We pack up our belongings and take a cab from La Rosario to the bus depot at the south end of the city. We are going to a very small town called Papallacta (pronounced Papayacta). There are hot springs here and we have accommodation booked that have their own hot pools. The rooms even their own fireplaces. The altitude here is 3,300m, it is the mountains and is quite a bit cooler than Quito.

We board our bus about 1 minute before it departs. It is about 2.5 hours before we reach Papallacta. We disembark the bus and collect our big bags from the luggage compartment. We are still 2km from the Hosteria Pampallacta so we take a cab for $3.00. The cab is a Mazda crew cab pickup truck. We load the big bags in the back and we are off. Very glad we hired the cab. The ride feels much more than 2km and it is mostly uphill!!

We reach our place, collect our bags and I notice that my camera bag is not there!!!! I have left it on the bus. CRAP!!! My wallet is in my camera bag. CRAP!!! We enter the lobby and are met by Pablo. Pablo has spent many years studying in the US and has impeccable English. Thank God. We explain what has happened, he says he can call the bus company but doesn’t hold out much hope. Greg suggests that we grab a cab and try to catch the bus. Pablo calls back the cabbie who just dropped us off and in minutes he is back. His English is minimal, but Pablo explains the situation and then we are off to find the Banos Express Bus #17.

Our cabbie, (I will refer to him as Mario) who I do not know his name even now is AMAZING. He has only been told that the bag contains 2 cameras, but he senses the urgency.

Mike and Nicole, please show this to Alex and Adam. They will understand if anyone does. 🙂

We are in the Andes Mountains the road is not straight or flat. This road is like a Mario Cart race course. It is like Adam picked the hardest map he could find to race Opa (Stu). At times there are 3 vehicles spread across the road with a double solid line. Mario his constantly trying to win this race. We know he is faster than the bus, but they have a big head start. The road is full of pot holes and we need to avoid them like the bananas and bombs that get tossed onto the race course in Mario Cart.

I am in the back seat and hanging onto the handle above my door as we careen along the course. No bus in sight 🙁

We reach a Police checkpoint. The normally just wave buses and cabs through, but today Mario pulls over and chats to one of the police men. Another one comes over and makes a phone call. We have no idea what is being discussed. Next thing we know we leave the checkpoint and carry on in our search.

Not long after the checkpoint there is a fork in the road. The bus we are looking for would take the right fork, apparently the fork less travelled. That is good news. Less traffic to pass, fewer possible busses. A while later Mario sees a bus coming towards us, it is the same company as the bus we are chasing. He waves it down and asks the driver how far ahead the Banos Express bus is. He indicates that he passed it a while ago. Good news. We’re off again. Mario doing his thing. He knows every bump in this road. At times he slows and I wonder why, then a bump.

We see another Banos Express bus coming and Mario again flags him down. He says the bus is only a few minutes ahead. We cheer!!!

Then ahead of us on a curvy mountain road we see a flash of a yellow bus. That is it (we hope)!!!. More cheers. Mario continues his stellar driving. Using his horn in a beep beep way almost as much as his brakes. The rain is now pouring down. We come around a curve and we can now see that the yellow bus is indeed #17. Yahoo!!!

Another couple of curves and the bus is making a stop to let someone off. Mario beep beeps and pulls in front of the bus as I jump out. I have a phrase ready on Google translate on my phone. The driver and attendant are confused. Something is lost in the translation. They want a ticket. I run back to the cab and get Stu as he has the ticket. He brings it and as the destination was waaaaay back they are still confused. Finally they understand and let me on the bus. There is only one person left on board as I make my way to seats 29 & 30. I might not remember the number except for the fact that Stu commented that I was sitting in my birthday seat.

I get there and look down at the floor. The bag is there!!!! I pick it up. It is heavy. Unbelievable!!! The driver and the attendant are grinning as I give them thumbs up. The rain is still pouring down and fortunately there is a covered bus stop with a bench which I collapse on. Unzipping the bag I see my 2 cameras and more importantly my little travel wallet, which was really more important than the cameras.

Mario is out of his truck, under the covered bus stop and makes the hand gesture of a beating heart. We understand. We all take a moment for the adrenaline to abate before Mario gets behind the wheel for a calmer drive back to Papallacta.

I sent Leslie a text as I know they are waiting at the hosteria wondering what has happened.

When we arrive back we give Mario a mucho grande tip. Greg and Leslie have beer waiting for us in the restaurant.

Phew!!!

SUPER MARIO!!