When I first arrived at my apartment in Ecuador, I noticed what appeared to be a brightly lit caterpillar on wheels cruising through traffic alongside taxis and buses. Music blasting, it swerved around corners and sped alongside the sidewalk, picking up and dropping off children and adults alike. I knew right away that I had to investigate. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it when I went to explore Monday after I arrived! Befuddled, I asked around and found out that los Gusanitos only operate on weekends. I'd have to wait a whole week before taking my first ride. While I waited, I came up with a bunch of questions for the drivers. Did los Gusanitos have individual names? How fast can they go? Who uses them the most? After a week of waiting, I finally received all those answers and then some.
The transportation available in Ecuador varies depending on where in the country you find yourself. In some areas, children walk hours to get to school each day. In other places, a bus is the only way to travel. In Quito, where I live, I can choose between a bus system, an underground metro, a taxi or Uber, walking, or, if I felt very brave, on the back of a friend's motorcycle. I usually take the metro to get to the university where I teach. But none of these options are nearly as fun as los Gusanitos.
