5 minutes in the cupboard

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The bus was dirty and old. I sweltered in the heat. My legs sticking to the vinyl seats.

Every window was open but the hot breeze only served to loosen the dirt on the dust enrusted windows and lodge it up your nose or in your mouth.

I consoled myself that the journey was only a couple of hours but after the comparitive luxury of the yacht we had just stepped off it seemed like a cumbersome trip.

While the sweat dripped from my brow and my tongue was parched I sipped daintaly on my water.

A quick transition betwen boat and bus and a heavy backpack hadnt afforded the luxury of a toilet break. Not to worry. It was only 2 hours right?

The bus stopped frequently to pick up and drop off passengers on their way to Paraty. School children and workers seemed to dominate the confines of the bus.

Bus stops are simple thatched huts. Barely visible amongst the foliage of the jungle and clearly beyond the sight of the driver who continually missed them, slammed on the brakes and made passengers traipse about 200m to get on.

Finally we pulled into the town amidst a flurry of dirt and gravel. It seemed pretty deserted from where we were.

With a single minded determination we stepped of the bus to find somewhere to pee.

After a few unsuccessful goes we found a small cafe with people propping up the counter. It appeared to have a toilet down the back.

I sidled past the people with the look of someone who is going to use the toilet in a cafe and not buy anything.

To avoid capture, I swiftly closed the door behind me and found myself enveloped in darkness. My fingers trawled the wall for a light switch but to no avail.

I reached into my bag and my fingers curled around my small maglite.
Bingo.

I had previous experience in dark toilets, and an incident that occurred in a long drop in the Serengeti and involved a bat sprung to mind.

I shone the light around and in its dim beam I started to notice a variety of objects, none of which resembled a toilet. It began to dawn on me that I had walked into a broom closet.

I became aware of laughter and chuckling from the other side of the wall in the cafe. Were they sniggering at me or had someone just told a funny joke?

I decided to open the door with dignity and calmly washed my hands at the basin. I checked my hair in the mirror and confidently sauntered past them, leaving them all to wonder if I had indeed peed in the mop bucket.

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Comments

[Sharon]

Tee hee hee
Love it Mel! Hilarous! Your journal is extremely entertaining. This one made me laught out loud. I am amazed and impressed at how conscientious you've been in keeping it. Safe and happy travels.