Le peuple le plus accueillant?

Well, yeah, you're just too adorable! But not everyone is that lucky, mind you.

Nine years ago, the English were my favorites:

Welcoming without being intrusive, and a sense of humor that suited me. 😛

Since I haven’t been back to that country, I don’t know if that’s still the case.

Everyone will have their own idea based on what they’re looking for in terms of welcome.

An overbearing people isn’t "welcoming" to me.

The welcome should also be free—no expectations in return. Otherwise, it’s just a commercial attitude.

It’s about putting someone back on the right path, sharing a joke for a moment, smiling. A brief moment of connection.

It’s definitely not about imposing yourself, being clingy, or inviting people left and right.

The welcome in the USA feels pretty off-putting to me. You never know if it’s commercial or genuine, if the words are just empty or if there’s real interest.

Some peoples can be both incredibly welcoming and a nightmare. I’m thinking of Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.

To be honest, I don’t really care about the welcome, at least not beyond a certain point. It’s not what I’m looking for when I travel.

I guess no one will mention the Germans. For one thing, it's not a major tourist destination—not the first place people think of, anyway.

I spent a lot of time with them in the past, and I can say it’s easy to end up invited over, and they’re happy to share what they have. One word sums up a lot of my memories: joviality. Someone once told me that while they’re really friendly at first, they tend to drift away later. But who knows if that was just a personal experience or a general thing.

I suppose no one will mention the Germans. Already because it’s not a major tourist destination, not the first country people think of, anyway.

I’ve spent a lot of time with them in the past, and I can say you often end up being invited, and they’re happy to share what they have. The word that sums up a lot of my encounters is "joviality." Someone once told me that while they’re super friendly at first, they tend to drop you later. But who knows if that was just a personal experience or a general thing.

Germany is a priority for me to visit, especially for its castles and forests. 🤔 As for the Germans I met while working in equestrian tourism, I had a different impression of them than you did. They’d show up drunk as skunks at insane hours, especially given the temperatures, and they *had* to gallop ("gallop fast, Camargue horses go vroom," as they’d say like pigs). 😂 And most of them weighed over 130 kilos. 😱 Luckily, I had a pair of horses specially for obese riders that could handle the weight of these very particular clients. Unfortunately, there were a lot of broken saddles and tack (which they willingly paid for), but when it came to the horses, they couldn’t care less about exhausting them. So, not the best memories of people who don’t understand you shouldn’t drink like demons during siesta time in 50°C heat, especially if you want to enjoy horseback rides in the wild. On the other hand, you could say they’re fun-loving, but maybe a bit over the top.

Okay, but the topic is about welcoming *people*, not *welcoming people*.

They work while we wander around. I think the key is really our own attitude.

That’s so true! As I mentioned earlier, people are your own mirror...😇 Having said that, there’s "interested" hospitality and sincere hospitality. It’s not easy to tell the difference between the two, especially when you’re only passing through a country as a tourist for a few days—something we all do to some extent on this forum.

I lived and worked in the UK for a few years. I wouldn’t say Anglo-Saxons are the most welcoming people on earth, but they’re generally polite and courteous. It’s hard, if not impossible, to deepen relationships there. In New Zealand and Western Australia, I found the locals much more sociable, but we were traveling as tourists. The people we met in the western USA were very often open and welcoming. How many times were we invited into their homes... It’s really easy to strike up a conversation, but the relationships still tend to stay pretty superficial. Without generalizing too much, people in all these countries are "helpful," a quality that France sadly lacks...

When traveling, I really enjoyed connecting with Iranians and Syrians. I found them quite disinterested, unlike in countries in the Near and Middle East that suffer from overtourism.

There are also a lot of "truly kind" people in the Balkans.

But for me, the award for kindness goes to Nepalis (when you’re a tourist). Even though most locals have a commercial interest in being helpful, many are very poor, yet they always go out of their way to make you happy. I honestly love going back to that country regularly. Such positive vibes...😇

Everyone will have their own idea based on what kind of welcome they're looking for.

