Yesterday was our first experience with the public bus system in Antigua. Our temporary hometown of Jolly Harbour is the terminus of Route 20. This gave us the opportunity to learn how the bus system works in a less stressful setting. After a few iterations, we got the fares paid. EC$ 3.25 apiece in Eastern Caribbean currency, which is about US$ 1.25 (I think).
The bus vehicle itself was actually a 12-person van, manual transmission, right hand drive, open windows, and a radio set to Caribbean Gospel Music. As usual, passengers climbed on and off at various stops along the route. The driver would occasionally do a drive-by shout-out to a friend walking along the road. At various times, fellow travelers included two kids off to a futball match, a mother with small children and a big bag of laundry, a fellow who seemed to enjoy loudly conversing with himself in Creole, private security guards headed off to their jobs, and two travelers from Colorado in the USA.
Bus stops are every kilometer or so, but no problem just flagging down the bus. And to get off the bus before your arrival at the Bus Terminal, just assertively declare "BUS STOP" or "HERE", and the driver will pull over. The bus was often hot and muggy, but the breeze through the open windows was refreshing as the bus sped across less populated stretches.
Upon arrival at the Western Bus Terminal, we were greeted with the bustle of many many Aniguan shoppers, who politely flowed among the numerous public markets in city center. It was Saturday, the biggest shopping day of the week. Automobiles crept through narrow colonial streets. As we strolled away from the Bus Terminal and towards the cruise ship dock, the fruit and vegetable markets yielded to souvenir shops, while the prices evolved from EC$ into US$.
Lunch was at a small but popular restaurant, not far from the Bus Terminal. We shared a large plate of stewed chicken with pasta. It was very flavorful. I’m not sure of the spices, but they were not of the hot pepper variety. EC$ 15.00. The flat screen TV behind us played a Danny Glover movie, dubbed over in Spanish, with Chinese subtitles.
The bus driver was kind and helpful . All passengers were respectful and courteous. No worries at all.
Kevion Souvenir
::Raymond Czaplewski
::Yesterday was our first experience with the public bus system in Antigua. Our temporary hometown of Jolly Harbour is the terminus of Route 20. This gave us the opportunity to learn how the bus system works in a less stressful setting. After a few iterations, we got the fares paid. EC$ 3.25 apiece in Eastern Caribbean currency, which is about US$ 1.25 (I think). The bus vehicle itself was actually a 12-person van, manual transmission, right hand drive, open windows, and a radio set to Caribbean Gospel Music. As usual, passengers climbed on and off at various stops along the route. The driver would occasionally do a drive-by shout-out to a friend walking along the road. At various times, fellow travelers included two kids off to a futball match, a mother with small children and a big bag of laundry, a fellow who seemed to enjoy loudly conversing with himself in Creole, private security guards headed off to their jobs, and two travelers from Colorado in the USA. Bus stops are every kilometer or so, but no problem just flagging down the bus. And to get off the bus before your arrival at the Bus Terminal, just assertively declare "BUS STOP" or "HERE", and the driver will pull over. The bus was often hot and muggy, but the breeze through the open windows was refreshing as the bus sped across less populated stretches. Upon arrival at the Western Bus Terminal, we were greeted with the bustle of many many Aniguan shoppers, who politely flowed among the numerous public markets in city center. It was Saturday, the biggest shopping day of the week. Automobiles crept through narrow colonial streets. As we strolled away from the Bus Terminal and towards the cruise ship dock, the fruit and vegetable markets yielded to souvenir shops, while the prices evolved from EC$ into US$. Lunch was at a small but popular restaurant, not far from the Bus Terminal. We shared a large plate of stewed chicken with pasta. It was very flavorful. I’m not sure of the spices, but they were not of the hot pepper variety. EC$ 15.00. The flat screen TV behind us played a Danny Glover movie, dubbed over in Spanish, with Chinese subtitles. The bus driver was kind and helpful . All passengers were respectful and courteous. No worries at all.
mikah Joseph
::Thagpaul Gaimchand
::Jamual Peters
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