Traveling by bus in Brazil is not exactly like going Greyhound. In a country where public safety is as sure a thing as a World Series appearance for the Chicago Cubs, transportation companies take extreme measures to ensure passengers arrive at their destination without having been separated from their valuables. Not catching on at first, the driver for Gardenia Lines instructed me to fill out a form prior to boarding. I needed to include name, passport number, age, date of birth, reason for travel, my mothers’ maiden name, and how many times I was held for detention in high school for not covering my book. No passenger can board without having an original passport or identity card fully inspected. No identification, no trip, and no refund on your ticket. The staff went through all my belongings.
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