I felt like people were watching me because I was not from the area. Also, I did not know where to pay and how much the journey cost, so I was also confused. However, now that I know how the system works, I feel more comfortable. I know where the stops are and which bus to take and that I pay in the front or to the attendant collecting the fare. At the begining, it was intimidating to navigate the bus system and get around Lima. Getting over my fear was worth it because now I feel like a pro! And I am also not afraid of traveling anywhere now.
Traveling on the bus seems to be the most common way to get around in Lima. With over eight million people living here, not everyone has a desire to get a car: they do not want to pollute the air even more in this way. Also, there are definite advantages to taking the bus. One of these benefits is that you can make friendships with fellow passengers. For example, my friend Esa met one of her classmates on the bus heading to school, and now they are close friends. I have also met people on buses who have given me recommendations on where to go eat. Walking everywhere also seems to be popular with Peruvians because they enjoy seeing the beautiful parks around the city and getting fresh air. Some people also prefer to ride a bike or a scooter because for the most part, it is a lot faster than car travel which can be slow due to the volume of traffic on the roads.