True. In this discussion, we're talking about "accueil" (welcome) and "rencontres" (meet-ups). They’re not quite the same thing.

The welcome should also be free; the host shouldn’t expect anything in return. Otherwise, it’s just a commercial attitude.

Still, that commercial attitude—warm, personalized, and unobtrusive welcome—is really important to me. I hate feeling like a sucker being hustled when I walk into any shop or tourist spot.

I’d like to add one thing: the more openness you sow, the more sincerity you reap. No matter the country or the people ;)

The more openness you sow, the more sincerity you reap.

What do you mean by that exactly?

in Western Australia

I won’t argue with that!!!

The more openness you sow, the more sincerity you reap.

What do you mean by that exactly?

It means people reflect back what you’re able to give. In travel, just like in real life. (I’m speaking generally, not about you ;))

hi, Tahitians are really welcoming. When you arrive at Papeete Airport, they’re all playing the ukulele, wearing flower necklaces, and they personally give you a flower necklace as a gift. They welcome you by saying *Te Onara*. Anyway, I’m just imagining—I’ve never actually set foot in Papeete

I didn’t take it personally. 🙂

People reflect back what you’re capable of giving. In travel as in real life.

I don’t know, I’m not really convinced.

I’m also not convinced that an entire people can be welcoming or unpleasant as a whole.

I think most are indifferent, some are curious, and others are interested (not necessarily financially).

I also think, as has already been mentioned, that the more touristy a place is, the more unwelcoming it becomes. Too much of a good thing...

Finally, if the cultural gap between people is too wide, the welcome can turn into an incident or discomfort.

I also think that, as has already been mentioned, the more touristy a place is, the more it's a real letdown. Too much of a good thing can be bad...

Not necessarily. It really depends on the visitor's attitude.

Finally, if the cultural gap between people is too big, the welcome can turn into an incident or discomfort.

Again, if the tourist with all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop makes no effort and doesn’t give up any of their cultural norms, things can definitely go wrong.

To wrap up, I’d rather be greeted warmly in a shop, even if the interaction comes with a price tag.

I wasn’t seeing the discussion through the behavior of visitors. Simply put, where do you receive the best welcome, no matter who you are? That’s how I understood it. You’d have to have visited a lot of countries to confidently weigh in on that. And spent several weeks in different places too.

On that note, for a region I know well, which of you have been to Alsace and what was your experience like in terms of hospitality?

hello, Tahitians are very welcoming. When you arrive at Papeete Airport, they’re all playing the ukulele, wearing flower necklaces, and they personally give you a flower necklace. They welcome you by saying Te Onara. Anyway, I’m just imagining because I’ve never set foot in Papeete

I can confirm. They’re indeed very welcoming to tourists. The ukulele at the airport upon arrival isn’t a myth. Back when we were there, they were even playing while masked (It was during the summer of 2021). I had seriously considered requesting a transfer there for 3 years, but it didn’t happen. I probably would’ve lost my illusions...

I wasn’t looking at the discussion through the behavior of visitors. Just where do you receive the best welcome, whoever you are.

It’s still an interaction! 😊

good evening Nimou74, thanks for the reply. I may joke about things, but when it comes to Polynesia, there’s still another side to the story, isn’t there?

Not necessarily. It really depends on the visitor’s attitude.

It’s like at any counter (whether private or public): when you’re asked the same thing for the millionth time, you eventually lose patience...

Again, if the tourist with their big clunky shoes makes no effort and doesn’t give up any of their cultural habits, it can definitely cause friction.

You could write the same sentence replacing "tourist" with "local"...

You have to accept others as they are. Isn’t that the foundation of hospitality?

And to conclude, I’d rather be greeted warmly in a shop, even if the interaction is transactional.

Yes and no.

If it’s too overly sweet, I either end up feeling uncomfortable or find the place suspicious.

