August 5Now comes our travels by bus. We took a taxi to the bus station, actually a bus lot, as there is no station. No one to instruct you or tell you where to wait, so you have to keep an eagle eye out for the bus you need to be on.
Standing in the lot watching people was quite entertaining.
Up pulled our bus and we were the first ones on. I grabbed the seats behind the driver and noticed an attractive young girl sitting across the row, also in the front seat. We attempted to chat with her and were quickly told by the driver that he was protective of her. Come to find out, after watching for a couple of hours and putting two + two together, that she was a hitchhiker that he had picked up along the way and did not want anyone to know it. She appeared to be of gypsy descent and was heading to Marseille. The “married” driver was desperate for her attention, showed off a bit and continually kept drifting over the lines because he kept looking over at her and talking. I was getting a bit freaked out.
We stopped for lunch, where he bought her lunch and after using him for a ride and lunch, she was done with him and literally ignored him while she watched a movie and played games. Han left a review about this driver.
We thankfully arrived safely in Lyon, where Han decided we should split the travel time and stay a night.
We walked a little over half a mile pulling luggage again (I may be gaining weight, but I am also gaining muscle mass) and checked into IBIS Red Hotel, had a lovely room and stayed in while Han went outside to a little road vendor to purchase us some dinner. We just chilled out for the evening.
August 6
Breakfast was magnificent with much to choose from and even little brown bags to take fruit along with you. I thought that was a generous touch.
Checked out and began our walk back to the bus lot. We arrived and the bus was already slam full. This nice woman offered her seat and sat with someone else so Han and I could sit together.
About two hours into the six a half hour bus ride at one of the stops, almost half the bus departed and we were able to spread out and have a set of seats to ourselves, but alas that was not to last because a few more hours down the road the bus filled back up and an older gentleman with a hacking cough with bad breath sat down beside me. Oh, my lucky day! Han still had two seats to himself, while I am trying not to gross out because we were also sitting right in front of the toilet and it constantly smelled like shit. >lets just call it what it is, and how I was feeling at the time
When I could hold out no longer, there was no toilet paper and it was disgusting. A very nice woman offered me some tissue and in return we shared our fruit.
Not to be a spoiled brat but I am already tired of buses, however this driver is already much better than the one yesterday.
Travel hint: Always take tissues and hand sanitizer with you.
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