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Welcome to my April 2005 travel journal.
Arrive back in Guayaquil around 1am, and just crash back at Hotel Velez. At 7am head round to Melissa’s pick up the stuff I need to the Galapagos boat ride and head to the Airport for my 11.30 flight with TAME air. Pretty standard airport clean flight, but they refuse to allow me to take my small backpack as hand luggage.
Lots of tourists again, been quite nice over the last few days spending it with locals and away from the tourists. At the airport in the scorching hot airport on Baltra Island meet our guide for the next 5 days Roberto, and after a quick scramble for my luggage head on the short bus ride to the port and our boat the SULIDAE
our home for the next 4 nights. Meet the rest of the passengers, Dana (Dutch), Rachel (Lancashire)
who met a month ago and are travelling together around Ecuador, Marcel who is also Dutch, who was staying with the Dana and Rachel in Puerto Ayora, Brenda and Ed a great couple from Colorado , Amanda from Texas who has just finished 2 years peace core work in Ecuador and Rod and Lyn also from the States. Brenda, Ed and Marcel have already been on board the boat for 4 days and enjoyed excursions around Santa Cruz and Santiago islands. We set off for a small beach on Baltra to see sea lions and Flamingos.
It is truly and amazing and privileged experience being able to get so close to wildlife. They said we would use more film than you would expect !!!! After we are given snorkelling equipment and for 1 1/2 hour snorkel around the bay and enjoy the wild and varied wildlife under the sea. WOW this place really is amazing. There is no dive equipment on the boat, but Roberto says this would usually be picked up later today. I hope so, since they already have my money for 4 dives !!! Back to the boat and cruise to the channel between Baltra and Santa Cruz for evening meal.
The boat despite having sails is really a motor launch, which is really needed due to the large distances it needs to cover to see all these islands. The crew is really good and attends to all your needs, and having the sails makes it feel a little bit special compared to the other white metallic, soul-less motor launches. Ours is also flying the Skull and Crossbones !!! Dinner is a real high class affair, 3 courses all excellently prepared by the chef on board Pedro. There are 6 crew, Max the skipper, Francesco 2nd (who will be my dive master) Pedro, the chef, Miguel engine man, Henri who serves the food and looks after the cabins and Roberto our guide. Just before dinner watch the sun set over the islands, it really is amazing, glad I came now !! I cannot recommend this enough to anyone, you have to come and see the islands, and I still have 4 days to go !!!! They picked up the tanks and equipment for the dive so I have my first dive tomorrow morning at 6am !!!
Galapagos Map
We set off at 2am, I think we all woke when the engines started, and are now next to the island of SANTA FE. Luckily Marcel and I are in the very front of the boat, which means we are away from the noise of the engines, but get most of the bumps as we cross the sea. I am awoken at 5.30 and out on the panang (small motor dingy) with Francesco and Max to the dive site. I am a little anxious at first, breathing very quickly, and the slight cold I have doesn’t help me equalise my ears very easily. I soon settle down and really enjoy it, visibility was excellent in the turquoise sea, and not too cold despite the time and only a thin, half wetsuit. 49 minutes down, back to the panang and back to the boat, the others have had breakfast and are waiting for the panang to take them to shore. I get a quick breakfast of scrambled egg, bacon, two types of bread, juice and yogurt before catching them up on the coast. We are standing on an idyllic white coral sandy beach surrounded by sea lions and a few black marine Iguanas. We walk up and down the beach for a while, listening to Roberto explain in detail the habitat and history and just take in the beauty of the place. It truly is amazing. We then get the snorkelling gear back on and follow the coast, where I had dived earlier. It is amazing and we are soon playing with sea lions in the waves near the rocks. They swim so close to you, often blowing bubbles under you, and touching your fins !!! We head back to the boat and set sail to our next destination on the island of SAN CRISTOABAL. we set anchor in the port and after lunch all catch the panang to the town of Puerto Naquerizo Moreno, it is quite built up and a stark contrast to the morning. 
