Pris Declines 1970s Bus

So being an Indian, I do like to save a couple fine dimes here and there. This especially comes into play with transportation. When backpacking, I rarely  take flights in between countries unless there is no other option. I rely on buses, preferably with locals and tourists. It does depend on the country and safety, but i have taken tractors, chicken buses, and so many overfilled buses.

For this trip, I planned for tourist buses and regular buses- a mix of both, but not to the extreme as my first trip. If negative, my wallet remembers my experience the next time i book.

For my first big bus trip to the Northeastern side of Guatemala crossing over to Belize, I was asking many questions from agency to agency.  My goal was to receive my best travel quote and the advice that I received was a good one from Atitlan tours. He told me to book everything separately and the price would come out $10 shorter.

Well, I thought I was saving, but it ended up being $7 and I did not receive a big pretty tourist bus. I spent all summer a couple years ago driving around on the beautiful Mercedes buses in Turkey. When you pay that much money, they give you quality. It's partially the case for the Guatemala City buses.

After all the back and forth with what's good for me, I ended up on a crappy bus.

My loco driver Carlos was driving us to the Guatemala City bus terminal. I joke with him that he's a crazy driver and I have to watch him on the road, which I did sitting in the front seat.  When he rushes into the parking lot, the brakes screech, and I look at him and laugh as he frantically jumps out of the car. My eyes are immediately drawn to the brand new buses and I shout, "Yes" inside my head.

We  part ways and Carlos says, "Buenas Suerte" and gives me a hug. It was very sweet and kind. I go up to the window to purchase my ticket and she says 190 Quetzal, which is the expected $26. I head outside for fresh air and a man is selling used travel pillows for $3. I tell him he has a very smart idea and to keep selling(my job to encourage people and be good to them).

We head out through some security system for the bus. I was pretty impressed with it and then I give my ticket and after my joking with the security guy, I see an old 1970s looking bus in front of me. I show my ticket and I point to the new bus to the left.
He says, "No this is your bus." Pris says, "No that's my bus."

He says, "Mi corazon you can take the new bus at 10 or 1030, which was only an hour and a half away."
I excitedly went to the girl in front and asked to switch and she said,
"  No those buses are full." She looked at me like even if I did have a seat, I wouldn't give it to you because you want a new bus. I  could have tried  asking the driver,but I let It go.

There were a few other tourists on the 1970s bus and they did not even seem to care(hence their backpacker laizzez fair attitude. My main logic behind this bus interest being that new buses are less likely to break down.  I was the only one as I stared at the brand new pretty bus from my seat that sat over the engine. The seats were very comfortable, but it spelled like dirty hippie and a Burger King whopper.  Ok well I'm just going to shut up and deal with it(my new expression for my Pris Like ways).

Driving along with the engine running underneath my butt, I eat some saltine crackers, do some writing, and pass out. I'm all cramped up in 100 degree heat when I get up and see the bus stopped at some junky pit stop. I struggle to open up the 1970s window and poke my head out the window to see the driver standing behind the bus(which is where the engine is located).

 Of course I am shouting in my head, "I told you so!" People are sitting around looking dumbfounded and I step off the bus to find out what's going on. There are a few guys from the bus outside already smoking cigarettes and eating M&Ms. I am telling them in Spanish how I knew this 1970s piece of junk would break down and this is why I wanted the new bus. They are laughing and feeding me M&MS to probably shut me up, which is usually a good idea but I just kept yapping.

Another NEW bus pulls up behind us and out comes the driver all jolly with white 
hair and glasses. I let them do some work on the car before I storm up on them. When I come back, there a few guys working on the car and the driver is sitting and watching. I sit and joke with him about it being a 1970s bus that broke down once and it could happen again. We don't know it's fate. I discover that he is the 10pm driver with the new bus! I tell him to please save me and take me on his bus. I use my charm telling him the air is broken and I could pass out and then we could have a bigger problem. He is very amused and calls me his novia( girlfriend) I laugh and smile thinking sure get me on that bus!

The 1970s bus is fixed and we all start getting back on. I look down sadly like its dooms day. He shouts, " Ven aqui y dame tu bolsa." I run on the bus smiling at my buddies as they know I received my request. I made it onto the bus where there were 3 free spots!

I knew that girl was lying when she said the bus was full. I know she was probably thinking I'm not switching things around for the American girl who wants a new bus.

Well it looks like the American girl got what she wanted and made the switch at 1 am in the middle of the night.

Moral: When you pay for something and you want something, don't give up.

When you are truly connected to people, the possibilities are endless....