In the topic, there’s "people" and "welcoming"? People are sedentary (or nomadic!) in places where they receive visitors. They’re welcoming when they offer you hospitality, share their lives, tell you about their lives, and take an interest in yours. That’s when we appreciate things, but sometimes the time—our "visit" time—is short! Still, we value the quality of the encounter and the possible exchanges! I forgot in my "welcoming peoples"... Cubans! And the Guatemalan Indians! Burkinabés! The Japanese! Good evening! Lillie

Attila once explained that meeting people while traveling wasn’t her priority. She also said she didn’t mind only being with other tourists while traveling. I also like knowing who’s behind the usernames, so I’m taking note of what’s being said 😊

meeting people while traveling wasn't her priority.

Yes.

She also said that being only with tourists while traveling didn’t bother her.

No.

What bothers me is the crowd, the masses. Tourists or locals, it’s all the same.

Thanks! :)

Hello,

Latin Americans are generally very sociable (Indigenous peoples are still more reserved), they’ll tell you their life story really quickly, and we’re on a first-name basis right away. But they’re not "welcoming" in the sense that it’s very rare for them to invite you to their home—to eat or have coffee, for example.

And the only Latin American country where the people I met would say "welcome" to me was El Salvador.

Otherwise, as explorer and writer Alexandra David-Néel once said, "He who travels without meeting others isn’t traveling; he’s just moving around."

Hi,

Yes, you could put it that way, but "meeting the other" in the anthropological sense doesn’t mean "having great encounters" or building warm, friendly, or cordial relationships. For an anthropologist, "meeting the other" means much more broadly experiencing alterity—discovering that what we consider normal isn’t universal. It’s mostly about perspective, listening, and observation.

Hospitality is a cultural construct, so in that sense, "the most welcoming people" for each of us is often the group where we find the closest match to our own idea of what hospitality should be.

Michel

Hello,

For me, meeting others while traveling means exchanging and learning more about the country I’m visiting—and that’s exactly what happened. For example, in Guatemala, I wrote about it in my travel journal on Myatlas. On a bus, I met a woman who works in Human Rights with Indigenous peoples. She had known Rigoberta Menchú, the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner, for a long time. That encounter at the end of my trip was incredibly enriching; it gave me the chance to ask her lots of questions about things that had struck or shocked me during my journey.

What’s more, by talking to locals, they can also learn about the countries tourists come from. Still in Guatemala, a young Indigenous law student (also met on a bus!) was amazed that in France, 13- or 14-year-old girls aren’t mothers. She thought it was the same as in Guatemala.

In El Salvador, chatting with people taught me so much about the *maras*—horrors I had no idea about (at first, I even thought people were lying). I also learned about the civil war by talking to those who lived it (former guerrillas, refugees, etc.).

And in 2022, I was in Panama during the massive protests. There, too, I learned a ton because people were furious with the government and wanted to talk.

But I know many travelers focus mainly on landscapes, monuments, etc., and don’t engage with the local population. That’s a shame because travel is so much more rewarding when you connect with people. For me, it’s the best way to truly get to know a country.

And sure enough, talking to people makes you realize that what seems normal to us isn’t universal. But to meet others, you first have to be open to exchange.

On another note, for a woman traveling alone in Latin America, it’s not uncommon to get all kinds of invitations from men, but that has nothing to do with a country’s hospitality.

"But to meet others, you first have to be open to exchange."

Open to exchange—or not, or not too much, or less—it’s already a judgment, an intellectual construct. For me, there’s no need to exchange words, arguments, or experiences to meet others in the anthropological sense you mentioned. That was just it 🙂.

Michel

Hello,

If I understand correctly, your point aligns with this Seneca quote I also like: "What’s the point of traveling if you bring yourself along? It’s your soul that needs to change, not the climate."

But you should give some concrete examples....

Hello,

Concrete examples of what?

Michel

Totally agree with you. Book knowledge isn’t really my thing... at least not for me. What matters is what you actually experience—the day-to-day reality.

Sometimes it’s pointless trying to explain... There are those who overanalyze everything and those who only care about landscapes and animals... 😏

If you speak Spanish in Latin America, conversations really go off the beaten path.

