1. There's always room for more
Last week we waited for a half hour for bus 99 to take us to meet some friends at a park. Finally we saw our bus approach, only to pass on by. Too full I suppose. Another one was 10 minutes later, and it too was quite packed. As it approached the bus stop the driver pointed quite obviously to me and the kids and motioned backwards. I assumed he was telling us to get in through the back door, which was kind of unusual. So I helped the kids up (Sienna with the stroller, me with Paul), and with my free hand on the pole pulled myself forward to squish everyone on enough for the door to close.
A few minutes later we realized there was another bus 99 right behind us. I realized later that the bus driver was probably motioning backwards for me to wait for that bus, which was probably less crowded. I feel kind of bad that I never paid for that ride, since we got off through the back door as well and there was never enough room to move to the front to pay.
2. People will almost always give up their seat for the lady with the stroller and 5 kids.
Even on the crowded bus 99, when we were packed like sardines, the sardines shifted and squirmed and wiggled around until the 6 of us were squished into two bus seats. A kind lady sitting or standing behind me reached forward with a tissue to wipe Paul's runny nose, since my hands were pretty tied up holding us all in.
3. Not all buses with the same number go to the same places.
On our way to the Temaikén Bioparque, we knew from the website that we were supposed to catch bus 60 from Plaza Italia. Getting to Plaza Italia was an easy enough bus ride. But then we learned that there are several bus 60s that go to different places. What´s wrong with 60a, 60b, 60c... or just plain old different numbers??
We waved down one bus 60 to ask the driver. He had us get on briefly to drive us half a block while he tried to explain where to get the right bus. And he spoke way too fast. Some people, when they realize we don't speak the language well, slow down, or say a few words and use a lot of hand gestures. I really appreciate that. This guy figured he'd talk twice as fast to get in twice as many words in the same amount of time, so we'd have a greater chance of catching a few of them. Didn't work.
We got off and walked in the direction he pointed, and eventually bought some combined park ticket/bus pass from a salesman on the street who showed us where to go. We probably paid a little more than if we figured it out on our own, but whatever, it got us there and back.
A "comfy bus" took us to Temaikén
4. Trust the bus driver
If you can understand him, that is. When we boarded the bus to the temple we told the bus driver that's where we were headed, and moved to the back. After we had been on the bus for a while, Bryan asked the people standing near him if they knew where the Mormon Temple was. We assumed it would be visible from our route, but hadn't seen it yet. They pointed behind us! So we got off at the next stop, in the middle of who knows where. The bus driver stayed there a few minutes as we walked towards the front door, and he kept repeating the word "falta" (which we later learned means 'stay') and indicating we should get back on. So we did, and a little later we could see the Temple for ourselves and knew where to get off. It was nice of the driver to wait a little and not leave the crazy gringos stranded.
Waiting at the bus stop in front of the temple (for about an hour)
On our way back from the temple the bus was crowded, but this time there were several older citizens who remained seated. The lady in the front held out her hands to Bryan, and said that she would hold Paul. I thought there was no way Paul would go to her. But he did and started playing with her cane, banging it against the pole in front. She played with him a while and as long as he couldn't see me he was fine. And eventually she got him to sleep! She ended up holding him for nearly an hour. I was impressed.
Paul doesn't look pleased in the picture, but in general he was.
6. If the bus isn't crowded, the back is more fun. At least the kids think so.
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