Our adventure started out last night when Ethan got a sudden high fever that lasted about 4 hours. It was very strange and we knew that we couldn't go in the morning if he still had it. Somehow the fever cleared up that night and he was perfect in the morning. So away we went to the bus station, hoping to catch the nine o clock Mirna bus. We had several choices for buses. The first was Hedman Alas, which is a luxury coach bus but would cost us more. Thinking we could save some money, we opted for Mirna, which supposedly leaves every hour on the hour. Our next choice was what time to leave. We wanted to catch the 1:00 bus out of San Pedro Sula to Copan. We figured we would risk the 9 o clock bus and still arrive in plenty of time, and if we didn't quite make it there was still a bus at 2:00. All would be well. When we got to the bus station, we discovered that there was not a 9 o clock bus as we had been told, but the next bus would come at 10 30. Well shoot. I guess there wasn't really anything we could do about that. Instead of waiting around, we took a cab back to the house to hang out, and then came back with some extra time to spare just in case. We waited outside on the curb with our bags patiently, along with several other groups who also had bought tickets, including a couple from New Zealand (as we would later find out). 10 30 came and went, and still there was no bus. At 11, our hopes of catching the 2 o clock bus disappeared so we settled for the 3 o clock. We would still be fine. I went into the station to inquire about where our bus might be, and didn't receive a strait answer. Oh, there would be buses coming at 11 30 that could take us. At this point I become slightly worried. I'm beginning to think that maybe we shouldn't bother going because I don't know another alternative if we miss the bus. The New Zealand couple is also getting frustrated. Just past 11 30 three buses do arrive, but every single one of them is completely full. They tell us we can come if we want to stand. Well of course I don't want to stand for a three hour bus ride. I bought my ticket and expect a seat. One thing you realize when dealing with things like this, is that this really isn't the US. There isn't much emphasis on customer service, and there's no one to complain to. The New Zealand couple and ourselves finally decide to take a cab over to San Pedro Sula. It's 12 and if the cabby drives quickly we can make it in 2.5 hours. We find a cabby willing to do it (for $25 each) and start on our way, slightly disappointed that our attempt to save money backfired and we payed more than we would have on the reliable Hedman Alas. But things happen and we're going now.
Unfortunately, we didn't go for long when the cab was forced to pull over because we had a flat tire. Awesome. We pulled over in a little Pulperia and looked at the tire and I was slightly terrified that we had been driving on that. Our driver jacks up the car to switch the tire out, but when he pulls out his spare tire it is quite obviously the wrong size. He puts it on, tightens the bolts but then shakes his head and says he doesn't have confidence with it. I figured that was okay though, because I certainly didn't want to be driving with that tire. He called another cab and ten minutes later we were again driving to San Pedro. Our new cabby was quite a bit speedier than the old, pulling out into the other lane to pass cars, accelerating and then quickly breaking to avoid hitting cars in front of us. All while texting and talking on his self phone. I kept checking the clock as 3 o clock crept up, but it still seemed like we would make it. It would be close but I was pretty sure it would be fine. Or it would have been fine if the driver knew where we were going once we got to San Pedro Sula. When we told him the bus station, he looked slightly puzzled. I grew worried as we drove closer and closer to the center of city and he still didn't look like he knew where he was going. I think he was hoping to encounter the station on the main road. When that plan failed, he finally pulled over to ask directions. 3 o clock passed and we rolled into the station 10 minutes later than we should have. The New Zealand couple were heading elsewhere and hopped on a bus, and Ethan and I went in the station hoping that there might be another company with a bus leaving to Copan. Because if there wasn't, we weren't quite sure what we would do.
We were in luck! We found a bus leaving at 3 30 for Copan! It wasn't the nicest but it was comfy. Once we were on we finally felt at ease. We would make it fine, laugh about our worries and have a good time. While on the bus, a clown came on to do a little skit then gather up some money. Ethan told me later that he was super nervous because he had heard of people that dressed as clowns and went on busses and robbed people. I guess we got lucky that our clown wasn't threatening. I nice man next to us gave us some tangerines, and we passed the time looking at the beautiful landscape. About 2 hours after we got on, the bus driver called to us to tell us we were in Copan. I looked around and knew that we weren't in the Copan we were supposed to be in. I asked, somewhat angrily, how this was Copan. Apparently, our bus only went to the entrance of the Copan province which was still an hour away from where we were supposed to be. They dropped us off there and continued in another direction just as night was falling. A few people came up to us asking if we wanted a hotel there. Well of course we didn't, we still needed to get to the ruins that day. There was one taxi there who said he could take us for $50. I attempted to negotiate down but couldn't do it. They had us stuck. We had to get there and he knew it. Also, taxi's don't like to drive to Copan at night because he was explaining to me that the road was dangerous and that sometimes drunk people wander out and get hit. I don't know. It was a slightly confusing conversation.
We got in the cab and started off, and then stopped and for some reason the drivers switched to two young guys. Ethan and I glanced at each other. Uh oh. So sketchy. Neither of us knew where we were going, there were two young guys driving and it was night time. Scenes from taken kept running through my head. As we continued I became a little more comfortable, that was until the road got absolutely terrible. There was no street lights at all on a highway with random pot holes and dirt patches on it. When cars came in the opposite direction, there was a point where you couldn't see the road well and just had to hope there wasn't a turn. The road was so curvy and when the driver turned a hard right it sounded like the metal frame was touching the pavement. At certain turns I had a death grip on my waterbottle. Ethan and I both decided that we could add it to one of our near death experiences. And then it started raining. As we neared Copan we were pulled over by the police. They asked to see the driver's ID, the other guy's ID, and then Ethans as well. For some reason they excluded me. They seemed to be debating over something, I have no idea what, but they did let us through. Finally we made it at 8:00 to the Iguana Azul, the little hostel we were staying. $55 dollars each and about 11 hours later we were there. Of course then we found that instead of two beds, there was one double. Awesome....
You are lucky to have learned your lesson that safety is first. . . Glad you are safe. You scare me!
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