Hi there,

Yes, I’m bilingual, and it’s true that in Latin America, you don’t have to push people to talk to you—they’ll chat about anything and do it willingly, especially in Colombia, El Salvador, and Brazil (I get by in Portuguese but I’m not bilingual).

Indigenous communities tend to be more reserved, though.

On the topic of invitations, I just remembered that in Colombia, a Colombian family I met at a tourist site invited me to join them at some thermal baths. I turned them down because I wasn’t sure if the offer was genuine and I didn’t know the social norms there. Later, I asked some Colombians, and they told me the invitation was sincere and I could’ve gone with them without any issues.

He who travels without meeting others doesn’t travel—he merely moves.

Meh.

Some people only meet others during their travels, ignoring everything else.

Some only engage with others when they seem different, snubbing those who are like them.

Others only meet fellow travelers but never—or barely—locals.

Personally, I don’t travel to meet people. But I inevitably do (the customs officer, the cop who fines me, hotel/restaurant/museum staff, train station clerks, pharmacists for traveler’s diarrhea, taxi drivers, hitchhikers, exhausted hikers, gas station attendants, mechanics, etc.).

It’s impossible not to cross paths with anyone, especially in overpopulated countries.

Sometimes, it’s really unfortunate.

I could do without crowds at tourist sites (so many potential encounters in one place: Chinese, Indians, Germans, Italians, Americans—*gulp*—French...) and certain people on hiking trails (silence is the best music on a trail).

Personally, I don’t travel to meet people.

It’s impossible to never cross paths with anyone, especially in overpopulated countries

Hi there,

Personally, meeting people isn’t my main goal when traveling either, especially since you can’t plan encounters—they happen by chance. But the way I travel, alone and using public transport, means I inevitably meet people.

That said, encounters really enrich a trip—it’s a big plus. I notice the difference when I travel to countries where I don’t speak the language. Without exchanges with locals, something’s missing.

Anyway, in Latin America, not interacting with the locals—who are very sociable—means missing out on something, or even missing the whole point, I’d say.

In Brazil, I met some Spanish tourists who’d spent 9 or 10 days in the country, split between the Pantanal and the Amazon, staying in remote lodges. They saw tons of animals, but to me, they missed the essential part: Brazilians!

And when I talk about encounters, I don’t just mean "crossing paths" with people or meeting tourism professionals (hotel staff, restaurant workers, guides, etc.) or the pharmacist if I get traveler’s diarrhea. A real encounter means having meaningful exchanges about the country (or other topics), and people are even more willing to talk and share if they see you’re genuinely interested in what they have to say.

And meeting other travelers doesn’t bother me either.

Hi,

it’s really about having exchanges about the country (or other topics), and people talk even more when they see the other person is interested in what they’re sharing.

Yes, you can listen, but in that case, take things with a grain of salt—you have to read between the lines. Between clichés, stereotypes, and polite small talk, there’s often not much of real interest to take away.

Michel

Hi there,

I think it really depends on the countries and continents.

In Latin America, while Indigenous peoples tend to be more reserved, that’s not the case for most locals.

In El Salvador, I heard some really critical and harsh opinions about Bukele, even though that’s not the dominant narrative. In Guatemala, I had conversations about machismo, the influence of evangelical churches, and more—these weren’t just superficial chats.

And some people open up even more because they know they won’t see you again.

Something's missing.

There's an "me" missing in that sentence.

Anyway, in Latin America, not interacting with the locals—who are very sociable—means missing out on something. I’d even say it means missing out on the essence of the experience.

That’s just my personal opinion.

For me, discovering the countries is essential. I don’t understand people who take the bus, or worse, night buses, which don’t let you see the landscapes at all. I think they’re missing out on the whole point of traveling. Especially since this mode of transport doesn’t take you everywhere.

When it comes to the people you meet, the workers, they’re the ones most likely to open up and communicate. I’ve learned so much more from them than from random encounters. Language barrier, cultural barrier—everything stays superficial.

Personally, I never take overnight buses—I don’t recommend them in Latin America.

In Latin America, buses go pretty much everywhere since many people can’t afford a car. Otherwise, you finish the trip by taxi or tuk-tuk, and for visiting sites, you can occasionally book a tour with an agency.

