As most of you know, we don’t have a car on our mission. The Mission Leaders each have a car and the other senior missionary, Elder Nye occasionally gets to drive one of their cars but for us it is all about public transportation. The Mission Office and our church building are walking distance away, as is a nice grocery store and some restaurants. To get other places our normal mood of travel is a moto taxi. Essentially a 3 wheeled motorcycle with a covered seat on the back, they vary from a moderately comfortable ride to a bone rattling, teeth jarring experience.
I am amazed at the bargaining that goes on. Since we obviously aren’t Peruvian, they often try to take advantage of us with outrageously high prices. Sometimes we just laugh at them and then they give us a reasonable price while other times they stick to the original price. The young missionaries say that we always pay too much and we are running the prices up for them. Bargaining for a lower price seems crazy when you remember that we are essentially having a discussion over the equivalent of less $.50 but it is part of the routine to get the best price possible.
As we walk along the sidewalks we frequently hear the call from passing moto-taxis, “Moto, Moto” as the drivers drum up business.
You can even hire a moto to help you move!
They carry all kinds of things. Our missionaries use motos when they transfer to a new area. Both missionaries usually have 2 bags each weighing 50 pounds. So 200 lbs of luggage plus the missionaries themselves. And yes they do charge more for the extra weight. As they should.
The other day while stopped at an intersection, I heard a horrible screaming sound. It sounded like someone was being beaten. When I looked around to figure out what was happening, I saw a moto with 6 or 7 goats strapped all around the cargo area and sides of the moto. They were most definitely NOT enjoying the ride. I am so sorry I wasn’t fast enough to get a photo.
Occasionally our missionaries get a ride in the cargo area and other times they sit on the sides of the driver. I suspect that this is against some missionary rule.
On the way home from church I saw a moto that had been pulled over by a policeman. I can’t imagine what he did as they frequently don’t follow any rules. Sometimes they go the wrong way on a one way streets or make left turns from the right lane and generally drive like they own the road.
When we went to Tumbes, which is the town up by the Ecuadorian border, we went by overnight bus.
The seats were much more comfortable than an airplane seat. They were wider, softer and reclined much more. I slept quite well. It helps to be short!
I think this must be a daily occurrence as he seemed comfortable.
And finally….it is amazing what people will do to earn money. At every major intersection there are willing workers who will wash your windows, sell you a paper, or a drink, or candy. I thought this guy was particularly inventive and extremely brave.
When the light was in his favor, he jumped on his unicycle and juggled. Just before the light changed, he hopped down and went car to car asking for money.
I think he had earned it.
Getting around in Piura is always an adventure.
We are extremely thankful to have our driver, William and his comfy car when we do inspections of missionary apartments all over the city.
Makes our life so much easier.
And we have plenty of transportation stories from our non-inspection days.
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