Spiffy, huh!?!
"Oooh, a big vehicle with WHEELS!"
Yes, I do in fact spend massive amounts of time with 4-year-old boys. I can't help it. :)
Actually, this post is dedicated to Dad, whose photo request was for forms of transportation down here.
So, the colorful short busses are called "Micros." You pay when you get on.
The modified vans are called "Trufis." You pay when you get off.
The idea with both micros and trufis is to pack 1) as many people in as possible without anyone actually suffocating and 2) as many stickers, stuffed animals, and "Toyota" trinkets as you can fit on your dash!
To catch a micro or trufi, you stand by a curb and watch for one with the number or letter of the route you need. Usually their main destination is also listed. And look closely! There are micros with the same letter, but different routes! One has a little heart symbol by it, the other doesn't! When your number/letter/symbol comes, you just flag it down by holding out your hand. Then it and all of its many passengers come to an abrupt stop to let you on, and you go along your merry way.
When you want to get off the micro/trufi, you call out, "Corner please!" If you're too squished in the back for the driver to hear you, your request gets passed along telephone-game-style to the front until the driver stops. Then begins the fun of everyone shifting or getting off to let you down.
The public transportation routes were definitely designed by a woman. I'm pretty sure she was also either drunk, blond, or both. No offense. As a blond girl, I pretty much have the right to pick on my own species. :)
I usually take a taxi. Their condition varies greatly. Their common denominator is an awesome sound system and other spiffy little upgrades no matter how clunkerish the car is!
Oh, and bonus picture, here's a fruit car:
That's a megaphone on top, through which the driver announces his wares while driving slowly through neighborhoods.
