Ann Rossiter

?I do not drive. But I have noticed that most car drivers find buses a nuisance in Mauritius. Very often I take the normal bus and I must say I enjoy being a bus passenger. I am surprised that foreigners use the bus very rarely. Using the bus is a really good way to see and understand life in Mauritius. Most of the buses are definitely not new, but I find them very clean! They are very well maintained! They are very peaceful! For me, the bus is like a classroom. The driver is like the teacher, and the passengers as the pupils. For me, as a foreigner, the greatest thing is what you can see outside the window. In fact, the bus has two advantages. The first one is that it goes at the right speed, so that you can look outside the window. Whereas, when you are in a car, you do not tend to look outside the window. The second advantage is that, when you are in a bus, you see things through the window from quite high. Moreover, the reason why I enjoy taking the bus is that I am not considered as a foreigner. I pay the same price as others and people do not take notice of me. If I need any information, people are always polite towards me. The other things I like about buses are the names given to them. Sometimes there are some romantic names such as ?Pôle de l?Ouest, Blue Savannah, L?Alouette?? There are also some very funny names such as ?British Airways, AC Milan?? What I also like are the bus shelters, which are designed. Some are designed in Creole style, which is wonderful. Also, thanks to the posters, you get up-to date with what is happening in Mauritius, for example, regarding political demonstrations, concerts, etc. Again, I think tourists and foreigners should use buses more often. Of course some are worried about the safety issues. Being a bus traveller, I am convinced to travel by bus is extremely safe.?