After about an hour in town, where Roberto and I manage to find a full 5mm wetsuit, for the rest of the dives, we catch a minibus to visit the volcano in the centre of the island called JUNO. It is a short walk up to the rim of the crater, where a fresh water lake has formed. Here Frigate birds are crash landing in the water, to fill their wings with fresh water and wash of the salt, they then dive bomb around the edge of the crater, using the updrafts to blow the water from their feathers as they shake themselves like a dog would, quite a site !!! There are also excellent views of the whole island, which is quite lush. There are excellent views of other volcanoes on the coast. We head back to the boat and enjoy another excellent 3 course meal, before setting into cards and beer, till about 11pm.
| Dive Site 1 | Coast of Sante Fé |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 49 minutes with 5m stop | |
| Max depth | 15.2m | |
| Conditions | 22º excellent visibility | |
| Notes | Rocky floor, Needlefish, Angelfish, one Moray eel, King Angelfish, Yellow tail Surgeonfish, giant Damselfish and concentric Pufferfish. |
Again 2am engine start as we cruise to yet another island ESPANOLA. After Breakfast we head out to Garner Bay, again long white Beautiful coral sandy beaches, many more sea lions. We all then snorkel out to a rock about 200m from the shore to search for white tip sharks. No sharks, but many fish and a turtle, well spotted Rachel !!
Back to the boat and I head out on my dive to Osborn Xarifa. Excellent again, visibility is down a little but we see many more moray eels, and very large manta rays. The others had been snorkelling around the boat and the nearby coast or Gardner Island, where the boat had moved to. Back on board for lunch, we head to Punta Suarez. Here we have the most amazing 2 1/2 walk, through colonies of blue footed and masked Boobies.
We also watch the sea blow up through the cliffs, and are lucky enough to catch the male Albatrosses, who are just arriving for the mating season. They are a truly massive bird, with 3m+ wing span. The noises are amazing too as it is mating season, and all the birds are wildly in song and dance to attract a mate !!
It is really great to be so close to all this !! On the beach catch sight of a hermit crab and more sea lions, before heading back to the boat and another excellent dinner. Set sail to FLOREANA, while Marcel and I taught Rachel Poker !!
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| Dive Site 2 | near Espanola Osbornb Xarifa |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 37 minutes with 5m stop | |
| Max depth | 18.2m | |
| Conditions | 21º visibility down a little but still good | |
| Notes | Underwater pinnacle, volcanic rock again, with sandy bottom. Needlefish, Galapagos sheephead, Blue Chin Parrot, Yellow Tail Surgeonfish, Giant Damselfish, concentric pufferfish, Panamic green moray, fine spotted moray, Black sea turtle, king angelfish, black-blotched stingray and stone scorpionfish |
Up again at 5.30 for a 6am dive at Champion with Francesco. I did wake at 5.30 but was woken again at 6 by a wetsuit. A sunken pinnacle again, a bit murky as this was a little more exposed to the sea, but really good fun. I again had trouble with submerging, and ended up with a nose bleed for most of the dive. Back just in time to catch the end of breakfast with everyone, set off to our first excursion of the day at Cormorant Point. a green sandy beach with sea lions greeted us and a quick walk past a massive lake of flamingos, we arrive on the other side of the island to a white sandy beach. Here the coral white sand, has covered the natural green sand.
Here we played in the surf with manta rays, and also helped Roberto clean up the beach, by picking up rubbish. Back to the boat and a quick move to the other side of Floreana. while the others snorkelled, I dived at the devils crown (Corona del Diablo). There were very strong currents but this was easily the best dive yet. Francesco took hold of a puffer fish, which there and then in front of us, changed from a dark spotted brown colour to a white colour, while vibrating madly and making large clicking sounds, it had also doubled in size as Francesco passed it to me !! swam with many sea lions, saw many more moray eels, sat at watched 4 white tipped sharks resting on the bottom, and then swim right past us, while we fought with the current and tried not to crash into them !!! Also found a $5 bill floating at the bottom, which I gave to Francesco when we got back to the boat.
