We arrived in Veracruz, Mexico at around 1pm local time. Yippee! Unfortunately for my itchy, goddamn-month-behind-schedule feet, the shipping agent says I’ve got to wait on board until 4pm before I can go to immigration and hit that goddamn road. Grr!!
Because I’ve landed a good 1000 miles north of where I was supposed to be landing, I’ve got to get a bus down to Panama via Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica and then back up again.
Because I didn’t get a chance to go to Fed-Ex in Jamaica, I don’t have a guidebook, or a map – well, I’ve scrawled a quick map on the back of a scrap of paper in my back pocket. It’ll do. Let’s hope something is heading south this evening…
[Later…]
At 4pm, it was time to say adios to my comrades on board the good ship ‘The Linge Trader’. They were a good lot, maybe not as much fun as the crew of the MV Miriam, but they were a little under-staffed so they didn’t have as much downtime to spend entertaining a rather waylaid traveller from Liverpool.
I left the ship with Raymundo, the wonderful shipping agent who sorted me out with my passport stamps and who took me to the bus station. Veracruz , MEXICO!! Yay!! I’m so excited…I could pop! I’m actually on Terra Firma and today, I begin the long trip down to Panama . I can’t wait.
The bus for the border left at 6pm. Perfect timing. Well, here we go again…The bus was fast and VERY well air-conditioned and they had little mini-jack sockets so you could plug in your headphones and listen to the bus company’s surprisingly good playlist, which was just BRILLIANT! Loads of Spanish-language versions of all the old classics as well as just the most bizarre tracks thrown in for good measure (the jive-funk version of the theme from Star Wars was the best bit). Ahhh, long distance coaches, how I’ve missed you. Although, got to say – bit cold – AC whacked on full all night… brr…
I pulled back the curtain and enjoyed the starry night sky without it moving to and fro…to and fro… to and fro…
Good luck, man. I sailed from Honduras to Guatemala, then took buses from there to the Atlantic side, then up through Mexico, back to the Caribbean side (Veracruz, actually) and then up to the US, across and back to Toronto. Good times, though the buses in Mexico all smell like ass.
What’s the update on Lonely Planet and your youtube vids?
Damn, Graham, I have a good friend in Veracruz. If I’d known you were passing through I would have put you in touch with him…
Hi Graham, I’m a friend of Ian and Tam’s. I’ve been checking in to see your progress – well done!!! I just wanted you to know there’s lots of us out here cheering you on, we know you’ll make it!!! Good luck!! Tammy, Melbourne, Aus
I’ve been showing all the kids in youth club what you been up to. You’re quite famous in welsh Wales. Keep going, love Nikki
Dustin Campbell says:
“Hi Graham, I’ve become a huuuuuuuuuuuuuge fan of the show. You are living the dream that I would absolutely love to do. Please never give up on the Odyssey, regardless of any adversities. I don’t know if you realize this but there are viewers like me who are not only cheering you on and enjoying all the footage you bring to us, but that some of us are living vicariously through you so your journey is our journey and we want to see you take it to the very end of the journey”.
Hey Graham,
Just trawled through the Lonely Planet website and forums and there was NO MENTION of you I could find anywhere… what gives?