A 14-hr bus ride turned into 16 with border delays and required pit-stops (the advertised Wifi and on-board toilets were “temporarily” not working). Certainly understandable during wartime. You’d think someone would eventually get tired enough to sleep in any position, but apparently not me.
An a lighter note it was interesting to have the bus pulled over (about an hour AFTER 2 hour wait crossing the border and getting passport checked on both sides and stamped in Ukraine) by the (Ukranian military) police who boarded the bus after we dodged the wartime road barricades and pulled over. The fun military TSA or soldier or whatever his position asked (only) me for my passport, which he took for them to check again, then returned it and nodded acknowledging all was ok. Certainly raised some eyebrows as the (clearly) only yank on the bus had had so much fun.
Shortly after that we stopped for a much needed prostate stop and it occurred to me that I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. Remembering that the bus driver was emphatic with me holding up 10 fingers how long we would be stopping there, I rushed to convert some currency in the rest stop, bought some chips and water, and got in line for the girl making the panini looking things. I had no idea what they were, but I really needed something to eat, so I watched the person in front of me order and tried to remember the words she used so I could order the same 3 things. She belly laughed at me when I attempted this, since I had possibly said something inappropriate instead, so I tapped the girl on the shoulder and asked her to order for me what she had ordered for herself. She giggled, but understood.
They were the best thing I’d eaten all day! One was chicken and cucumbers and maybe cabbage, one was cheese of some kind, and one was some kind of apple pastry thingy. Enough for the next 9 hours.
Not Alone on my Camino 
Stay safe my friend ❤️❤️
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