Have you ever been stuck on a cramped bus or a plane ride with no leg room? Well, after yesterday's bus ride I don't think I will ever complain about buses or planes in the States again...The day started out with me and three friends cramped into a small sedan taxi with our 4 bags, this was a short ride, no problem at all! Then we arrived at the bus station where we were told in Spanish that we needed to take a micro-bus instead of the larger school buses because the other buses would take us to the wrong bus station in Managua (the travel center of Nica). This involved us putting a bag under our feet, my two bags in-front of me in-between my legs. Once again, it was only an hour and a half and it felt very safe, so it really wasn't much of a problem. Then we got to Managua and people told us that we still needed to go to another bus station, but that it was close. 15 mins later and another tight-quarters cab ride we had arrived at the other bus station.
This is where the real story began, we got there essentially as the bus was pulling out. We quickly had our large backpacks without any real valuables put under the bus. Then we walk onto the bus with out small packs...Every seat was taken on the bus...the aisle was full, but not just with one person in-between each seat. You were literally smushed against another person between each seat, but don't worry, the locals still managed to pick-up more passengers on as we made stops along the way. Then at some stops local vendors selling waters/chips would get on and walk the entire length of the bus like a jigsaw puzzle, one person squeezing past another, then a shuffle to make a small gap, and the guy who collects money on the buses had to do the same.
4 hours later, and after I had gotten a seat for 5 mins, but then given it up to some women who were standing I was exhausted, but finally we arrived again in San Juan del Sur. I rewarded myself with some American-style pizza ($5 split with one friend) and a large Gelato ice-cream in a waffle cone (3.20$). The rest of the night my friends and I watched South Park at the hostel which was included with breakfast and fast internet for 10$ each in a 4-bedroom private at Hostel Tadeo.
This is where the real story began, we got there essentially as the bus was pulling out. We quickly had our large backpacks without any real valuables put under the bus. Then we walk onto the bus with out small packs...Every seat was taken on the bus...the aisle was full, but not just with one person in-between each seat. You were literally smushed against another person between each seat, but don't worry, the locals still managed to pick-up more passengers on as we made stops along the way. Then at some stops local vendors selling waters/chips would get on and walk the entire length of the bus like a jigsaw puzzle, one person squeezing past another, then a shuffle to make a small gap, and the guy who collects money on the buses had to do the same.
4 hours later, and after I had gotten a seat for 5 mins, but then given it up to some women who were standing I was exhausted, but finally we arrived again in San Juan del Sur. I rewarded myself with some American-style pizza ($5 split with one friend) and a large Gelato ice-cream in a waffle cone (3.20$). The rest of the night my friends and I watched South Park at the hostel which was included with breakfast and fast internet for 10$ each in a 4-bedroom private at Hostel Tadeo.