Day 96 – The last bus

It’s time. The phrase “mixed emotions” comes to mind. I’ve spent the last three months having an amazing time, experiencing so many fascinating places and spending just a little while with great people from so many different backgrounds.

For this, I’m sad to be packing up my rucksack, as quickly as possible while Ben and Jag sleep into the afternoon. But, for the same reason, I have a deep feeling of satisfaction: I’ve achieved what I set out to do, and after three months travelling alone the thought of going home to everything that is familiar is comforting.

After squeezing, for the last time, my knackered running shoes into the top of my rucksack, I reflect on the ground covered since I touched down in Mexico City on February 12th.

me

Over 5500 miles on the ground and 2000 miles in the air; twenty long distance bus journeys (between seven and 18 hours); 40 hostels and hotels; three flights, three in-bus Jean-Claude Van Damme films and two bouts of travellers diarrhea. Oh, and 96 blogs.

I could have taken the taxi, but it seemed much more appropriate to take the bus to Ezeiza, the international airport 35k outside Buenos Aires. Nico helps me with my bags to the bus stop on Independencia. It’s 1.15pm and my flight leaves at 5.05pm. I’ve been told to leave two hours for the bus, as it’s a long, long journey. So when we find ourselves stuck in a traffic jam, at a junction where the lights have gone, for about half an hour, I start getting nervous. I consider jumping off the bus and flagging a taxi, but I’m stuck in some pretty rough-looking suburbs. The worst thing with these types of journeys is that you have no reference point to judge how you are getting on – except for the driver, who doesn’t take kindly to my repeated questions about how far it is to the airport.

But we get there about one hour 15 minutes before the flight. I get checked in straight away – it’s quiet, and most people have already gone through security – and do some last-minute shopping for presents.

I feel like I’m supposed to sign off this blog with some words of wisdom, distilled after three months “finding myself” while travelling across Central and South America. I found lots of things, none of which were actually me. What am I going to do when I go back? At this moment, I haven’t a clue, though one or two doors may be opening. Am I suddenly gripped by panic over not having a job? No.

And have I had a fantastic time, creating what seems like years of memories into what were after all only a few weeks. What do you think?…

Buenas noches y buena suerte x

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