3 Countries, 3 Days, and Too Many Buses

We left Mancora, Peru bummed to leave our one week beach bum vacation. We were especially unhappy about our upcoming days of bus travel. The only solace was our final destination - Bogota, Colombia. After months of anticipation we would finally see Liz, Matt, and Nathan and enjoy the comforts of a real home and loved ones.

Unfortunately, we had to experience our worst bus ride to get there. Unscathed, we crossed the reputed "most dangerous" border crossing in South America from Peru to Ecuador. We got bus tickets on the recommended Panamericana Bus Company from the southern border city of Machala to the northern border city of Tulcan. After a long day of bus rides and waiting we finally boarded in early evening for our 16 hour bus ride across Ecuador.

Although the fare was equivalent to luxury service buses we were accustomed to, the bus was certainly not the spacious bus-cama we had expected. No comfy sleeper reclining seats, no foot rests, no bathroom, no space, and no AC. We did have a screeching TV sound system that could have made a dog crazy. Even worse were the roaches that joined us on our trip. Stealth by daylight the creepy critters made their ugly debut as we reboarded following our evening dinner stop - they were everywhere. Catherine´s previous unhappiness with the heat, ridiculous volume, and erratic driving was nothing compared to her livid reaction upon seeing the roaches.

I wiped my seat down, told her I loved her, blasted my iPod, and assiduously worked to meditate to a happy place. Catherine covered every part of her body and did her own painstaking mental work.

By the time we got off the gross and uncomfortable bus and walked across the border to Ipiales, Colombia we were totally spent with the situation and each other.

A cab driver tried to overcharge us, angrily locked my pack in his trunk, and Catherine fumed. A herd of kids harassed us as we inquired about a hostel and Catherine fumed. Within minutes she was ready to leave me to my own devices.

A night in Ipiales (together) and a 22 hour journey found us exhausted, disheveled, and excited when Liz and Nathan finally opened their front door in Bogota and welcomed us.