Traveling by bus is traveling in immersion, at the pace of the locals, in direct contact with them. And in Latin America, riding the *chicken buses* is a real journey within a journey—I’ve seen so many things on those buses!

I’m not sure what you mean by "workers"??? Aren’t the people who take the bus workers too?

Anyway, you can meet locals in places other than buses, but it’s an excellent way to do so!

For me, the locals are the soul of a country. Ignoring them means missing the essence of the place.

Yes, night buses are even more dangerous than daytime ones, and not just in South America.

In Latin America, buses go almost everywhere

They don’t go where I’m headed—that is, vast, nearly deserted natural spaces.

For there to be a bus, there need to be people.

If there aren’t any...

Buses restrict travel to populated areas. That means forgetting a good part of the world’s land.

Plus, buses are actually rare in parts of the world where buying an individual means of transport has become possible thanks to rising living standards.

I’ve noticed that since my first trips, about thirty years ago, public transport options have become increasingly scarce in many countries.

For visiting sites, you can occasionally take an excursion with an agency

Not at all the ideal solution for an independent traveler... On top of that, it’s usually more expensive, and you stay on the well-trodden paths. For peace of mind, you’ll often have to do without. I really only take these when I have no choice! (Places only accessible by boat, for example).

Traveling by bus means traveling immersed, at the pace of the locals, in contact with them;

In the past, it was indeed a good way to observe people for those who enjoy that, for those with a more ethnographic view of travel.

That’s less and less the case now, as tourists increasingly take over public transport.

And while old buses at least let you see the landscapes, that’s no longer true today.

Travelers find themselves in a moving coffin, their view blocked by dirt and grimy old curtains. Up front, the space is closed off, and a TV plays some noisy flops.

I did the same route in Ecuador by rental car and by bus. Long live the rental car...

I’ve had my fill of buses when it wasn’t financially or safety-wise possible to do otherwise. It could be fun, but also often grueling and tiring. Plus, I don’t like being a sideshow. It’s really uncomfortable being stared at for an entire trip because people have never seen Westerners before.

Now that renting a car has become much easier and cheaper, I don’t regret only using public transport occasionally.

In cities, it’s perfect!

I don’t know what you mean by "workers"???

All the people who have a job, whom you meet in the context of their work.

Otherwise, you can meet locals in places other than buses

At an airport, in a hotel, at a restaurant, while grocery shopping, on a walk, breaking down by the side of the road, when you’re sick, at the movies, in a museum...

For me, the locals are the soul of a country; ignoring them means missing the essence

For you.

There are many types of travelers and many reasons for traveling.

The locals are *your* focus. But not necessarily everyone else’s—others might not feel they’re missing the essence by not focusing on people.

That’s just how it is, and it’s great that we’re not all the same.

Imagine a world where everyone thought the same way, where everyone went in the same direction.

A nightmare!

The hardest part is accepting that others are different, that their path is just as valid as any other.

That’s why it’s essential to clearly state your question when opening a thread on this forum.

We often get the impression there’s only one way to travel, so it doesn’t seem necessary to specify what kind of traveler you are.

But it’s crucial!

The answers won’t be the same at all!

I’m not going to reply to everything and spend the whole day answering on the bus since that wasn’t the original topic.

Just to clarify, in Central America there aren’t any tourists on chicken buses because they have a reputation for being dangerous (accidents and armed robberies). I was the only tourist, and people kept asking if I was going to work or visit family—they didn’t think I was a tourist!

As for excursions, if I do any, it’s really occasional. In my last three big trips, I didn’t do any at all. And if I do, I negotiate the price, especially if I speak the language (in Costa Rica, I paid much less than a French tourist couple, and the manager asked me not to tell them what I’d paid).

Of course, everyone travels in their own way. The quote you mentioned in the first post wasn’t mine—it was from Alexandra David-Néel—and I completely agree with what she said.