Quick cruise took us to post office bay, and a wet landing jump to the old post office, where it is the custom to leave post cards for back home. Then the next visitor, checks for any postcards that are near them back home, which they take and post themselves. I got one for someone’s mum in Northholt Middlesex, will post when I get back to the UK. This was also an important historical site fore the islands, and the remains of many failed settlements remains. Germans, Irish and Danish all tried to live out here, but didn’t stay long.
We now have a slow sail back to SANTA CRUZ island, where we started and Puerto Ayora. Where we will be moored for our last night on board. Really Jealous of Rachel and Dana who have another 4 days, after great though, decide not to continue, and save my money for more activities later on. Will have to come back later and stay much longer !!! after lunch, we get dropped off at the port and head to a bar, where we spend most of the night, playing pool and chatting away. We miss the free ride back from the crew, so end up on a taxi for $1. On returning Rachel, Dana, Marcel and I all start jumping off the Panang into the water and swimming around the boat. I thought they said drinking ant swimming didn’t mix, it was great fun !!!
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| Dive Site 3 | Near Floreana, Champion |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 39mins with 5m stop | |
| Max depth | 18.1m | |
| Conditions | visibility down to 10m 22º strong currents | |
| Notes | Rocky peaks with sandy bottom again. Mexican Hogfish, yawning, harlequin wrasse, Cortez rainbow wrasse, Galapagos sheephead (male), Yellow tail surgeonfish, Moorish idols (a pair) king angelfish, Galapagos blue porcupinefish, Galapagos grunt, white Salem (big school) | |
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| Dive Site 4 | near Floreana, The devils crown (Corona del Diablo) |
| Time | 46 minutes | |
| Max depth | 13.9 | |
| Conditions | 22º visibility excellent again, strong currents | |
| Notes | rocky volcanic peak, sandy bottom, saw many fish. White spotted puffer (inflate), 4 white tip sharks resting on the bottom, black blotched stingray, massive, whiptail, spotted eagle, 3 morays, Jewel, fine spotted and Panamic Green, Seals, Moorish Idols, king angelfish, barberfish, Galapagos blue porcupinefish, Galapagos grunt, stone scorpion fish, Galapagos twin spot octopus, Panamic cursing star, chocolate chip star WOW |
Up for last breakfast on board at 6.30. we then catch minibus to the Charles Darwin Research centre, where we view many exhibits about the turtles and the endemic wildlife, before walking around the Giant tortoise sanctuary. It really is amazing, each island has its own species and you get an insight into how Charles Darwin, first came up with the theories of evolution. Each species has its own different type of shell that is specific to its habitat. One Tortoise ´Lonesome George´ it the last of his species, as introduced animals, such as wild cats and goats have destroyed his habitat. George is about 100 years old, but still may live another 100.
He mates with two females, which are the closest related to him, but as yet no eggs have been successful. There are many pens for the small Tortoises where they are reared until they are big enough to be put back in the while. Each of the pens has a rocky area as tortoises are very good climbers !!! There are also large pens of rescued older animal, which will not be put back in the wild. They really are massive !!! We say goodbye to Roberto the guide and Dana, Rachel and Marcel and are taken to the short ferry ride across to Baltra island, and the airport and the flight back to Guayaquil. Say goodbye to the others on the flight who are flying back to Quito, and meet Blanca at the airport. Head back to Melissa pick up the bags and back to the Hotel Velez. Quite night.
Get all my photos in to be developed and chill around town. visit the Iguana Park with Blanca and Naomi, where hundreds of Iguanas, live in the trees and on the ground, some are really massive, and you have to watch your head when under the trees, you may get wet !!! In the evening, head to one of the massive discos just out of the centre of town with Blanca, Jessica and Pedro. Excellent night, and for $20 had many beers and 1/2 bottle of tequila. Ended up at hotel Extancia again !!! feels just like Amsterdam !!
Quite day, shopping and walking around the waterfront. End up walking up Las Penas again and stop at a new bar. The owner Victor is completely mad!!, and we end up making a quick exit after a lock in !!!
