I had never been on a bus until two falls ago, when I planned to visit my sister in New York. I went with a friend of mine because she told me that we would could get a discount if we traveled together as long as we procured the tickets four days in advance. Little did I know what Greyhound would lead to in my life.

Description

Greyhound is a bus line - that is to say they are company that provides transportation via bus along innumerable routes throughout the US. You can bring some baggage with you and you store it in a cabin in the bottom of the bus. Sometimes they feature movies and radio features (a headphone jack and dial for each seat - like on planes). The appeal of taking a bus is that in general it is cheaper than a train and obviously cheaper than a plane.

Eeks rides the Bus

I have taken Greyhound more than anyone whom I know at this point. I have gone from Providence to NY on it 8 times now. Every time, Greyhound has been late by a minimum of half an hour. They are punctual about not adhering to any sort of punctuality (ok I prolly made that latter form up, but punctual's a fun word, pika). Greyhound buses also carry with them a persistent "scent." I would describe that "scent" as Eau de some guy's Pee. I swear every Greyhound I have been on smell's like pee; it is as if they pay some guy to sprinkle each bus, to ensure the Greyhound "experience" (I have never dealt with this problem on Bonanza). The bus also always takes forever and spends too long at each stop unlike Bonanza which seems to be more efficient (although they also have delays and what not as these problems are intrinsic to bus services).

The crucial part about Greyhound is their deal for companion travel. If you go and buy a companion ticket with another person, you can get it for half price, provided that you both travel at the same time. I think its availability varies across the country, so your mileage may vary.

Eeks finds romance on the Bus

The reason that I feel strongly about Greyhound is not because they have a great service or because they are amazing in any aspect. To explain my loyalty, let me continue with my opening story (skip to the conclusion if you want):

<rant>
Well it was a typical dreary Providence weather special - a Friday with a looming gray sky. I walked down College Hill with my friend all ready to pass out unconscious for my 4 hours on the bus as I has gotten no sleep the night before. Well waiting outside for the bus, I randomly chatted up a cute girl whom I thought was from Brown (I had overheard from her conversation). My friend and I talked to her a bit, when 30 minutes late, the Greyhound bus rolled up to the curb. My friend and I had no luggage, so we offered to save a seat for the girl since otherwise she had to wait in the luggage line and the "get-on-the-bus" line, and hence would be stuck with an undesirable back of the bus Pee seat. Well I saved her the seat across from me, and I spent the first 30 minutes of the trip talking to her in my delusional overtired state(translated as "annoying her" and "keeping her from reading her nook for her Indian Religion course"). I fell asleep for the next 5 hours (we hit NY rush hour traffic) and then we got off the bus. Well it turns out we were both coming back on the same bus, so after we arrived in New York, we planned to travel back together as it sucks to travel alone. Well, the rest is history as we starting going out a month later and have been together for the last 18 months. And we have made a the Greyhound experience an event in our relationship which we have relived several times. Heck, I even got her a piggy bank in the shape of a Greyhound bus for our six month anniversary.
</Rant>


Conclusion

Greyhound is a mediocre bus line. Bonanza is nicer. But if you are traveling by bus, you are probably looking to save money, and in that case, Greyhound might be the ticket for you, with their companion travel deal. I use Greyhound because I am cheap and I always travel with someone. Otherwise, save yourself the trouble and choose another cleaner more prompt line or a different modus transportandi altogether. Unless you are lookin for love (in al da wite places)!




Recommended: Yes