I try to get back home to the United States at least once a year. Recently, I took a bus round trip from Toronto to New York. I had once promised myself I would never take such a long bus trip again. But with rising airfares, I decided to give the Megabus (www.megabus.com) a try.
How did it go?
Here is an account of my trip:
July 14th
8:00 PM- Leave my house by public transit to arrive at the bus terminal with plenty of time to line-up early and board the bus to select my seat. Fall over my luggage and bruise knee.
8:45- Arrive at the Toronto bus terminal. Look around at the clientele. Nobody looks too suspicious. Sit and relax while waiting to line up for my bus.
9:15- Realize there is already a long line for the New York bus. Hurry to get in line.
9:45- Board bus and faced with decision whether to sit upstairs or downstairs on the Double Decker bus. Bus is very dark inside. I can’t see where I am going. Decide to sit downstairs so I don’t have to navigate stairs in darkness.
10:00- Bus departs. My plan is to tire myself until the border crossing in order to sleep better. Wi-fi not working on my iPod. Use music and Angry Birds to keep myself awake for the next two hours.
12:00- Arrive at Border for customs and Immigration. Gather all my belongings as instructed and cross over problem free. I’m American, they’re happy to see me and welcome me back. Return to the bus and hope that other passengers don’t delay the process.
1:00- Other passengers are delaying the process. Decide to call it a night. Eat a cookie and take an anti-nausea pill in order to fall asleep.
2:00- Pull out of customs to continue trip to New York. Feel myself getting tired and try drifting asleep. Bus is very quiet as other passengers also trying to sleep.
4:30- Jolted awake by bus driver loudly announcing rest stop. Make my way out of the bus bleary eyed to use public bathroom with other female passengers from bus. Get back on bus try to fall back asleep.
4:30-6:30- Sleep on and off, waking constantly due to uncomfortable seats.
7:00- See that it’s light out and consider myself awake. Eat breakfast bar.
8:15- Time of arrival in New York City. Realize we are nowhere near New York City.
10:00- Finally arrive in New York. Walk 5 blocks to Penn Station to catch 10:15 train to Long Island.
10:15- Arrive at Penn Station. Watch 10:15 train leave. Buy ticket for later train from surly agent.
10:25- Board train to Long Island.
11:25- Arrive in Huntington, New York. Look for relative picking me up at train station.
11:30- Find relative. Decline welcoming hug until teeth can be brushed and clothes can be changed.
12:00- Arrive at relatives. Brush teeth.
12:30- More than 16 hours after I left my house back in Toronto, finally ready to begin my visit with relatives.
To be continued…
For my return trip, click here
Never Say Zed 