Blanca and I decide to head out to Manta, coastal resort an 8 hour bus ride up the coast, with a quick change in the middle of nowhere. It is really hot here, and after finding the Old Navy Hotel for $20 a night, head out to Cadillac’s a bar just off the beach. The bar is packed with Americans from the nearby Airbase and within no time a massive water fight erupts and takes over the whole bar !!!
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Chilling on the beach most of the day, the beach is nice but not as nice at Mancora, a bit dirty. No tourists about only locals. Went to the Cinema and saw Hitch with Will Smith, excellent film. Meet up with Roderido and Kerlly (Blanca's sister) later in the night, for a bottle of whiskey and cards, before heading out to a disco for salsa and merenge !! seem to be getting the hang of it, or that may be the drink !!
Up for breakfast on the beach front. But just after we have ordered, Bryan, Blanca’s ex, and the father of her last child spots us, and after causing a right seen, He and his friend drive us back to Guayaquil. I get ceremoniously dumped at the outskirts of town, where I get a taxi back to the centre and hotel Velez again. Hmmm now what !! most of my luggage is at Blanca’s brothers which is somewhere in town, but I don’t know where. Oh well, will be good to travel light !!! (Don’t worry mum, read on !!!) Head back up Las Penas, and for beers with Victor again, who apologised for his actions before !!! I am beginning to believe that Ecuador has more that its fair share of crazy people !!!! Get chatting to Xavier, an American educated Ecuadorian lawyer, and after a few tequilas, head back to the hotel.
back to topI am awoken by call from Blanca, she has my luggage and is coming over. We end up at the internet cafe, as I am finding it hard to understand the situation with Bryan. Using the excellent translator at www.astalavista.com, understand that Bryan, who has 5 children all with other women, 3 since Blanca, is just really a little loco (crazy). He is now at Blanca’s mums with Naomi. I spend the rest of the day with Blanca and her sister, as we visit the Council for women and families and get an order for police to take Naomi from Bryan !! an Interesting insight into the workings of the country !! many little offices with typewriters !! It is all arranged for tomorrow morning !!! Our for Cangreco (Crabs) with Kerlly and Blanca at Resaca on Malecon 2000, excellent views of the river, although a little pricy !!!
back to topIt turns out the Bryan has left anyway, so no need for the police. Blanca wants to get away from town, and I am keen to get some Spanish lessons, and keep moving as time is pressing on. We catch an afternoon bus for the 8 hours to Quito ($8). The first hotel we stop in is pretty crumby, and we decide to move tomorrow.
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Shopping around the 4 massive malls around the city we move to El Dorado hotel $15 per night, really nice.
Blanca cuts my hair in a hairdresser, and a few beers in the Amazonas area of town. It is true what the guide books say, this really is the gringo capital of South America, there are many tourists here, but it is a very relaxing atmosphere, reminds me a lot of Bangkok. The malls are really impressive and wouldn’t be out of place in America, and the prices are excellent. I pick up some jeans and a t-shirt for about 1/4 the cost in the uk.
Head up to the old town where we visit San Francisco Church and Museum, La Merced. The old city is really nice despite the massive police presence, but very touristy. Also take a rather expensive taxi ($15) up the 24km to Mitad del Mundo and Environs, which is the location of the equatorial line. There is a massive monument with interesting museum, and the usual touristy shops and cafes. The equatorial line was determined by Charles-Marie de la Condamine and his French expedition in 1736. and agrees to within 150m with modern GPS measurements. Pick up jeans, which they have altered for free, and head out to the Amazonas area again. Shooters bar, run by Milton, David and Junior is pretty cool,
and right next to the Papayus.net internet cafe. Get chatting to a cool guy Carlos the sole importer for Sony for the country
Head to the Museum at Casa Del Cultura, this is excellent and a must for any visitor to Quito. excellent displays of the history of the country, gold and ceramic artefacts, many models and Cultural and modern art galleries on higher floors. Spend most of the afternoon exploring the Amazonas area (Mariscal Sucre).
