FaceBook Love

When I started Bus Stop Antigua, the purpose was to provide information that I found was lacking. What I was surprised to receive was emails from users of the site asking for specific information. It was to the degree that I was getting emails almost every month.

The thing is I've worked in retail for over 15 years so it is natural for me to ensure I meet my customers' needs. When I get a question, I try to answer it to the best of my ability. I even got in contact with the Antigua & Barbuda Transport Board to answer an email.

As this is the case, I answered an email from Natalie, doing my best to answer fully. As usual, I do it and move on to the next thing. Then a few days later my sister tells me there is a mention of Bus Stop Antigua on the FaceBook page, Customer Service in Antigua & Barbuda. She and another person sent me a FB message mentioning the mention.

To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. I thanked Natalie on the post, not only was I not expecting it but it brought attention to the website. I always believed in word of mouth, it may be slow but it is effective.

I just wanted to share even though I think I'm rambling. Hee hee.

Thanks again Natalie.

Five Tips For Bus Travel In Antigua

Although the amount of registered vehicles in Antigua is in the tens of thousands, a lot of people still depend on public transportation to travel around Antigua. Below are five tips to keep in mind on you next journey by bus:

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1. Always allow extra time for travel. Depending on your final destination, give yourself at least 30 minutes of travel time. This will include walking to the bus stop, waiting for the bus, traveling by bus and walking to your final destination. Nothing is worse than arriving late because you underestimated the time it will take to get there.
2. Upon enter a bus, greet the passengers and the bus driver with a "Good morning" "Good afternoon" or "Good evening" This is out of common decency and respect for your fellow passengers. It also shows that you still possess the manners you mama taught you.
3. Keep your music to yourself. Although the speaker quality on the latest cellular phones have gotten better, it doesn't mean you have to share your music with your fellow passengers. The only person who has the right to blast their music in a bus is the bus driver and sometimes his selections are questionable. Your personal choice of music is just that - personal - so use ear buds.
4. Use ear buds instead of headphones. Although big, chunky headphones are fashionable right now, it's better to travel with ear buds. Ear buds are lighter and take up less space and it is easier to have only one in your ear as opposed to the chunky headphones. You should always be aware of your surroundings as you never know when something will happen and you would have to act quickly. This would be near impossible if you can't hear.
5. When in doubt give the bus driver a little more than the bus fare. For short trips you can give him $3 and for longer ones $4 (during the day) when you are not absolutely sure of the bus fare. It's better to have them give you back change than have the whole bus waiting for you to pull out extra change.

For many people living in Antigua, traveling by bus is a necessity. It is their only way of getting to and from work and/or school. It also gives individuals a sense of freedom and independence as they don't have to depend on family and friends to drive them around.

Golden Moments

Growing up, my family only had ABS, Antigua & Barbuda Broadcasting Station, and although I was able to still find something to watch, one of my memories of that station is the Benson & Hedges 555 Commercials. It's amazing I never picked up the desire to smoke, LOL. That is one of the funny things about life, 25 years ago there would be commercials for cigarettes and now you can't smoke in buildings and packs of cigarettes display warning labels that cover half of the package. It's also amazing that people still smoke despite those warnings.

Forgive me I meander a lot. I mentioned the Benson & Hedges commercial because it had a woman coming out of the ocean, bathed in golds and browns. Then a couple months ago, my sis and I were at the beach, and the sun was setting. In that moment our little patch of paradise became a Benson & Hedges commercial. Sometimes life imitates art and we just have to stop and enjoy that moment in time because there is no guarantee that you will have it again.

I couldn't find the exact 555 commercial, but here are a couple I found on YouTube