It´s 8 a.m. and new day is beginning. As we pack up our tents and ring out our gear… wait… that´s must have been a bad dream or a premonition. As we awake leisurely, in our air-conditioned paradise, we prepare for what we thought was a 12 -14 hour bus ride to Villa Hermosa. Once in Villa Hermosa, we have another 2 hr bus ride to Palenque. Basically, an all day bus extravaganza. Here´s the breakdown of our first 13 and half hour ride.
Sleeping
Watching a Movie
Play Phase 10 with my teammate Kira (megan you would be proud of me I won)
Watch Meet the Robinsons.
Watch Raise your Voice.
Watch some weird documentary where the only word i knew was Ft. Lauderdale.
( 6 hours has elapsed) All the movies are in spanish of course but what else do we have to do.
We made our first stop at some town I don´t remember the name of. We use the bathroom which we are learning cost money, got some snacks, stretched and then back on the bus.
Watch The Santa Clause 3. (Blockbuster has nothing on this bus)
Talk, share pictures, eat peanut butter and tortillas (WR staple).
The next event needs a little explanation. We were stopped by the Mexican Federal Police. One minute the bus is completely dark and quiet and the next we are stopped, lights on, and policemen with guns are boarding the bus. (Realize, I made it safe this is only a story. Please take a deep breath and keep reading.) It was pretty routine I guess ; they checked our passports, questioned a few people and sent us on our way. They smiled when they handed our passports back. What more can you ask from the Mexican Federal Police?
As far as excitement goes, it was pretty much down hill from there. Mostly sleeping and rocking as the bus swerved for no apparent reason. My absolute favorite part of the trip was our ¨special toilet¨. Transalation: it only flushed when it wanted and that was usually after it sloshed on the floor a bit. After all of that, we arrive in Villa Hermosa, we played our other favorite WR game. ¨Espera¨ or Wait. I have to say we are getting pretty good at this one. We board our next bus at 3:30 am. Hit the fast forward button, bus. Drive two hours to Palenque, unload bus, try to get taxis, can´t because we have no idea what the address of Shekinah Bible School (our contact), get call to wait at bus station, Jimmy from AIM shows up with a van to takes us to Shekinah. As we pull up a long tree lined road, we see what will be home for a few weeks. Everyone is excited because the bus extravanganza has ended and it´s time for a whole new adventure. What you might ask? If I knew I would tell you but you know what I know at this point. I have a feeling we need to get used to it.
