Santiago has one of the most modern and state-of-the-art subway systems in the world, and it was famous for its extraordinarily complex privately run bus system (that word may be stretching it). But over the last two months, a new system called Transantiago has been instituted. Several thousand buses, some double length, some normal, painted green and white, now run the streets. The noise reduction over the old racing buses has to be heard. You can now actually talk on the corners. Transantiago requires you to have a Bip! card that you must buy in the Metro. No coins please. Usually, the drivers are sympathetic to first timers without the card and will let you board if you convince them you are not trying to cheat the system.. at least at this point. Now, the big problem: which bus to take? Go to transantiago.cl and have a spanish speaker handy. Otherwise, it's still cab and metro country for most. As for the metro, the number of lines has gone up from three to five. ; There are stops that run throughout the Alameda (AKA Avenida Bernardo O'Higgins) and onto different routes.  Check the keys at the bus stops to find out which bus numbers go to which destinations.  Part of the fun of riding on the micro is getting to witness the buskers who board the buses to perform their acts.  It can also be a good cultural (and sometimes annoying) experience to witness the pitches that salesmen and evangelicals (to a lesser extent) throw out to the micro patrons.