March 12th 2009 - Badass Buggys!

I survived the night in the top bunk and showered and ate breakfast in a bit of a daze. I knew what was coming. Chloe was lying there as I came out of the shower and it had to be now. I tried to explain why I thought we should just be friends but she didn’t take it well. I told the rest of the ‘Internationals’ and they tended to her – I knew she would be fine in time but it still was not a good feeling at the time.

I spent my morning sunbathing, reading ‘Angels and Demons’ and answering peoples questions about the situation between me and Chloe. It was nice that people showed they cared about both of us. Lunch was a nice, simple salad and it allowed me to check in with the ‘internationals’ who said that Chloe was calmer and that it might be a smoother transition than first thought.

After a quick Spanish lesson involving catch, the English National Anthem, washing up and Daddy Yankee’s ‘Pose’, some of us went for a drive in some buggy’s. I was in a buggy with Mia, who wanted to prove that you don’t need to have a driver’s license to be able to drive. I was not prepared to what was to come.

Mia was flying but disappointed not to be winning. She went flying past Sally and Maïté’s buggy and eventually our leader – although she got so close to the cars that it was a wee bit worrying! It was a good laugh but after racing through the stunning scenery and losing the guide, some of the rest of the group and braking a light we decided to turn around on a hill – having to push the buggy for a little while.

I had a little go in the drivers seat then but enjoyed Mia’s mental ride more and so let her go back into the hot seat. The rest had only made her crazier/better. She stormed from fourth to first in an instant and fought her hardest to stay there until the end. The most insane/brilliant manoeuvre came after Tara and Sophie overtook us. Mia held back until she saw the gap – or what she thought was a gap. She speeded straight between their buggy and some cones designating the centre of the road. Tara had two choice slow or crash into us or a car. She chose to slow and Mia’s magnificent, reckless run continued. The story of her second drive.

Afterwards I went for ice cream with the Louises, Camilla, Helle, Josefine and Soren before a few of us visited a church. The inside was beautiful with huge paintings depicting local miracles or major events from Banos’ past. The alter was stunning too, too nice for my descriptions. We lit a candle for everyone at home and then went back to the hostel.

It was back to the bar in the evening for some of us, while others stayed in for a girls night. We played more pool, against the locals and other travellers and just relaxed and forgot about all the things we didn’t want to think about for a couple of ours. And Josefine pulled a local so I owed her a drink!