Leaving Barquisimeto

July 12

My plan was to fly from Barquisimeto to Merida but that didn't work because all the airlines had cancelled their service to Merida.  Juan offered to drive me but it would have been too costly so we went to the bus depot (a slightly scary, very busy place) and bought a ticket for a bus trip.  So very early Saturday I had breakfast at the Segoviana and Juan drove me to the station.  We fought through all the taxi drivers and found my bus.  This was to be an all day bus adventure into the Andes!  I bought a juice and a bag of dried plantains for the trip.

 

Waiting to leave Barquisimeto depot.

While we waited we were visited by many vendors hawking everything from snacks to knit goods from Merida and Crest toothpaste and brushes (a promotion from the company!).  You could buy reading material or jewelry!  Each vendor would walk through the bus, give each passenger their item, give a "spiel" about why we had to have one then collect either payment or the item back.  Really hands-on!  They were very polite and creative in their presentations!

Took a long time to leave, not really on time but off we went through Barquisimeto and up.