Before I begin to explain one of our longest travel days….from San Jose Laguana Guatemala to Santa Ana, El Salvador in one days travel is not recommend.
The alarm went off, it was 4am and we walked our bikes up hill to the local bus stop. I thought we would be the only foreigners crazy enough to save a little bit of money and make the cross border trip by chicken bus so I was surprised to see another couple with their backpacks walking to the stop at this early hour. We got our bikes situated on top the bus and took our seats. I had read online how much it costs and still the guy wanted more and the other couple had already paid it, twice the price of the locals. I knew the day was ruined from here on forward. I was angry because I hate paying more than the normal price. This is public transportation and should be available for all at an equal price if we too must suffer the 100+ extra stops, no air conditioning and at times 3-4 people per seat which semi comfortably fits only 2 normal sized persons. So off we went until our stop where Kevin threw off his backpack and jumped on the ladder to climb the bus while it moved to make sure both our bikes got off the roof and onto the next bus. On this bus we decided to only give a small bill to pay and asked for our change. The man refused to give us money back which only had me fuming with steam more angry than before because yet again in 20 minutes we were forced to switch buses for no reason and they wanted us to pay double for the bikes. I refused. We refused and we sat angry shoved in the back with 6 people across the bus. My shoulders didn’t fit on the seat and only one butt cheek fit let alone I had a bag on my lap. At this point we said if the bikes make it to El Salvador great and if not we continue without them and don’t look back.
After too much time and two more bus stops with people trying to make us pay extra and having to wait for the right bus which could fit our bicycles we made it to the border crossing and were able to bike across. I was angry, Kevin kept telling me to get over it but I couldn’t. He speaks brilliant Spanish and still they ripped us off for no reason other than we are tourist. We complained and they didn’t care. Only one man who drove the last bus to the frontier knew how we felt as he had lived in the states and realized the prices is the same for everyone and it is stated on the advertisements. We biked across the border and I deeply wanted El Salvador to be different to have kind people who prided themselves on fairness and helping those who visit their country. Until we were stopped at the El Salvador border because I had an American pass and Kevin had been to the states before this trip. They talked of the virus and took our temperatures while asking more questions about our departure and arrival dates. This was the first encounter we have had with the virus and the US but we explained we left before anything in the US had happened and once we didn’t have temperatures they let us go freely to bike across to catch another bus.
As soon as we got to El Salvador it was all jokes. A man said he would give me $75 dollars for my bike and I said ok fine deal you can have it. He laughed and said he would only pay $25 for the bike. We waited for the proper bus and exchanged money to US dollars which just felt strange and then entered the bus and paid the states fee nothing more, I was excited and had an open mind for this country which many people had said was too dangerous to visit. Once at the main bus station to switch to head to Santa Ana we find kind people pointing us in the right direction and one man determined to make sure we get the correct deal and on the proper bus without paying too much for our bikes. He practically took control of my bike carrying it to the bus and putting in the back to be stored. Once we got to santa ana after way too many hours on dirt roads up the mountains near the volcano and lake we got to the city and found our accommodation a cosy single room which we both squeezed into for a cheaper price. What did we find at this hostal…Swiss people and the sons of the hostal owner were such fun and kind loving twins who have a passion for computer science, meeting new travelers and coffee.
The next morning we got our breakfast which came with our room and then headed to the chicken bus with one other girl from Switzerland. We watched the lake pass and then made it to the park entrance where I was happy to pay just a dollar for our guide but the scheme was different they have a monopoly on the place and although the hike was easy and easy to follow they wanted two dollars per person to leave before 11:00am and because we only had 11 not 15 people. I discussed with Kevin in Swiss German and ultimately told him it was bull shit and I didn’t want to pay two dollars but everyone else had agreed and this we went with it. During the hike I realized again how sore I am in over paying because the park fee is $6 which I totally understand and pay happily as to maintain the area and pay the park rangers. The other extra stuff pisses me off more than it should and is something I have vowed to improve and get over and enjoy the little things in life and don’t make a scene out of an extra dollar or two as it is just money and I can always find a job and make more of it if I need.
The hike was easy and since Kevin and I were slightly faster than the others we had the top to ourselves for about 10-15 minutes to enjoy the sulpher crater and take some photos without any clouds. We truly had beautiful weather as it looked like a cloudy day when we started our ascent.
After the hike we tried to find a place to workout and everywhere we went was either private, enclosed or surrounded by drunk people which we didn’t feel like dealing with. Our last resort was a fire station which I had read online usually takes in people camping or needing help. So we turned the corner and there was the station so Kevin asked if we could use their facilities and they said of course. Thank you firemen you guys rock in more ways than one. So we worked out with a guy from the hostal who was moving to Japan from the US and he reminded me of my cousin Matt even down to his mannerisms and they sound of his voice. They looked pretty similar too it was slightly scary even Kevin agreed. Afterwards we went to the store to get food to cook and check out the wild moon with the cathedral in the center of town.
If you made it this far you get an extra story and one of my add to the memory and don’t forget type of experiences. Kevin and I agreed to check out the local swimming pool with the twins whose dad owns the hostal we were staying at in Santa Ana. They told us they go at 6am and we said no problem. Our alarm went off and Kevin said he wasn’t going to God because he stayed up late playing guitar. He takes advantage any time a hostal has one to borrow ever since he forgot his in Mexico on day two haha. I made coffee and brought him some to bed. He reluctantly got up and agreed to suck it up. I hope he is glad he did because I wouldn’t have wanted him to miss us walking past the prison and showing up to the all natural swimming pool with tons of locals taking a morning swim on Saturday at 6am. I kick myself for not bringing my phone for photos but at the same time it allowed us to just soak it up. We got ready and jumped in the cold water and began swimming laps alongside everyone else. Once we finished we saw how the pool is actually connected to the river and flows down stream. The place also had showers and a station to wash your clothes for free. It was beautiful you swam with the fish in the local river pool. I loved it and now that I think back I hope I kept my mouth shut while swimming and that this was not the cause of my later parasite and then again what is done is done and I’m still recovering but I am fine and it all comes with the travel experience. I still would rank bed bugs as worse but second worst thing might be a parasite while traveling and I would take lice over both of them. Yes I have had all three of those experiences in my past two of them while in Asia and one on this trip. We left Santa Ana by bike after saying goodbye to the nice family and friends we had met in Santa Ana.
BrokeonBike 