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AN
EVENTFUL BUS TRIP
I was in Bahar Dar and by all means
I wanted to get to Lalibela by bus since I was fed
up of getting planes. The previous day I went to the
bus station to buy the ticket, but, although I insisted,
I was told the ticket could be bought only on the
bus.
I woke up at 4.30am, and I walked to the bus station
through the dark Bahar Dar (maybe not a very good
idea). I got there at 5.30am when they just opened
the gates and hundreds of barefoot peasants were pushing
to get on the buses. The problem was that there were
no signs on the buses, so I had to ask to get the
right one. I was asking around, worried to lose time
(and the seat), people were indicating one bus and
say something I couldn't understand. I got on anyway
and I was so happy to have a decent seat for such
long travel. After a while the bus conductor came
and asked me my destination, then he said that buses
wasn't going there. I freaked out; I asked other people
and everybody confirmed, indicating another bus. I
fought to get off, and fought again to get on the
other. The seat I found wasn't so bad but there was
no room left for my backpack inside, so I had to keep
on my knees. After a while I realised I couldn't spend
10h hugging my luggage, so I decided to put it on
the bus roof. I was going up when the guy in charge
of tying the stuffs asked where I was going.
"No, this bus doesn't go to Lalibela!"
I freaked out again in particular asking about the
right bus when they pointed the first one I got on.
I went there again, but it was almost full, hence
I got a very shitty place in the back deciding to
go where the bus would have led me.
I thought it couldn't have been worst but I was wrong,
in fact aside me sat a mother with a baby.
I got pissed because, first of all the seat was just
for one people (already two people were sat), than
the woman was fat like a pig and I knew the kids are
likely to throw up on buses.
At the end the baby didn't throw up but he pissed
damping my pants 9
The road was so bumpy that only Cambodia road can
compete with them with an average speed around 20km/h
While I was on the bus I got acquainted with a professor
and his beautiful wife. When the bus stopped for the
lunch he invited me at the restaurant. Initially I
hesitated since when I travel by bus I usually avoid
eating, but he insisted, so I joined them. He ordered
a big plate of injera and three Cokes. I didn't feel
to eat but he took the best pieces of meat offering
me at such extent that I was surprised by his kindness.
At the end of the lunch I understood the point when
both of them went to the bathroom and left the restaurant
leaving the pleasure to pay the bill to their Italian
guest.
After 9h the bus dropped me off at a crossroad with
the road to Lalibela.
Here I sat and just waited any kind of mean of transport
to give me a lift. After few minutes I was surrounded
by tens of children asking for money. I bought some
fruits and gave them, but they refused. I realised
then they weren't hungry then.
Luckily it didn't pass that much time and a bus passed,
I got on and in 3h sneaking along the hairpins we
finally got to Lalibela.
Although I dashed out the bus, I couldn't escape the
touts of the hotels. In particular, one insisted so
much following me, despite I declined his offer since
I already knew where to go, that I reacted aggressively;
I'm sorry but it was too much all in a day.
Alby
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