We've spent the last few days en route from Ecuador to Huaraz, Peru; three 8-hour bus rides in two days. Needless to say, we're relieved to be here and excited to plan a week of trekking in these beautiful snow-capped mountains.

The bus marathon inspired a poem. This program won't let me create separate stanzas so I resorted to slash marks / for the line breaks. But you get the idea :)

A Bus Ode

I must, I must/ Take yet another bus.

Befriending cockroaches/ I learn to see with fuzzy eyes./ Some things are better left in disguise.

Road warrior, I sleep sitting up./ Bag under me, feet tucked./ Neck turned just so/ We go/ Up and down winding mountain roads./ Stomachs of steel we grow.

Bladder exercised on bus rides 8 hours or more./ No bathroom, just an occasional hole in the floor.

Music blares day and night./ On the rickety TV Jean-Claude Van Damme wins yet another fight.

It's hot it's cold./ Open window brings dusty air from the road below./ To shiver or sweat./ I'd prefer not to take that bet.

Get off and on at 3am./ No explanation so we pretend/ Guerillas want to take us down./ More exciting than the driver merely touching ground.

Personal space?/ Not in this place./ Butts, elbows, hands in my face.

Then finally as we're about to disembark/ A lady in fluorescent pink decides to park/ Her big ol' belly right in my arse.

I shoot a look/ That's meant to say relax./ But the truth is/ I really want to push her back.

Then the fresh air reminds me I'm alive/ As finally we have arrived./ Suddenly it all seems a faraway dream/ There are mountains to conquer and sights to be seen.

I tell myself not to fuss./ After all/ I must, I must/ Take yet another bus.