transporte

So, you might not be able to fully appreciate this if you've never had the privilege of visiting Nueva Suyapa...but today is a very exciting day.

We got our first rapiditos in Nueva Suyapa!

Yes, I know it sounds like a terrible Mexican restaurant special...but really, it's nothing of the sort.

Right now, transport options are as follows...
1) direct taxi: the most expensive option, but will take you (almost) anywhere you need to go. if the price is right. as of late, it has been rising, due to the price of gas...clearly. Between $3-6 per trip, depending.
2) colectivo: this is a cool Tegucigalpa favorite...a taxi that waits until filled with 4 people. It has a set route and you know it always costs 15 Lmps. (like, 75 cents) or 12 Lmps. if you're downtown (67 cents?)
3) bus: yup, the big yellow ones you rode to elementary school (or in my case, high school too!) not the best option...often said to be most dangerous...but really we hate it because its so slow! it stops all the time and lingers if not full with people. also, when crowded, not the most fun experience. Cost is 3 Lmps...so like 15 cents.

but yesterday, a parade of 10 brand, spankin' new rapiditos paraded through the terminal in Suyapa!

Basically, a rapidito is a microbus (see photo below). It holds maybe 20-30 people and goes FAST! well, mostly because it doesn't stop so often. I have used these in a few other parts of the city and they are great. People usually arent allowed to stand, so when its full, you just fly. When people get off, more can get on! So ingenious!

So...today, my friend and I decided we had some "pressing" errands downtown and needed to "estrenar" or "inaugurate" the new rapiditos of our neighborhood. It was so fun! Everyone on the bus was so happy and excited. People watching from the street looked so curious to see the new addition to the neighborhood transportation...and the best part is, a trip to the stadium which might normally have take 30-40 minutes in a school bus to us 17-20 minutes! Score!

a view of all 3 options, from Left, rapidito, taxi and bus

The cost of a trip is 10 Lmps...or 50 cents. So that puts it right between the colectivo option (15 lmps) and the bus (3 lmps). Obviously, this is bad news for the taxi drivers...but I still think there will be enough business for the buses, as it is a much more economical options for families in Suyapa.

I was a little nervous that there might be some fighting because of the new transportation, like between the drivers, etc. but so far so good. We will have to wait and see how things continue.

But, for now, we are all a-buzz with the fun of something new and cool. They are so clean and fresh, its just fun to ride around in them and enjoy a new view of the city.