East coast to the west coast

Scubadiving is fun, but after eight days it started to feel that there is not much more to see, and our bank accounts started to look quite sad for it´s not very cheap hobby after all. We have still long way to go and with that thought it was easy to decide to hit the road again. We both had the same feeling that the Pacific coast is the place to be. El Salvador is a brilliant place to surf and the people are friendly, according to many traveller we have met along the road. We knew nothing about the country furthermore, but next day we started the long trip across Central-America, from the east coast to the west coast, from Ceiba to La Libertad.

In Central-America the transportation is commonly dealt with old school buses from the USA. There are other options as well, but the prices are higher and air condition makes the modern buses horrible freecers. We think that it´s better to use the old buses, as most of the local people do. Travelling with them is always a lively experience. Music is hectic latino sound or reggaetone and it´s usually very loud. Drivers have lost it completely, they drive like madmen and thick black smoke comes from the tailpipe. The buses are covered with religious stickers and painted with psychedelic designs. It seems that the drivers are working with commission, so the faster they drive and the more customers they can get, the more money they earn. There is a big rush. The aide tears new people in and kicks others out while the bus is still moving. Stands do not exist, so the bus picks up people anywhere. Therefor the ride makes progress slowly. Tens of vendors are selling their products in the bus. Some sell incredible health pills, while others sell chicken meals, fruits, tools, drinks or bibles. In Finland it´s hardly allowed even to eat in a bus.

So it took couple of days to get to the El Salvador. The trip was extremely cheap, it costed less than eight dollars. Everything went well, except that I get a food poisoning from the chicken bought in the bus. I never learn it seems, this was a second time that I had bought some random food in a bus and gotten sick. Luckily it only took a day to heal.

I will add some photos of the buses when I find computer good enough.