We still have a few "chicken" bus rides to take on this trip and both seeing them on the road and hearing about the bustling and colourful local scene here in Antigua I just had to see it for myself.

Seeing the buses all lined up, some with their engines idling made for an interesting at times chaotic scene. Both people and buses were coming and going. It was certainly a busy place. The food stall traders trying to earn a living but at least they had a constant ever changing customer base to try and attract with their different food offerings.

I still have to add my i phone photos when I get home. A bit more discrete using my phone camera.

For those who don’t understand why are these local buses are sometime called by us travellers “chicken buses” … simple = one could expect locals to come on board armed with their chickens or livestock, no doubt either destined for the local market or having brought them from the local market and taking them home!
 
This is what Wikipedia has to say ….

A chicken bus is a colloquial English name for a colorful, modified and decorated bus that transports goods and people between communities in various Latin American countries, especially Honduras,Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama. The base vehicle is usually a retired North American school bus on a light or medium truck chassis. The word "chicken" may refers to the fact that the buses are often crammed with passengers not unlike a truck load of chickens, or to the fact that Central Americans occasionally transport live animals on such buses–a practice that visitors from other countries often find remarkable.

Often two young men will partner in the operation of a bus, one of whom will have his license, while the other dubs himself the ayudante or "helper". Theayudante is responsible for passengers and luggage, collecting money, and organizing the suitcases, livestock, or produce, etc. onto the roof of the bus–often while in motion. Loudly announcing destinations the bus is reaching is also a responsibility.

Some buses sport vibrant paint including the bus's name and permanent route. Such forms of transport are completely stuffed with passengers (whenever possible) and then hard-driven to their destinations at top speed.

At times tourists have reported having their bags stolen from the roof of the bus, but it is possible to pay for an extra seat to put your bags on. Thanks Mr Wikipedia.

Behind the bus terminal was another part of the bustling and just as colourful local market.

I had run my local money right out with the shared cost of the tuk tuk ride so Kristian kindly gave me some of his remaining Guatemalan currency so that I could in Fernando’s Kaffe get a crepe with mushroom for Q 35 / NZ $ 5.40 / US $ 4.40 (included the tip) for breakfast.

The hotel had complementary coffee available so that side was covered.