Agape Vita has officially left Santiago! I’m currently on a bus (hour 18 of 24ish) headed to debrief with my squad. Then at the end of the week we’ll be headed to Peru. I can’t believe the first month is already over!
Long travel days are an inevitable part of being on the race. However, I didn’t expect yesterday’s travel day to be quite so chaotic.
We had bus reservations leaving at 7 pm from a station in downtown Santiago. Originally we had planned to take the city bus to the bus station, but my team leader Shea hurt her ankle the other day trying to get a quality Instagram picture, so we decided to Uber instead. Since there are 7 of us all with our big backpacks and our smaller daypacks, we decided to get an Uber X, and an Uber XL. After 3 of us trying our Uber apps, an Uber XL canceling on us, and an Uber X getting to the house and then deciding not to take us, we finally had everything loaded into 2 cars. Emily Ann, Shea, and Fabienne went in one car with most of the big packs, while Sarah, Aryne, Frieda and I went in the car with 2 big packs and our day packs.
What was supposed to be a 30 minute car ride was taking much longer due to traffic, and the car kept making interesting noises. Suddenly, at a light at a busy intersection, the car stopped. And wouldn’t turn back on. The driver started talking to us in Spanish and Frieda (who is thankfully fluent in Spanish) told us we needed to get out and push. We laughed thinking she was joking. She wasn’t. So, in the middle of a busy intersection, 3 gringas get out and start pushing a car through the street. Luckily, some nice men saw and started to help push. The car started up so we quickly pulled over to all hop back in. Bad news. Car won’t start again. The driver then kicks us out about a mile and a half from the station. So, we put on our packs and start walking through what I can only describe as the China Town of Santiago. People were everywhere. We had to walk in a straight line so we could watch each other’s backs and avoid pickpockets.
After walking for about 15 mins, we decided it would be best to hail a taxi. So Frieda flags one down, but the trunk is full. First, Aryne gets in with her daypack and my daypack. Then I get in. Or try to. I get stuck. My backpack is taller than the car. So, Sarah starts to push. Eventually with some acrobatic maneuverings that I didn’t think possible, I get in the car. Then Sarah somehow manages to get in and after 3 attempts, manages to get the door closed. And we’re off again. So, we drive down the road for about 5 minutes and the driver says this is as far as he can take us, but the bus station is just down the road to the left. I think what he meant to say was 5 mins down the road, take a left, walk another 5 mins. Then you’ll get to the wrong bus station that you’ll have to walk through and cross another street and in another 8ish mins you’ll finally be at the right bus station.
Thankfully, we all made it on time and were able to get on the bus safely. What an adventure travel day can be. Through it all God was good and Sarah and I were able to count 9 God given blessings in those 2 hours of chaotic travel. I wonder what adventures traveling to Peru will hold…
