There are no traffic laws, or at least none that anyone abides by
Fifteen minutes really means an hour
Being “late” means you are on time
Some “roads” are less traveled by cars and buses and more by cattle, swine, and horses (at least on the Isle de Ometepe!)
Breakfast, lunch and dinner consists of beans and rice, beans and rice, and more beans and rice
Waving and beeping your car horn are ways of communicating things such as: “hello,” “do you want a ride?” “I’m going to pass you so get out of the way!” “are you sure you don’t you want a ride?”
Time is only of the essence outside of a vehicle….they are never in a hurry until they begin to drive!!
They don’t fill in the potholes until they can fit an entire Volkswagon Beetle down into it.
Chicken is the universal meat
The bugs only like the “gringos.” The locals never seem to get bitten!
Oh, and they don’t seem to sweat as much as us either!!
Guatamalan buses are fantabulously fun!! – Just ask Stephanie Fisk and I! We were only on like 7 of them on our journey from Mexico to Antigua Guatamala!!
There is ALWAYS room for one or ten more on a bus, even when there are already three and four to a seat!! And these are OLD Blue Birds that were discarded long ago from schools in Ohio – I’m convinced of it! Except the ones that say Canadian Blue Birds! – don’t remember those ever being in Ohio
Transportation is either walking or taking the public transportation bus.
The locals can carry more on top of their heads than I can carry in my backpack!
They think I am crazy because I like to sit out in the sun! Why would anyone want to sit in the HOT sun!? – My thought is that if I am going to be sweating buckets, I might as well be getting a good tan out of it!!
They don’t readily tell you that they can understand English until you catch them laughing at something you’ve said.
Pigs look more like dogs.
There is always a mountain, a volcano, or a tarantula in your sights.
The word road is relative – dirt, mud, potholes the size of Carrollton, craters, and other such things are called roads – especially through the mountains of Guatamala on a “party” bus when you are not sure they are taking you to where you need to be – again, ask Stephanie and I! We would love to tell you ALL about it!
You have not experienced a pothole until your butt has left your seat for at least 4 seconds, so that when you drop back down, you are sitting on the other three people sitting in the 2-person seat with you!
“Going to town” either means that you will be walking or you will be taking the bus once a week.
These people are the most gracious and giving people I have ever met, and most have little to nothing. But they will give you the shirt on their back if you say that you like it.
I really like rice and beans. But I miss my beef!!
