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Georgia Roessler | profile | all galleries >> International Travel >> Guatemala >> Chicken Bus tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Tikal | Flores | Chichicastenango | Panajachel | Santiago Atitlán | Sololá | Antigua | Chicken Bus

Chicken Bus

These are just a part of what makes the Gautemalan countryside so picturesque.
They are nothing but (American) school buses, in many cases driven from the Southern US to Guatemala.
They are privately owned and are decorated according to the owner/driver's tastes, not to mention the name of his current girlfriend.
They run between the country Mayan villages, often crammed full of people, farm goods, and yes, chickens!
Esperanza
Esperanza		 Hitchin' a Ride
Hitchin' a Ride		 Cozy
Cozy		 Chiquitita Chérie
Chiquitita Chérie
Must be Married...
Must be Married...		 Wendy (O?)
Wendy (O?)		 I think I can...
I think I can...		 Franciscana
Franciscana
Issa
Issa		 Washing Esperanza
Washing Esperanza		 She Gets Around
She Gets Around		 No Kidding!
No Kidding!
Georgita
Georgita		 Carmencita
Carmencita		 Gloria
Gloria		 Betsy
Betsy
Consuelo
Consuelo		 Maria
Maria		 Carlitos
Carlitos		 Cruisin'
Cruisin'
On the Road Again
On the Road Again		 Anita
Anita		 Patojalinda
Patojalinda		 Alejandra
Alejandra
Pollocita
Pollocita		 Silvita
Silvita		 Amor Secreto
Amor Secreto		 Esmeralda
Esmeralda
Marroquin (?)
Marroquin (?)		 Ciao
Ciao		 Gonzalez
Gonzalez		 Orellana
Orellana
Norma
Norma		 Primorosa
Primorosa		 Religioso
Religioso

post a comment
luigi Leiva 13-Jun-2009 00:01
Estan maravillosas estas fotos, pues me recuerdan los buses que habían antes aquí en Costa Rica y digo antes, pues fue hace unos 20 anos
Luigi Leiva 12-Jun-2009 23:55
Hi I'm from Costa Rica
I like the buses, When I was a kid I use to dream with to be a bus driver and to drive a chicken bus, but I can't do it now because the traffic's low is very servere with the public transportatition. If you visit my country now You'll never find chicken buses only Brazilian buses Marcopolo, Busscar or Comil Mercedes, Volvo or Scania
Your photos are beautiful, Belive me your gallery is beautiful congratulationes!!!
jorgemario 20-Nov-2007 14:56
http://chickenbuses.tripod.com
The chicken buses are famous in Guatemala. These converted American school buses are the main form of transport around the country and are known for being so full that people hang out of the windows and doors. Check out this website for some more info and pictures.
http://chickenbuses.tripod.com
Brian From Canada 13-Dec-2006 06:02
Best darn chicken bus I ever road on!!!!
VIC MAO 13-Mar-2006 17:19
ESTAN SUPER BUENAS LAS FOTROGRAFIAS, DEMUESTRAN LA REALIDAD DE GUATEMALA, Y ESPECIALMENTE, SE VALORAN POR LA AUSENCIA QUE MUCHOS TENEMOS DE NUESTRA PATRIA.
Kassie 07-Mar-2006 23:29
i thought that all of the chickenbuses were really cute! Great pictures Georgia!
ctfchallenge 11-Apr-2005 21:28
Quelles couleurs! C´est une belle collection que tu as là.Lequel as-tu pris?
Doris
jostein 16-Dec-2004 12:18
It was great to see fotos of so many different chickenbuses
4 years ago I brought back a chickenbus to Denmark. Each summer it is on the Roskilde festival serving as a bar. You can see it on www.gringobar.com
seb 29-Jul-2004 09:11
Splendid! It reminds me of my tip around Guatemala last year! How fantastic!!
Gwyn 25-May-2004 22:19
Hi,
I'm in Antigua, Guatemala. FYI the Chicken bus industry is big business. A number of families are involved. For example Esmeralda *note spelling, has 35 buses on the road every day. In the same family is the Dorita company. Although they are American school buses, they are modified for use in Guatemala. The Esmeralda company uses 10 window Bluebird bodies, with an International Harvester or Ford chassis. Engines are changed to CAT 3208 325HP turbocharged and intercooled. Transmissions are 6 speed manual, with a split rear axle, giving 12 forward gears. Add air (not hydraulic) brakes, longer seats, and a roof rack, plus a paint job, and you have a chicken bus! In a country where the average wage is $6 a day, this is a major investment. Import duty alone on the original (used) bus is $4,000. By the way, loved the photos.
Carol E Sandgren 26-Apr-2004 22:57
Love these colorful busses! Fun gallery and slice of life!
...but where are the chickens???
Did you ride in these to get around??
Wendy O 05-Feb-2004 04:06
How fun! These are fantastic.
Jal 04-Feb-2004 23:56
Lovely gallery Georgia.
Only you can come up with something like this and make it work!
Jal
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