Spent quite a bit of time today, uploading photos to the website, did get to the cinema in the evening to see Million Dollar Baby with Blanca. Really modern complex.
back to topLazy day, catch up a lot on internet, get journal almost up to date and find the post office, which is shut, and research some Spanish language schools.
back to topGet a response from one school so head out early in the morning with Blanca to Esqula de Español Mitad del Mundo, which is only about 5 blocks from the hotel. I book a week’s course of 4 hours a day ($6.50 per hour) starting tomorrow at 9am to get me started, will see how I feel after that. More exploring around town and then Blanca catches 2pm bus back to Guayaquil. I then get the rest of the website up to date, and head out for a meal and early night, back to school tomorrow !!!
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Up early, then get a wake up call from Blanca, thanks !!! get to class on time for 9am, been a while since I have seen this time in the morning, after sleep !!!. Meet Veronica at the school again, and my professor for the next week, Carlos. We spend the four hours, just chatting in Spanish, he explains the structure of the course, which will be much conversation, and then other exercises to cover vocabulary and more importantly for me grammar.
I talk to Carlos about my work and life in England, and then ask him about the government and problems facing Ecuador, it is all really interesting and I surprise myself as to how much Carlos seems to be understanding, and how much I understand myself. Ecuador like most South American Countries is plagues with problems due to corrupt governments. Similar to Peru, the last President of Ecuador is now living in Panama with lots of cash !!! Other problems facing Ecuador are with its biggest export oil. This is a big revenue generator for Ecuador, but the country does not have any facilities to process the raw crude, therefore this is sent to America and then returned back to Ecuador, cost charged by USA 70% !!! The current government is slightly better, but many of the ministers are still very corrupt. There are many marches and protests all over the country everyday !!!!
Anyway, after a coffee break and conversation with Veronica the schools admin, return for 2 more hours conversation. Carlos says he is fairly impressed with my vocabulary, but I need some serious work on my grammar !! yep I knew that, plan is to work on that tomorrow with exercises. Cool. My initial impression when Carlos said he didn’t speak too much English was ´Oh no, what 2 bit school have I joined´ but from what Carlos has been saying the varied exercises, from grammar, vocabulary and conversation sound pretty good, will see how it goes tomorrow. Meet up with Rachel and Dana from the Galapagos trip and follow directions to a cafe called Mosaic, which supposedly has excellent views of the city !!! We don’t find the cafe, but find excellent views over the city, near a fantastically lit building. After a while we find a really nice restaurant called Él Esconditede Cantuña´ we all enjoy and beer looking out over a fantastic view from the balcony over the city at night. You really get a feel for how big Quito is !!! Return back to the girls hostel Casa Bambu, which has another really cool balcony over the city, and a very friendly atmosphere, where we play cards over a bottle of wine.
Again get a wake up call from Blanca, and head off to Spanish School. Today we start working on grammatical exercises and basic sentence structure, use of adjectives etc. I am now getting much more confidence in Carlos, and having to speak Spanish all the time, only enforces my learning, even when I have to ask about something I don’t understand in Spanish. All through the morning we hear the shouting of more and more people marching towards the government buildings in the old city about 1/2 mile away. On the morning television, they announced the suspensions of all government schools, so now the kids are joining in the protests. Veronica tells us at one of our breaks that the Police commissionaire has resigned, but everyone is still calling for the president to resign. The TV shows much rioting during the night, thankfully on my walk home from the girl’s hostel, I only saw lots of police !! and some hecklers shouting ´Lucio´s Perros´ which means the dogs of Lucio (the president). After school I head to Papaya.net and check on the net for stories on what is happening.
