Think partying in New Orleans is hard-core? 

Ecuador, where I’m from, has many interesting traditions when it comes to celebrating. During New Year’s, we assemble a man out of newspapers and old clothing to represent the old year that’s passing. During Carnival, pedestrians are assaulted with water balloons, sometimes filled with flour and eggs — which, from personal experience, is immensely hard to get out of your hair. 

However, of all the methods of celebrating, my favorite is the chiva — basically, our idea of a party bus — that’s used in celebrating national holidays, birthdays and any other event you’d care to commemorate.

The chiva is an old fashioned, open-air bus that’s painted in bright colors. Usually, chivas have a lower level with several rows of seats and a fenced wooden platform as an upper level, where a band stands and plays as the bus travels around. Inside, there are inscriptions of poems and songs that represent the essence of celebration, which complement the high-spirited songs the bands play.

Honestly, chivas aren’t the most stable of structures — they are, in large part, made out of wood. Also, by “old-fashioned” I mostly mean old—thus, riding on one isn’t for the skittish. Ecuador is also mountainous and the streets aren’t always in the best conditions; therefore, you must hold on tight. This proves to be more difficult than you’d think, since reason and drinking don’t usually go hand in hand. 

This is especially true, since chiva rides wouldn’t be complete without flags, whistles, and stringed plastic shot glasses that you wear as a necklace. Chiva crews generously give out these favors during the ride, along with canelazo—a traditional warm drink made of cinnamon, citrus-fruit and sugar cane liquor.

Because of the number of accidents that have occurred, riding on the upper level is strongly discouraged. However, it’s not hard to convince the drivers for the privilege, though you do so at your own risk. Needless to say, its more fun to ride on the top—though it’s important to be alert when approaching tunnels or power lines. 

The chiva’s hard-core attributes aren’t in that it’s somewhat dangerous, but in fun of riding on a rickety bus, rocking with music and dancing people. In Ecuador, chivas are truly the pre-game to the huge party that inevitably follows.