So after selling the car it was finally time to leave mexico,it kind of felt as if i was leaving my home as i was quite comfortable in mexico,but at the same time was stoked to be leaving for something new and making another step getting closer to Peru (which is no 1 destination).
So we hit the extremely busy bus termainal in oaxaca city and booked a ticket into guatemala.Expecting a pretty ordinary bus our eyes lit up when we saw it and were even more excited once on board.The thing was flash as and inside was more spacious than the busses in oz.The saets had heaps more room in front,they folded back nearly all the way,were heaps wider,served food and drinks (for free) and had a t.v screen above our head,allthogh the movies were heaps dodgey.Oh and it was cheap as.
All this comfort was neede as the trip left at nine at night and arrived at ten in the am,so an overnight sleep on board was compulsary.And sleep i did,in that big comfy chair,nearly the whole night.
We arrived before the border and had to organize another bus into guatemala,it was all to easy and then whaen i saw that bus i litterally jumped in the air.It was a big spanken new double decker,bigger than texas y'all, and we were seated up top.It did'nt take me long to get to the front seat and it felt as if i was seated on a ferres wheel.Fun yes but not the safest seat on the bus.I was in heaven on these busses,felt as if i was an olympian getting transported the the games.(beer drinken olympics most likely).
All this comfort was appreciated but shortlived after the double deck deck ride.
In the middle of nowhere,well there was a little town there.We were dumped off the bus as we were heading of the major roads to Lake Atitlan,to study spanish for a couple of weeks.Anyway this place was a transport crossroads absolutely overrun with more peddlers,markets and randoms selling all sorts of gear on the side of the road.We didnt even know what way to go but as i said it does'nt take long for a local to come and claim you theirs in hope of a little cash deposit,so soon enough we were pointed in the right direction and waiting 2o minutes for a famous "chicken bus".
This little place was loud and going off,busses everywhere and people so close to getting hit by them.Now a chicken bus,they are the old school busses from the states,stripped of yellow paint and decorated colorfully with local colors,they look cool as.But comfort is non existant on these baby's,overloaded,stinky,hot and three people on the one seat at times makes for an uncofortable yet exciting and cultural experience.Not to mention we are driving around the highlands,around volcanoes and hairpin corners at crazy speeds in an old bus that should have being scrapped ten to fifteen years ago.So its full action and i absolutly loved it.Like a dog in a ute peering over the cab i was perched up,rolling with the corners wide eyed and a smile on my face for two hours,had a ball.The music was also blaring so it was like being at a party,people got on and sold food from stop to stop also.One of the funnest things so far and definately my best bus trip ever.It cost like two dollars for a two hundred km trip,well worth it for the fun i had.
Such a different bus trips but such a fun time in transit, go the chicken bus.Finally we arrived in Panajachel after nearly 24 hours of travel by road and i was still smiling.
