| Colourful, loud, chunky buses rattle their way around Medellín in a giant circular route. One could be forgiven for thinking this was some kind of rally, but actually it’s Medellin’s most useful bus service and a great way to check out the city.
Comprised of giant slabs of colourfully painted or metallic metal, leaving a thick black trail of smoke in their midst, it’s as if these creatures spawned from a fairground or some psychedelic film in the 70s.
Yet despite the heroics on the exterior, the inside offers a glimpse at Colombia’s common sense and tolerant approach to public spaces.
An assortment of characters surf the Circular Sur bus for free, trying to persuade their captive audience to buy sweets, nuts, hairclips, pencils; basically anything they’ve got their hands on. To avoid demoralising the sales pitch, passengers receive the ‘catch of the day’ before giving it back or handing over some small change.
Others adopt a theatrical approach on the Circular Sur. It’s amusing to see an old fashioned, conservative businessman tip a youth for his slightly aggressive hip-hop performance.
Perhaps, most telling of all, is the common place practice of seated passengers holding the bags of strangers who are standing up, or young would-be thieves giving up seats to the elderly.
But, don’t get too comfortable. Jump on wherever you please, yet regardless of how nimble you appear on your toes, drivers are inclined to hit the turbo button just as you get half a limb on the inside door. |
