Day 43 - Getting to and from School Every Day

Getting to and from School Every Day

When I moved to Bolivia, I decided not to sell my jeep.  It is paid for and I need something to drive when I come home for a visit.  So that means I walk, take a taxi, or take public transportation.

One of the things I wanted to do here was walk.  There are not many streets with sidewalks in Kaufman or Bristol, where I have lived the last two decades.  So I haven’t done a lot of walking and consequently I have gained a few pounds (quite a few).  Places that are close, I walk to.  Imagine living in the apartments I lived in and going shopping at Brookshire’s.  It is close, but has no sidewalks, so I always drove.  My bakery, Teconté, is about three blocks, and I walk there.  My two grocery stores are one and two blocks away.  It would be silly to drive.  And in the evenings, around 6:00, I go for a walk.  I am hoping the pounds go away where they belong, which is not on me.

A few times I have taken a micro.  A micro is like a minibus packed full of seats and usually holding twice as many people as can comfortably sit in it.  It is cheap, just 2 Bs (so about $ 0.30).  The real problem in that is it is not very tall.  If I can’t get a seat, which is often when I first get on board, I have to stand bent over.  From the school or church to home is about 20 minutes like that.  When it gets hot or rainy, I doubt I will do that.

The school has a radio taxi service they use.  A radio taxi is a company you call and request a taxi to come pick you up.  Most of those are fairly reliable.  I have arranged a regular pick up with Radio Taxi el Bajio.  My driver’s name is William.  We were talking today and the man is a Christian and goes to a church near my school.  So every morning William is outside my door around 7:00 and gets me to school before 7:30. I will have to be at school by 7:15 on Tuesdays, but we can work that out.  I also only have to pay once a week, which is easier than digging in my pocket for the fare each day.  The fare is 25 Bs a day, or 125 Bs a week, which is about $17. 

When I leave school, the guard at the gate, Rolby, can call me a taxi or I can walk two blocks and get a micro.  A few times I have taken a random taxi, but that can be an experience.  The other day a driver picked me up and when I told him my destination, he said he knew it.  About five minutes down the road he asked where is Plaza Blacut; he had just said he knew it.  I said about two blocks from the stadium, and he asked where that was.  So I tried to give him directions.  He didn’t go where I asked.  He went through the Ramada market, which is packed from about 8:00 in the morning until late in the evening.  Needless to say, it was a long drive.  So when we got to my part of town, I was ready to get out of the taxi and walk.  He was insistent on charging me a high rate, probably because I am American.  But the long ride was because he said he didn’t know where he was going.  I paid because I don't like the confrontation and because in reality, I am the rich American. 

The Spanish teachers at my school told me every driver in town knows exactly where Plaza Blacut is.  I am sure they do.  I am liking these ladies, because they are starting to take care of me.

So what do you think about my transportation adventures?