Dana Kay Photography

9 Reasons Why

You should take a trip on a Greyhound Bus

1. Bragging rights

2. It’s Cheep

3. Outlets & Wifi

. If you want a seat with an outlet make sure you don’t sit in the ADA section

4. Sometimes you get a sassy bus driver

5. Checked bag & carry-ons for freee

6. Some of your faith in humanity will be restored

. My friend and I stumbled on the bus, trying to find two seats together while at the same time trying not to decapitate anyone with our bags. I was holding my duffle, backpack, pillow, sleeping bag (not so beautifully stuffed in a pillow case), water bottle, and ID in my hands. Squeezing through the isle things were bumping and dropping left and right. It took about 3 minutes and two very kind men to shove all our crap into the overheads. Then I heard someone calling in Spanish, I turn around and there is an older gentleman, in a cowboy hat, holding my ID. I pushed my way over to him and thanked him profusely. I then got back to my seat, slumped down, and truly learned the “white girl” feeling.

7. Finally understand the purpose of a neck pillow

. I’ve always thought that those horseshoe neck pillows were stupid looking and overrated. Well, nothing like an 8 hour, overnight bus ride to change my mind.

8. Learn the true value of the sweatshirt

. With enough working and shaping it can become a back pillow, blanket, sleep mask, or shitty neck pillow.

9. Appreciate going to the bathroom not in a moving vehicle

. If you’re taking the time to experience a bus ride, you also have to experience using the bathroom on the bus. Why? Because think of all the great possible horror stories that could come from it.

This last week was finals week for me(half way through senior year, what?!), and for celebration my very good friend Krista and I went up to visit our friend Tanner, who is going to school at UC Santa Cruz. We rode an 8 hour, overnight Greyhound on the way up, and a 9 hour early morning bus the way down. Everyone I've talked to about it is mainly surprised that my mom let me take a Greyhound bus, but in all honesty it was definitely the best way to go. It was cheep, $30 round trip, I didn't have to drive anywhere, spend any money on gas, or wear down my car. My seat reclined, had a water bottle holder, footrest, and outlet. And I was traveling with a buddy! All in all, the bus ride was a really good experience, as you can see in the list above... The bus ride home was beautiful, we spent some time on PCH, the ocean+storm clouds+The Secret Life of Walter Mitty soundtrack+my book= perfection

Though, as great as the bus was, I must say our adventures at Santa Cruz completely topped the bus ride
SO to Tanner and his friends for such an amazing time < 3
and to my mom for letting me go < 3 < 3