Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Mon/20th April Foz - San Paulo
What can I say bus number 9 just another nightmare of 13/15 hours that turned into 19hours and many question marks. ????????????????????????????
For those of you that know a little about South America you may be able to help. All seemed normal at the start, although Ash was seating next to a South American woman (version of Mama Cass)it was empty when we started so we thought great and started spreading. But after 3 stops filled up with people shouting as people in wrong seats, Ash one of them. So mama Cass ended up behind Lynsey and I. Police boarded at one point she had to open her bag it was stacked with mobile phones although she said only the cases. !!!! I think during the trip she used everyone of them very loudly. I was tempted to offer to put them places she couldnt reach !!
Little while into the trip somone started collecting monies (didnt come to us) so we thought they had to pay for there seats, during the trip another whip round took place. They all seemed as though they knew each other although pretended they didnt to start with. This was the first country we couldnt understand as it is Portugese speaking not spanish.
About 2.30am I noticed that we had just turned back, by 3.am we had backed into a lorry park with sheds like garages, extra wheels etc, so i thought maybe a punture !!. Driver left the engine running & I just sat watching trying to see. About 12 men had got off the rest on coach carried on sleeping including the girls. Then a man came in and had another whip round for about 30 reals (Brazilian money) waking women as well, then left. Everyone went back to sleep. The engine continued to run for the whole two hours we waited, I even done a text on my phone ready to send if need be as I was very confused & little scared. Its the unknown. What I couldnt get over was how everyone slept like babies, I thought I was in a time zone or something. Its now 5.am. We are the only tourists on bus.
At 11.30 we stoped finally for a drink and wee break (There was a loo on board) if you where really desperate, it didnt have luggage in. When we came out the loo Lynsey saw coach drive off, help come back. Everyone else was oblivious, we reckon we were getting paranoid as it did come back 15 mins later.
Its now 12.00 and we really had enough, thankfully Ash lent me her ipod which helped the last part of the journey; as Mama Cass still had her phone attached to her ear. We finally arrived in San Paulo at 3.00 found a really helpful taxi driver that helped us find accomadation. Its not like our last but it has clean beds & hotish water. We never did find out what was going on, to frightened to ask in case it got us involved. Lynsey reckons they may have been paying off the coach drivers, 2 of them to keep quite, but guess we will never no. Unless you have great ideas. Tommorow we are thankfully on our final bus trip which will take us to RIO we have decided to do it in the day light, so leave here at 8.30am hope to be there within 7 hours. Fingers crossed. Ive really had enough of buses to last me a lifetime.
Oh yes before we caught the bus we had been to Argentina for the day, that was a hectic day, which included a boat ride in the falls amazing. Soaked but well worth it. We were told the Argentina side was the best but we all agreed Brazil was far more superior, but glad we done both. Also glad that I am suffering no more with high altitude as there was many steps to climb which became easy, after Cusco.
As I said we are off to Rio, and or those that have been following my story, Paddington is really happy as we promised him a cocktail on the beach. Cant let him drink alone so its also somethink we promised ourselves.
Must say bye for now internet closing dont want to loose this. Looking forward to seeing you all now the volcanic dust is clearing. Hope to be home next week.
Ciao amigos. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- comments
Steph Hi Sis Well the whole thing sounds really scary, I bet you were glad when you arrived. I read that the Argentina side was better so I am glad you got to see both, and was able to make your own mind up. Well Paddington is having a real adventure I hope he has been slopping on his sun tan lotion and sending post cards ha ha. Well done for the blogg sis a good read as always. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Enjoy Rio and have a rest. All these amazing places what a memory you will have. Luvsya xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jackie Oh my god Bobby, what a bus ride!! you read about these thigs in the paper and say to yourself what sort of people put themselves in that position, please look after yourself from now on, anything could have happened to you but thank goodness you are all safe. the skys have cleared specally for you to get home. the falls and everything sounds wonderful except for that bus ride. Come home safe. xxxxxxxx