Diablo Rojo! What is that?

Indianapolis 500 car race? Nope, but that is what you would think these people are doing. You think they are trying to see who wins! These people are the Diablo Rojos (Red Devils) or taxi drivers. When they are not in the middle of traffic they try their very best to pretend they are in the Indianapolis 500 race. The "Diablo Rojo" is very famous in Panama but also infamous! Their demise will either be a giant step forward or the death of a cultural icon. They are recycled US school buses and they have been a permanent fixture in Panama forever! Since there is no alternative, Panamanians crowd into these very decorated, loud, buses and literally hang on for dear life!

The artwork on the buses is definitely unique! I guess those of us that sit in our cars or watch from the sidewalk whereas most people need to get to where they are going and probably wonder why tourists or others like to always be taking pictures of the Diablos! They are really different. And they are hard to forget when their exhaust is ready to claim your life or at least your lungs!

You might want to take a chance and climb on board of one just so you can tell the tale one day of what it was like but I personally will remain grounded where I know I am as safe as I can get.

It is good to know they are being replaced by brand new buses that will not add more to the pollution.