riding clients. As they try to overtake one another to reach the next customer and/or destination, you, the passenger, are jolted from side to side while trying to keep your last meal down. Depending on the music preferences of the driver, you might enjoy an hour of Chilean cueca (I suppose the best way to describe this would be Chilean country/folk), reggetón (Latin hip hop – reggae fusion), or some other local favorite. A sign hanging behind the driver’s head informs you of your right to ask the driver to turn off the music.