The bus from Popayan to Ipiales
Trip Start
Jul 09, 2007
1
10
31
Trip End
Sep 10, 2007
Pasto, Colombia
Friday, July 27, 2007
do. Taking a bus from Popayan to Pasto. Would we get kidnapped? Would we
be in a bus crash? Would we get robbed.....? How would these two poor blonde
gringos make it through the day to tell the tale?
The day started perfectly, a friendly ticket sales man encouraging us to buy
a ticket that would take us to Ipales , 2hrs further than Pasto for a
bargain COP25,000 each (AUD 15). The bus was a rickety old thing an initial
disappointment and being seated at the back making it all the more
uncomfortable. Reducing the risk of an Evans melt down, Cameron suggested a
Zanex (relaxant) to ease the journey. An hour into the journey it seemed
said Zanex was more sleeping pill than mood relaxant and Evans spent the
next two hours unconscious with Cameron propping up floppy head every time
it fell off his shoulder.
Thankfully when back in the land of the living there was still plenty of the
journey to enjoy. The countryside is breathtaking and anyone who may
consider taking this trip should do it in a heart beat. With not a single
stop for security checks we motored along the winding roads, stopping for
lunch (yep meat, rice and fried bananas) and occasionally passengers. The
time, despite the discomfort went quickly and the view rather than the
driving took our breath away.
Moving to the front of the bus for the final hour we befriend a local girl
who's baby had taken to throwing up on her every time Cameron smiled at her.
Out of guilt and pity we kept her fully supplied with tissues and wet
wipes, which were promptly thrown out of the bus window with empty water
bottles as and when...
