Chiva (means of transport)
A chiva ( Spanish for goat ) or escalera (Spanish for ladder / stairs ) is a type of bus found in rural Colombia and Ecuador . Chivas are adapted to rural public transport, especially considering the mountainous landscape of the Andean regions of these countries.
The buses are typically painted with the yellow, blue, and red colors of the flags of Ecuador and Colombia, as well as local arabesques and figures. Most have a ladder on the roof rack, which is also used for moving people, livestock and goods.
The Chivas are based on a bus chassis with a modified structure made of metal or wood. The benches are made of wood, the vehicles are equipped with doors instead of windows. The owner or driver usually gives the vehicle a unique nickname.
history
Chivas were first introduced in the Antioquia department in the early 20th century. Farmers in the region usually used horse-drawn carts to transport goods. In 1908, the Colombian engineer Luciano Restrepo and the Colombian mechanic Roberto Tisnes imported a chassis from the United States . In Medellin they built the first bus body. This first bus was used on a route between downtown Medellin and the city of El Poblado . The first models were very simple, with a canvas roof and four benches. The bodies of the newer models were modified with a roof rack that farmers could use to transport their goods.
There is no official date when this type of bus was first introduced in West Antioquia . In the book Memories of my country ( Memorias de mi tierra ) of the Colombian writer tells Alirio Díaz through the first vehicles ever driven in Antioquia by the Las Palmas Street. The most reliable report comes from the book Notes on the History of San Vicente ( Apuntes para la Historia de San Vicente ), in which the Colombian author Ricardo Zuluaga Gil tells of the arrival of the first Chiva: “It was an event that marked the heyday of Saint Vicente Changed: The arrival in town in 1922 of the first automobile engine powered Chiva. It was a 'truck escalera' [the origin of the chiva]. It was made by Rionegro from Mr. Lino Arbelaez by driving on the old royal road; for this they needed a spade and shovel. ""
The term escalera ( ladder ) was coined because the buses have a ladder, which is usually on the back of the bus. This ladder enables people to move their belongings onto the roof of the bus. The bus became a rural solution to ensure the movement of both cargo and passengers. The special and essential feature of these buses is the combination of wood and metal . The chivas became the cultural trademark of rural Colombia in the early 20th century. This aesthetic approach to a tool that was of the utmost importance to the naturally evolved peasants and some of them have evolved from today into actual works of art.
Symbol of Colombia and controversy
Chivas are known nationally and internationally as a symbol of Colombian culture, especially rural Colombia. On the other hand, they are controversial and subject to criticism. The main reason is that instead of being a symbol of Colombian diverse urban and rural culture, chivas are rather a symbol of underdevelopment and the rustic chopping machine is meant to be used in urban areas.
present
Chivas or escalera buses are still used today as the main transport system in mostly very poor and remote rural areas of Colombia. However, they are slowly being replaced by newer, faster and more efficient minibuses in most places. In cities, they are increasingly used as party buses , especially in warmer cities. They are also used as advertising space and serve as a tourist attraction. Currently, these vehicles are also used as mobile discotheques in different parts of Colombia, provided they are equipped with good sound equipment, disco lights and microphones. A company that has specialized in this type of attraction has been chivas & travel Colombia since 1998 . It offers special variants developed not only for tourism, but also for entertainment, culture and education, in which they use the buses as classrooms. The Jeepao is a similar version of the Chiva, but in a Willie's Jeep .
Chivas in other places
Chivas are found not only in South America but in other places as well, including the United States . With the increase in Colombian and Ecuadorian populations in New York , these buses are also used there. They are developed there as party buses that are equipped with their own bar and often find party-goers in the city. Drew Barrymore , Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz traveled in a Chiva for the New York premiere of Charlie's Angels . The party buses are also used in Panama as the Chiva Parrandera .
Movies
- Stefan Richts: 360 ° - GEO report: Chivas, Colombia's colorful buses
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Revista Semana: La chiva ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Article in Spanish on semana.com.
- ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from March 1, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Carrocerias de los Buses y el diseno industrial.
- ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from March 24, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Nelson Quiroga, Guia turistico
- ↑ Tanzina Vega: A Taste of Colombia Rolls Through New York's Streets . The New York Times. March 2, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
