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TRAVEL BLOG ENTRY
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“Packed so tight it was 4 to a seat” |
After sampling the best cinnamon danish, courtesy of the Radisson cafe, (no eggs today!) we donned our backpacks and headed back to the bus-station.
Our bus to San Ignacio was leaving at 10am. Today we were taking a "chicken bus" west across the country to close to the Guatemalan border. We reckoned that if we didn't like San Ignacio, we could quickly get over the border to Guatemala.
No sooner had we taken our seats on the bus that a strange local guy looked at Barbara and said he wanted to draw her. With so many other much prettier local girls we couldn't understand why, but had our suspicions. Anyhow, he continued and soon showed us his masterpiece - no Picasso clearly, or maybe he is, make your own mind up. He then asked for a small donation - ah that's the catch - and since he was sporting a 2 inch long cut on his cheek which looked like it had been sewn up by his mum using a needle and thread/cotton, not very neatly at that, we decided to give him a few coins for his effort.
With the bus filled to bursting point with about 30 people already standing in the aisle, and it hadn't even left the station, our journey westwards had begun. No sooner had we left the station than the bus stopped to pick up even more people, and before long there were 4 to a seat, which was barely big enough for 2. Down the back of the bus where our luggage was stored, people perched themselves on top of the luggage, but then that was probably the most comfortable seat on the bus.
Dave continually assured me that he would be happy if we left this bus with one bag - however I said I would prefer if we had two!
As one passenger got off, it seems like at least 2 or more would board the bus. Those people at the back of the bus would jump off using the back door, which was supposed to be only for loading luggage...but you can't blame them for not wanting to fight their way up the very crowded aisle.
When a passenger wanted to get off the bus, they would either whistle loudly, or shout "bus stop" in a deep creole accent. The English spoken here is not quite the Queen's English, as they have a dialect all of their own which is difficult for us to understand. However, the bank notes do feature a very youthful looking "Queen Elizabeth the Second", probably drawn around the time she came to the throne.
All throughout the journey we were serenaded with an old tape of Christmas songs, which boomed loudly the full length of the bus, and constantly looped. This went on for the full 3 hour journey.
San Ignacio: both passengers and their backpacks have arrived safe and intact.
previous travel blog entry
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