Chicken buses in Guatemala are an inexpensive form of public transportation between cities. They originated as US public school buses that had aged out of service. Once imported to Guatemala, they are given new life. Often, the engine is replaced and a flashy paint job is made to the exterior. They might be lengthened or shortened without much regard to safety or stability. Bench seats are packed together with barely a center aisle and speakers blast loud music to the riders. They barely stop long enough to pick up passengers and then they are off at extremely high speeds on curvy, mountainous roads. I felt like I was on a roller coaster being slammed from side to side and barely able to hang on.

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