The TV is crowded with people watching the revolution unfold !!. It is a strange feeling !! Find on the Web this has happened to 2 other presidents since 1997 in this country, so I guess they are used to it by now. Their last president was ousted and fled to Panama with bags full of cash (US currency, since Ecuador switched to dollars from the Sucre about 5 years ago). He is friendly with the current president Lucio Gutierrez, and when the Judicial top brass said the ex president could return, Lucio sacked them all. This started the marches and protests 2 months ago. It all seems to be coming to a head today though !!! Although the danger is their, I do not feel threatened in any way, although it is a little weird walking down a street which now has fires and protestors blocking it !!! Got back to the hotel and watched, what looked like a USA film unfold, with many other people in the hotel lobby. As more and more people gathered around the Palicio de Gobierno, a military helicopter arrived and took off, later this was seen at Quito Airport, it touched down and someone ran to a nearby plane, but as this taxied to a runway, people had invaded the airport and the plane returned to the helicopter where a man ran back and took off in the helicopter. Mean while, riots has started around the ministry, where another corrupt minister was hiding. This was set on fire and shots where fired from the building down on protestors. One woman was killed, when an army lorry accidentally ran over her head. Seeing the pictures of her headless body where a bit graphic though !!! A Journalist was also killed in the revolution, but that was the total death toll !! about 65 injured !! Within minutes of the military helicopter taking the last president away, the new president (the current vice-president) was sworn in, Dr. Alfredo Palicio. Many people wanted answers to the corruption and were chatting ´afureta todos´ meaning out to all !!! Again the ex-president, Lucio Gutierrez, has fled with bags of cash !!! Now being US dollar !! TV throughout the night was talking to protestors and having press conferences from the new president. You really did get the feeling, this had all happened before and was quite a normal occurrence !! I headed up to the Plaza de Indepencia around 9pm, to get a feel for the atmosphere. A lot of people had left the outside of the government buildings, but there were still many around, along with the police, it all felt quite surreal !!!
See more at BBC News Website
Up in time for classes, today under a different president. Nothing much different but now no protestors !!! Well none you can see. On morning TV they show them around the Brazilian Embassy where Lucio is now hiding !!! School is good, although I don’t seem to remember much of yesterday’s lessons. We now start working on verbs and spend a lot of time in conversation about the changes over the night, and whether this is better or not for the Country. As Carlos says, all politicians start by saying great things, what is important is what happens in 2 to 3 months time !!!!!. Time will tell. Got some more photos uploaded on the website and then just stayed in the hotel practicing my Spanish until Blanca arrived around 9.30pm. Headed out for a quick couple of pints around Amazonas, then back to the hotel
back to topUp for classes again. Struggled a bit today, but did learn a few new things, probably had one too many cervesas last night !!! Organised with the school to continue for another week of lessons. There will not be in lessons tomorrow, but will continue on Monday. Will probably head out to Mindo tomorrow with Blanca, quite night following Pizza at Pizza Hut.
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Up before 8am to catch the bus ´Valles de Flores´ which was very near the hotel, to Mindo 2 1/2 hours for $2.50 really nice day arrive in the small town Mindo, north west of Quito in the heart of the Cloud forest at about 10.30, check into the Karaoke bar hostel, $10 for the both of us. Mindo is really quite, but week book a trip to the Cascade de Nambillo, (Waterfall) and a rafting trip down the river.
After a fun ride in the back of a toy pickup through the very rutted and wet tracks, we take a 10 minute walk down the mountain to the Waterfall. Which is very impressive. They have also set up a concrete slide, like a water park, with a good 5m drop into the freezing cold water. There is also a short plank which you can jump the 15m into the bottom of the main waterfall. After the first time, which is a real shock due to the cold, it is really good fun.
Blanca decides to sit out of that one !!! it starts to rain, but being wet anyway, makes no difference !! we climb back up the mountain and despite the rain, which is now quite heavy, decide to continue to the rafting. Where 4 of us and the guided, hang on to 5 large tractor tyre inner tubes, which are strapped together, and float down the river. It sounds all quite relaxing, but I can say it was a major adrenaline rush, bumping into rocks, and almost turning over a number of times !! excellent fun for $4 !!! We returned back to town, still poring with rain, but by this time we where soaked anyway !!! quick shower and had an excellent meal at El Chef restaurant, really good steaks on hot sizzling platters !! recommendations too. Many restaurants and bars, seemed to be shut, not many tourists about for some reason ?? a quick couple of beers and we crashed.
