Stan Raucher Photography
Galleries
Slideshows may take a few
moments to load and begin.
This site is not compatible
with Internet Explorer 10
All content © Stan Raucher
Site updated on 04/16/2013
* * *
Project Description - Central de Autobuses de Segunda Clase
At the south end of town, on the other side of long-abandoned railway tracks and across from the large Abastos market is Central de Autobuses de Segunda Clase - The Second Class Bus Terminal of Oaxaca, Mexico. This antiquated structure has rusty metal doors, broken glass windows, a corrugated tin roof, run-down plastic chairs, walls that haven’t seen a paintbrush in decades, and, depending on the weather, a muddy or dusty passenger loading area. Inside the terminal are ticket counters for companies that offer slow, sporadic transportation to outlying villages on rickety old buses. Most of the long-distance bus traffic that once originated from this location has been diverted to a new station in the northern part of the city. Many people traveling to the nearby villages now use more convenient collectivo taxis or smaller minivans, but the station still attracts people who wish to save a few pesos on their trip. The terminal houses restaurants, luggage storage facilities and a variety of little shops. A few small shrines, often adorned with fresh flowers, also grace the terminal.
The ebb and flow of passenger through the terminal changes as the day progresses, but the bus company employees, the hard-working janitorial staff and the shop workers are a constant presence. Even when busy, the terminal extends a welcome respite from the adjacent bustling market. There is a real sense of community here as families wait to return home, kids play on the floor, dogs wander about, neighbors socialize, and friends catch up on the latest news and gossip. To the surprise of some who have never set foot inside, the terminal is not a den of thieves and pickpockets; rather, it is an intriguing assortment of ordinary people going about their daily routine in a quirky, outdated building.