Josh Holtzman: The Very Long Bus Ride (from Cordoba to Iguazu)

Josh Holtzman

August 13, 2013

25-hour bus ride from Cordoba to Iguazu

The Plague Ship

I sit here on the steamy second story of the grand double-decker Serrano tour bus, pondering a horrifying realization. No longer is the content of this vessel’s air the usual healthy balance of nitrogen, oxygen, and other minor gases needed to sustain life. It is instead a warm incubator for a cold that one singer allegedly brought with her from summer camp last week. We have been cooped up together in the stuffy, steamy second story of this otherwise comfortable bus for a grand total of 20 hours. We have had a few short breathers outside, but mainly, most of these hours have been spent in attempts to sleep, to read, and to entertain ourselves, on our way to Iguazu Falls.

The story of this imbalance of airy proportions began only a few days ago. It was then that we noticed a small group of people sniffling and coughing. At this point in time, many rumors have flown throughout the crowded bus of who infected who, and who started it all. Some people are even starting to develop conspiracy theories, such as that we brought this sickness from Boston itself, or that someone is spreading it on purpose which, by the way, is absolutely preposterous. Within days, we noticed the prominent spread of this mild cold to each and everyone in the choir—even to our tour guide, Susana, and to our chaperones and choral directors. I think I got it one or two days ago, before our one-night stay in Cordoba. If there was ANYBODY who was not sick by yesterday, they are most definitely coughing and aching by now. I was discussing with Emily and friends of the virus slowly concentrating the air of our bus cabin as we spoke. One of them, maybe Emily, mentioned the Chinese Plague Ships. She told of how this was sort of a biological bomb, and the first form of biological warfare in the world. Of course, we were never a very pugnacious bunch, but as our tall blue bus sails through a sea of red dirt, palm trees, and rusty warehouses, I cannot help but imagine this long, thin vessel as a biological missile, ready to explode upon our host families in Iguazu.

Yet, currently, despite the calls for tissues and cough drops, we are keeping ourselves happy with cookies and movies. Last night, we saw Argo, and today Skyfall. Quality movie choices indeed. Now playing--Lincoln. Again, quality programming. With only a few hours left to our scheduled contact time, I have but one thing to say to the town of Iguazu--“Look out Iguazu! Here comes the Plague Ship!” Achoo indeed. *HOoOoNnNnKk* *cough cough* ARRRRRRRRgo….(yet I won’t continue the joke.)