Wheels on the Bus

 To drive or not to drive.  For thirty years I’ve been behind the steering wheel suffering long commutes and road trips. After much deliberation, I decided to let go in St. Lucia and let myself be driven.

So far so good!  The “buses” are really just minivans that seat a dozen large passengers three across.  Reggae music is the soundtrack for a sweaty ride through the city and up the hill. Since most of my travels are limited to a small northwest section of the island, the bus works fine for me.  I get to meet people and watch the scenery through a gritty window before attempting to navigate on my own; driving on the left and maneuvering over a circuitous and steep network of coastal roads.

Unlike most public transport, these bus drivers don’t seem bound by any specific timetable.  The 2pm bus may leave at 1:45 or 2:15 depending on the whim of the driver or persistence of the passengers.  Bus stops and routes are improvised, and vehicle maintenance seems arbitrary.  

How can you go someplace new, if you know where you’re going?