8/28/06 Getting Off The Bus!

A term coined during our quarter-life-crisis Spring Break vacation in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico (2006).

On a spotty showered morning, five of us spring breakers ventured into Playa del Carmen. After a day filled with shopping, exploring and Coronas, night set in as did the looming storms. It began to downpour, and the group meandered to the local bus station in order to purchase five return tickets back to Puerto Aventuras.

It was on el autobus where Derek and I met our inspiration: Michael, the Canadian importer/exporter. Backpack in hand, he had arrived in Playa earlier that day. With no plans or reservations scheduled, all that was confirmed was Michael's airline ticket from Costa Rica back to Canada three months later. From that point in time until his departure from Central America, nothing was planned.

After learning more about Michael's upcoming trip, he inquired as to our occupations. With none of our responses being in or around the same ballpark as his traveling importing and exporting status, his look was despondent, as if immediately bored with us.

And that is when the five of us got off the bus--pushing our way from the back of the packed vehicle in order to free ourselves onto the rain soaked streets of Playa del Carmen.

The evening was filled with 1980s jams, dancing in the rain and adventure. Adventure which confirmed the cliche that the best fun is unplanned fun.

Derek and I have always toyed with the thought that if the occasion arose, we would jump on the next bus to adventure. But after getting off the bus in Playa, we decided to take the plunge and actively create our own portal to adventure. And so here we are, a hemisphere away from home...