3 cars, 2 boats, and a minibus

To get anywhere in Guyana is a struggle.  The roads are less than good and with all the rivers, boats are generally required at some point in your journey.  Recently I went to the other side of Guyana, closer to Venezuela to visit Victoria and to watch the new batch of Volunteers swear in.  To get there from New Amsterdam it required me to take a car, another car, a boat, a minibus, another boat, and one last car.  I think it took 6 hours of actual traveling time but more like 8-9 hours factoring in the times it takes to wait on the car/boat/bus to fill up.  To get a true picture of what traveling in a minibus is like check out this video.  It was made in Jamaica in the 80’s but is accurate to what it’s like here in Guyana.  

Two White Girls Pon a Minibus

 

Traveling in a car is not much better but obviously you can fit less people.  While I respect the drivers aim to make as much money as they can, I do get slightly irritated sitting with 4 people in the back of a car, sometimes with a child or two in your lap.  The term used to fit this many people in is called “small up”.  There are two ways to catch a car or bus.  Either you go to a car park where the cars will go to a designated place, like if I am going to Georgetown from New Amsterdam, I would go to the Georgetown car park.  Or if you are going more local, you stand at the side of the road and hold out your hand, point your finger down for a short drop, point it up for a longer ride. 

Boats are similar in that you go to a designated spot to catch a specific boat and they will cram as many people in as possible.  Only now you are required to wear a life jacket (this is mostly because very few Guyanese people can swim).  Boats are actually a cheaper way to travel in Guyana so they are preferred by most Peace Corps Volunteers. 

So with all forms of transportation they goal is to make as much money as possible.  This means you don’t leave until the car/bus/boat is full.  The only exception is getting a car on the road, then you make as many stops as possible to get as many people as you can.  One of the more frustrating aspects of traveling is that there are no designated bus or car stops (with the exceptions of the car parks).  So your bus will make as many stops as there are people in the car, and sometimes only feet apart from each other.  This makes the trip very long.  And of course there is no AC, so it’s a hot and sweaty ride. 

In the end you do all this to get to see your friends and more parts of your host country.  It becomes normal and routine.  In fact I’m so used to it when I get back home I am not sure how I’m going to get around!!!

Worth the struggle to get to see views like this!