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By Bus in Peru: The Art of Traveling with a Smile

 By Bus in Peru: The Art of Traveling with a Smile

As you may know, I’m an unabashed fan of Peru—the food, the people, the history, the cities, the climate, the language... In fact, I believe everything about that country brings me fond memories and delightful impressions. It’s a fascinating place. Aside from the prices, the simplicity, the complexity, the joy, and the unique way of exploring it, Peru is undoubtedly one of the best travel destinations in Latin America—especially now that we have direct flights from Brasília to Lima!

In my last trip through Peru, I had the chance to take several intercity buses, crossing through various towns of this beautiful country. One night, after we (Silvana, Humberto, and I—my trusted travel companions) arrived in a city, we had a hilariously interesting encounter. I believe it was in Arequipa.

At the bus company counter, I jokingly asked for a seat next to a beautiful girl around my age. To my surprise, the woman behind the counter replied with a calm smile: “Por supuesto, señor! I have a seat next to a 25-year-old American girl traveling alone. Is that alright with you?”

Wait, what?! I thought. This is insane! It turns out that we could know who else was on the bus—how many passengers, their ages, if they were traveling alone, and more. I was utterly fascinated by the warmth and honesty of the woman who assisted me. I had said it as a joke, but she took me seriously. Such politeness! Such trust! It made me even happier to know that, in this country I adore, sincerity and simplicity are still cherished virtues.

But of course, this wasn’t the only strange episode during the journey.

At one point, we boarded a bus with a "rodomoça" (bus stewardess) who provided in-flight service... and bingo. Yes, bingo. On a bus. At midnight. In the middle of a provincial highway. It was unbelievable. I had taken some motion sickness medicine and dozed off, but it was impossible to miss the loud clatter of the bingo game. The lady was calling out numbers while the passengers shouted "Bingo!" until one lucky winner claimed the coveted prize. And what was it? A bus ticket. Yes, a bus ticket. Lord help me. I couldn't believe it. The winner gave a small speech, praising the “guapísimas” (gorgeous) bus attendants and their amazing service.

And to add to the madness, we got on another bus where, before departure, a sofa and a wooden door (yes, a real door—like the kind you have at home) were placed in the luggage compartment. The bus had a TV that played Japanese karate movies at full volume throughout the night. At one point, a woman at the back of the bus couldn’t take it anymore and screamed, “El Volumen!” (Turn down the volume!) I nearly died laughing. And to top it off, one of the bus co-pilots changed the DVD, and the new movie that came on was... well, let’s just say it was not appropriate for a family-friendly trip.

Now, that was definitely an unforgettable trip. If you ask me, that’s what I call a vacation—and a fun one at that. But I must clarify, these bizarre experiences do not define Peru as a whole. If the country weren’t as wonderful as it is, I wouldn’t be on my third trip there, and I certainly wouldn’t be recommending it to friends and family. Peru is still one of the few Latin American countries untouched by the overwhelming cultural influence of globalization. You can hear and speak Quechua, meet the "cholas" in the streets, taste ancient recipes, and immerse yourself in a culture that’s rich with mysteries and meanings.

Peru is growing. Peru is advancing! (Don’t worry, this is just a famous government ad you see everywhere).

And, speaking of encounters, I’ll finish with the best part. As I said, I had asked for a seat next to a beautiful girl—well, when I boarded the bus, the lovely "25-year-old American" who was supposed to be my travel companion turned out to be a gorgeous American woman who looked straight out of a Hollywood movie! Now, I don’t know if this was a coincidence or if the universe had a playful side, but let’s just say that I got more than I bargained for. Sometimes life has a way of turning small jokes into surprising, albeit beautiful, outcomes.

Now, I just have to confess: I asked to sit next to her. And it seems the bus company had a sense of humor, too.