Getting places in Lima should be quite straightforward. At least it would be if it wasn’t for the sheer number of buses, collectivos, mototaxis and cabs that clog the streets. For a non-resident it’s quite hard to work out which bus to catch from where. There are bus stops, but most buses stop just about anywhere, the conductors hanging out the doors shouting unintelligible destinations in some local code. Some helpfully have the destination streets painted on the side of the bus so you can tell where you might have gone as it rattles past you at speed (drivers will be either aggressively accelerating or standing on the brakes, sometimes both).
The horn is also used expressively as follows:
a) Out of the way, I’m a bus!
b) Hey, I’m going through this red light anyway.
c) Do you want to get on this bus? If so I’ll immediately swerve across 2 lanes of traffic.
d) I’m overtaking you, rival slower bus, so watch out (accompanied by conductor making obscure hand gestures from the open door)
e) I haven’t used the horn in the last 19 seconds, so I better check it’s still working.
f) Everyone else is honking so I better join in too (optional: also flash headlights repeatedly)
g) I’m not going any further until at least one passenger gets on. Come on, there’s loads of you standing there, someone must want a ride???
As you can see, bus travel is always an exciting adventure in Peru.
h) Honk if you’re proud to be Peruvian.