Life has a way of surprising us with little unexpected twists, even when we think we’ve got everything under control. Last Saturday, I purchased a ticket to Cartagena at the North Bus Station in Medellin. To keep it pristine, I carefully slipped it into my coin purse, thinking that would be the safest spot.
On my way back, I wandered around the city, took in some sights, and enjoyed a meal. But when I returned to the hostel later that evening, panic set in—I realized my coin purse was nowhere to be found. For a moment, I felt utterly defeated. Then, like a ray of hope piercing through the gloom, I remembered that I had entered my passport details when buying the ticket.
Surely, they’d have a record of my purchase and could reprint the ticket for me.
The next morning, I arrived at the station over an hour before departure, joined the queue, and explained my predicament to the staff. Thankfully, my instincts were right. After about 20 minutes of processing, I held a fresh ticket in my hand. Though I spent the day feeling frustrated and slightly disheartened, I couldn’t help but feel relieved. My trip wasn’t delayed, and I avoided having to shell out another 225,000 pesos for a replacement ticket—a blessing I deeply appreciated.
I owe a debt of gratitude to modern electronic systems. In the old days, if you lost a cash-bought ticket with no digital trail, there would be no turning back. It would simply vanish into thin air, leaving you with nothing but regret.
Speaking of the journey itself, Colombia’s buses truly impressed me compared to those in Mexico. The ride was spacious, complete with entertainment screens to keep passengers engaged. Plus, the roads were practically traffic-free, allowing us to arrive almost precisely on schedule. A smooth and enjoyable experience indeed!
