But first before I tell you about the trip im about to embark on (in about 1.5 hours) as promised I am going to discuss the strange but common methods of the taxi collectivo and funny thing that happened while I was riding it last night. Well there is this method of transportation here called the taxi collectivo. Yes, its called collectivo because everyone and anyone rides it. The collectiovs are generally small sized cars, black, and have a sign on the roof with the name of their general destinations and routes. Everyday for school (or general transportation) I walk down the hill I live at the top of and flag down a collectivo as soon as one that goes to the University comes my way. On any given day or time the car is full of people. It did not take me long to get used to brushing up and nearly sitting on the lap of a stranger. It does not help that the terrain is hilly which make the streets narrow and windy. As the drivers of the collectivos strategically dodge stray dogs, people, and other cars we the passengers are tossed around the back seat. Being a professional collectivo passenger by now the contact with complete strangers does not bug me whatsoever unless the person happens to be a.) smelly, b.) creepy looking, or c.) acting belligerently. Fortunately the passengers generally uphold a normal appearance and not strange enough to dread touching a fiber of my clothing against theirs. But as for last night I encountered the c-type person for the first time.
Right after I joined the elderly driver and two other elderly passengers a crazy looking teenage kid stops the driver and asks for a ride. With one glance at this kid you could tell he had some problems. After he proceeded to lie to the driver affirming that he had money to pay for his voyage the driver asked for his faire. Not so surprisingly the juvenile responds in a raspy and substance impaired manner indicating that in fact he has no money at all but once he gets to his desired location he will get money to pay. Instead of trusting the passenger the driver asks the kid to get out immediately. He quickly shot back saying I will pay you when I get to the place I want to go in his best speech. Afer a minute of the collectivo driver yelling at the kid in a mixture of chilean garabatos (bad words) and commands the elderly man sitting to my left in the back seat of the cab decides to put his two-cents in. At this point the kid had no signs of complying so the driver suddenly stopped and me sitting next to this ridiculous character decided to help out the driver and old man in the back by opening the door for the kid. Still, he would not exit the cab so the driver quickly grabbed a baton-like weapon from under his seat and hopped out of the car. As soon as the kid saw he had a weapon he too hopped out of the car and started walking away yelling profanity at the poor old collectivo driver. I thought ahh ok great we will be on our way soon enough, I can get home and go to sleep. To my surprise I see the old short-statured man run toward the kid as best as his small ancient legs could carry him with weapon in hand. The old man proceeded to strike the kid with what looked like all of his might on the back of the neck of the kid. Fortunately with all the force the old man could muster the blow looked no more painful than a slight tap on the wrist. Luckily the blow was either hard enough or scarey enough for the kid go running down the street. At that point, all I could do was join in the laughter with my fellow travelers. The old man quickly hobbled back to the car and we left. As soon as the action occured silence again returned amongst the passengers as it is the norm for everyone to sit completely silent and rigid during the duration of their travel. Ahh the collectivos they are such a great source of excitement at times.
So now I will be leaving in less than an hour running on my 20th consecutive hour without sleep. It has been such an eventful and exciting day that I didn't get a chance to nap. And I have to say it has been a great day. And now I'm leaving to southern Chile. First me and my 3 girl friends from class are taking a bus to Santiago airport. From there we are flying to Puntas Arenas. We'll be staying there until the 13 visiting Torre del Paine (a nature reserve), Tierra del Fuego, and Ushuaia (the so-called most southern city in the world). Next we fly to Puerto Montt where we will stay for the remainder of the trip, and visiting sites around those parts. Then on the 23rd we will be taking our flight back to Santiago and back home to Viña del Mar. Wish me luck!
Chao!
~Robert Carl
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