A while ago, on a forum, I read about someone’s itinerary for a one- or two-week road trip in Greece with their family. They wanted to meet Greeks, but their trip was by car, staying one night here, two nights there, rushing from one tourist site to another. I couldn’t help but wonder *where* and *when* they’d actually meet any Greeks...

Ground transportation is total immersion in the daily lives of locals. Whether you take a bus—from the most luxurious to chicken buses—a shared taxi, or even a regular taxi, it’s a golden opportunity to admire the scenery and chat with people, often during the inevitable 30-minute meal breaks for trips longer than 4 hours.

I’ve taken school buses in Latin America. There were tourists on them (Guatemala). One time it was even...

I’ve also been the only tourist in other countries (Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia). It’s, as mentioned before, often pretty tedious (the curious creature thing).

he wanted to meet Greeks, his road trip was by car, spending one night here, two nights there, rushing from one tourist site to another, and I wondered where and when he’d actually meet any Greeks...

Staying with locals, eating every meal at restaurants, on the sites...

Any place can be an opportunity to meet people.

You just have to be good at it. Meet-ups happen when you make them happen. You leave some people somewhere for 5 minutes (anywhere, really) and they end up striking up a conversation with one or more strangers.

If the person who asked the question is like that, they’ll meet Greeks no matter what.

it’s a golden opportunity to admire the scenery

Hmm... You can’t be picky.

It has nothing to do with cars, bikes, motorcycles, or hiking.

Especially now.

Plus, you can’t just stop anywhere to admire the scenery or take a break.

Generally, public transport is either a last resort when you lack the means (especially at night), an eco-friendly challenge, or a way to travel in itself (to be among people).

to chat with people,

That’s only possible if you share a common language...

I picked up some Bolivians while hitchhiking. Well, zero conversation—they didn’t speak English, French, or even Spanish. Same in Armenia.

On a bus, you’re unlikely to run into an English-speaking Indian or Indonesian, etc. It’s easier at hotels, where more guests have some education.

Maybe in Southern Africa it was easiest to connect, since English is widely spoken there. In Morocco too, even if not everyone speaks French by a long shot.

I took some school buses in Latin America. There were tourists inside (Guatemala). One time it was even like that...

I’d be really curious to know where you saw a chicken bus full of tourists in Guatemala? And how did the tourists manage to fill it up all by themselves?? When you know how chicken buses work, it seems really surprising.

To get to Joyabaj, Nebaj, Acul, Chajul, or Todos Santos Cuchumatan, did you see chicken buses full of tourists?

I once saw two tourists between the very touristy Panajachel and Sololá (the town next door), but otherwise, I didn’t see any—even though I spent two months in Guatemala and took *plenty* of chicken buses!

Anyway, I can just picture you on a chicken bus... you must’ve suffered terribly. I always say this mode of transport isn’t for everyone...

Ground transportation is total immersion in the daily life of the locals. Whether you take a bus—from the most luxurious to chicken buses—a shared taxi, or even a regular taxi, it’s a golden opportunity to admire the scenery and chat with people.

I totally agree with you, but to make the most of it, you’ve gotta speak Spanish, be open-minded, and not be afraid of people.

On chicken buses (which they call "camionetas" in some countries), the "show" also includes all the vendors who board and give long speeches trying to sell stuff—it’s often hilarious. Some even get on to preach religious sermons to the passengers, etc.… Chicken buses are a trip within a trip—I’ve seen and heard it all on them.

Otherwise, in some countries, there are no luxury buses—just chicken buses, especially if you venture off the usual tourist routes.

The school bus was heading to Monterrico.

For the rest, tourists were getting on and off school buses bound for towns and villages that were both touristy and still inhabited, like Panajachel and Chichicastenango, or heading to less frequented spots like the Belize border crossing.

I’m talking about a time that people under 25 can’t even imagine... Back then, there were pretty much only school buses, except on major routes where the Guate-Antigua shuttles ran.

Otherwise, I picture you on a chicken bus... you must’ve suffered like crazy

Why on earth???

The distances were short. Honestly, it wasn’t the worst mode of transport I’ve taken in the world.

