special entry about travelling by minibus

While I was writing about coming to work by minibus I thought that I had to explain how they work… Minibuses are the most common way of public transport in Africa, They are usually Toyota Hiace, second hand imported from Japan or some Asiatic country and they are in quite bad state.. you can see a picture here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/acodina/2049180363/

 

They have no seats, only benches, and they seat 4 people in a bench, regardless their size or the luggage they carry. That means that, if there is a ‘traditionally built woman’ in the bus, her bench colleagues will be quite squashed.. Apart from the driver there is somebody in the back that collects the money. He is supposed to use one of the sits, but sometimes they will prefer to pick up an additional passenger and he’ll stand (but there is not really room for him, so sometimes he may sit on the lap of somebody)

 

The minibus does not set off until is full, this can take anytime between 5 min and an hour (or more). Then, it will stop along the way to drop/pick up people. If it is packed, when somebody wants to go out 3 or 4 persons will have to go out too. Sometimes the minibuses break down and you may have to wait for a while in the middle of nowhere.. This makes the trips really amusing, and you get to meet a lot of people.. but is not reliable at all.

 

You never know if you will get on time to your destination, but well, as they say here:’ the important is not at what time you arrive, but that you arrive!’