See more at Spanish Mindo Tourist Site
Up early for excellent breakfast in town, then took a tour of a local Aquarium, which had many different fish of the area including some fascinating salamanders, which are totally white, and look like prehistoric fish, but they have arms and legs !!
After that we headed to the Butterfly, Orchid and Humming bird sanctuary, where we saw many butterflies, some really massive, housed in a large tent. We had some of the large Tiger Butterflies eating fruit from our hands. They had a series of small cages where they housed the new caterpillars and Pupas, really interesting!! The orchids were fairly sparse, but the humming birds were amazing. We rested in the hammock for over an hour on a raised platform simply watching 100's of them fight over the artificial feeding stations they had set up around the platform.
It really was memorising, I hope the photos come out. We caught the 2pm bus back to Quito and had an excellent Mexican at El Mariachi, watch out for the salsa, it’s hot !!!!
Up again for Spanish lessons at 9am, much more conversation, and I think I am slowly getting the hang of it !! well I hope so !! More practising of use of Ser and Estar. Learn that the ex-president Lucio Gutierrez, managed to get away from the Brazilian embassy and in now in Brazil !!! He escaped the embassy dressed as a policeman in full riot gear !!! Oh well !! Meet up with Blanca after school and catch a taxi, we ask for the Jardin Botanical, but the driver says this other garden is better,
we arrive $8 later at Compleyo de Mayo, a very nice but newly built children’s playground and small gardens, great views of the city, but not the botanical gardens by any means. It is however pretty interesting driving back to the city centre on a local bus through the neighbourhoods of Quito and see where people live, there are some quite sizable mansions out here. We eventually get back to the city centre some 1 hour later.
After a another false trip to a closed Bowling alley near the airport (it is only open in the mornings ???) we find a bowling alley in the Quicentro shopping centre, after one game, head back to Shooters Bar, for a couple of cocktails before crashing out.
Blanca heads back to Guayaquil this morning on 8am bus, back to work. More Spanish lessons at 9am, much more conversation and start learning regular verbs. Again lots of conversation and practical exercises. Get the photos back from Mindo, which are a bit disappointing, they haven’t really scanned them in very well ?? Bar that just practicing my Spanish and chilling for a day !!
back to topMore Spanish again in the morning, just practising regular verbs, and finding out the differences in the people living in different areas in Ecuador. It really is quite interesting, and speaking in a different language too !!! At times it is a little hard to understand and since Carlos has very little English, I just rely on my trusty dictionary to help out !!! Overall though I am really enjoying it. Will probably continue school for one more week, as my time is going quickly !!! Crash out early to try and catch up on some sleep!!
back to topMore school, start learning irregular verbs today !!! Not much else, I find a different bar / restaurant to have dinner in each day, today find a really nice place overlooking the park. Again crash out early to catch up on sleep.
back to topLast day of school for this week, and Blanca is coming back later today. She surprises me and arrives at 7am, for a while I think it is the cleaners early and tell them to go away, till I recognise the voice !!! end up a bit late for lessons, but finish the week well with many more conversations on the political and social problems facing Ecuadorians at the present time. After class catch up with Blanca and her sister Kerlly with Roderick and head out for an excellent all meat lunch. I have never seen so much meat at once !!! We all shared two hot plates full off mixed meats helped down by several cervezas !!! End up at Shooters Sports bar again for a few beers and a club till 2am
back to topUp early to catch a bus to Esmeraldas, but on the way decide to go to Atacames instead. This smaller resort a little further south of Esmeraldas has been recommended by a number of people. So when we arrive on the outskirts of Esmeraldas we catch an $8 taxi ride along the very rough road to Atacames. We find the beach front packed with people, bars and hotels, after a little searching we find Andy hotel with cheap and clean rooms, and head out for the evening. It is a lot hotter on the coast, compared to Quito, and we settle into a bar on the beach front and within no time are dancing and drinking the night away with new friends. There are a surprising number of people from Quito here, on a weekend away. Atacames is a popular get away for people from the city. After many drinks and more lessons in Salsa (thanks Nicola) head to another nightclub and then the hotel.
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