For Guatemala, the overnight bus ride from Guate to Flores was a far less comfortable experience...

For India, I remember a trip where the bus (a real antique) was shaking its passengers like in that Orangina ad... I had terrible back pain by the time we arrived... But what choice did we have?

When it comes to public transport, the Colombo-Galle train was the most grueling. It was basically like riding the RER on a strike day...

As for the most terrifying public transport experience I’ve had, it wasn’t on land—it was in the air, in Myanmar. When the pilot announced that one engine had failed and we needed to reach Rangoon Airport because the nearest one wasn’t equipped for emergency landings, no one said a word—not even those looking to make friends.

Just because a traveler prefers transportation that suits their style doesn’t mean they can’t handle a ride on public transport. It’s a prejudice.

That's true. I'd forgotten about the street vendors on buses. It's unavoidable in Peru. There are also guitarists in Mexico. The last one I saw was at the entrance to Bogota (the driver let him in at a red light), selling pens. I’ll take this chance to answer the forum title—I found Colombians particularly welcoming.

Street vendors’ pitches are often hilarious, especially those selling medicines and miracle creams—like a cream made from snake venom that solves all your problems (foot odor, skin blemishes, etc.).

I’ve seen it all on chicken buses: religious sermons about sin while the bus TV blasts a reggaeton music video—it’s pretty funny too. Another time, a passenger boarded with a massive portable speaker blasting upbeat religious songs at full volume, and everyone else just sat there, completely unfazed...

In Guatemala, I also saw someone get on to ask for money because they’d tried to cross the U.S. border, got turned away, and needed cash to get home. They told the whole story in detail.

Another day, a man on crutches recounted his accident in *great* detail and even took off his shirt so we could see the scars on his shoulders.

I could write pages and pages about chicken buses...

To me, chicken buses are a microcosm of Latin America—you find everything: machismo, religion (windshields often have Bible verses next to a sticker of a naked woman *and* maybe a sexist phrase), reggaeton with *very* explicit lyrics blasting; among the passengers, you see all layers of society: schoolkids in uniforms, soldiers, nuns, farmers with their typical "sombrero" and a machete at their belt, etc...

Riding a chicken bus is a whole experience! It’s nothing like the sterile buses in Western countries.

My funniest bus experience was the La Paz–Arica trip.

Here we go, the bus sets off for a long journey with its cargo of Bolivian and Chilean passengers, plus a few tourists.

After two hours, a German guy asks about the toilets.

Well, there aren’t any.

The German goes back to his seat, looking pretty disappointed, beads of sweat forming on his forehead—you could tell he wasn’t feeling great.

Ten minutes later, he asks the driver when the next stop is.

At the border! In a good hour!

The German sits back down, then stands up again and begs the driver to stop.

Being a good sport, the driver pulls over. The German rushes outside and disappears out of sight.

Passengers take advantage of this unexpected stop to get some air and have a smoke.

Three minutes later, the driver signals it’s time to go and starts the engine again.

Without the German...

Luckily, the whole bus remembers him and shouts in unison, laughing: "We forgot the gringo, stop!"

And there he is, the poor guy running after the bus while pulling up his pants...

He got back on to cheers from the crowd—I think he never took a bus without toilets again after that...

Not great, especially with traveler’s diarrhea...

He would’ve had a nightmare on that bus in Indonesia that didn’t stop for 10 hours except to pick up passengers on the fly. When it finally deigned to turn off the engine, all the passengers scattered to relieve themselves...

Anyway, the bus between Bolivia and Chile went through stunning landscapes—landscapes I couldn’t fully appreciate, especially since the most interesting part happened after dark... I would’ve gladly done the same trip by car, which would’ve been much better for me if I’d had traveler’s diarrhea...

Everyone could write a book of road anecdotes, not just about Latin America.

We’re a long way from the sanitized buses of Western countries

You only have a few years left to take this kind of trip you love.

I’ve really noticed the difference over the years, and buses will soon be the same everywhere.

Street vendors are already persona non grata on some companies.

Which is a good thing for countries because modern bus services mean the country is getting richer.