Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Road rage...

I have so much to say from FWCC but I don't have time right now, so just one story. On Friday night we left the hotel in 3 buses and took the hour trip to Chiquimula. The roads are rather narrow and steep, in the mountains, and are very windy. There are a lot of slow trucks on the roads. Our buses were trying to pass this big slow truck who kept straddling the center line whenever there was room to pass. The first two buses finally managed it, then it was our turn.

Our driver kept trying and trying till finally there was enough room to get over. Then the truck driver started coming over and we ended up clipping his mirror! I don't think it broke, just moved a bit. But we manged to pass the truck.

A moment later the truck came speeding up, passed us, then stopped right in front of us! Big trouble! The other two buses saw this and stopped immediately. All the drivers got out and had and started arguing and fighting in front of our bus.

Finally everyone went back to their vehicles and we were off again. About two minutes later the truck had gotten in front of our caravan and stopped again! All the drivers got out and the police came. We were parked in the middle of the road on a rather steep incline headed down into a valley. Lots of other cars and trucks were passing within inches of the arguing drivers. They finally sorted everything out and we all headed on our way again.

I guess the driver said it was a 'crazy Salvadoran driver.' No se. I was getting a little scared at this situation - was it a setup? But everyone else seemed to be having a grand time and we were all okay in the end.

After the church service in Chiquimula, the city police provided two motorcycle escorts out of the city and I think another escort in a car stayed with us all the way back to the hotel.

I guess after the war there were a lot of guns left in the country and now no one knows who has guns and whether or not they have ammo. A bit of a scary situation.

Anyway, I'm off to lunch (almuerzo) and then to find a banco.

Adios!

(p.s. It's already Tuesday and I haven't managed to find any postcards yet, so lo siento, no postcards this time...)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

OK - I don't call that Road Rage - I think we need to look at your definitions!

I am so glad the Lord was looking out for you! As i am reading your description, I keep thinking of that Kathleen Turner/Michael Douglas movie Romancing the Stone - envisioning this bus stopping and people arguing. I am so glad you are ok!