La Vida en Tuxtla

Colectivos are mini-vans with the seats rearranged so there is a bench behind the front seats and one on each side of the van. There is a side door that opens and closes at the push of a button (although it may be thought control - I have never actually seen the button). The most important thing about the colectivo is that they are driven by drivers carefully screened to ensure that each and every one has a death-wish. I am certain the test to be a colectivo driver is given at 140 km/hr in heavy traffic. You must kill at least two pedestrians and injure three or four passengers to pass the test. OK, perhaps I am exaggerating. It may only be necessary to kill one pedestrian. You get the idea.

When you get on, you sit down and pass the money (4 pesos) to the driver who makes change and then it is passed back to you. Anyone who says that men can’t multitask has never seen a colectivo driver talk on a cell phone, make change for a 200 peso bill and weave his way through traffic at speeds approaching the speed of sound. One positive aspect of colectivos is that they eliminate the need for caffeine.

PS: La Vida en Tuxtla (Life in Tuxtla) will be a continuing column like En Mi Vecindario (In My Neighbourhood), Strange Things I Have Eaten So Far and Funny Signs. If I am using Spanish and you don't speak Spanish, go to Babel Fish, cut and paste the Spanish Text in, select Spanish to English and click on Translate. Here is the link:

http://babelfish.altavista.com/