A quick post about the food in the other side of the world. Peru and Ecuador have pretty much the same food, in the sense that they both serve EVERY meal with more rice than anyone can eat. In Ecuador, steak, chicken and fish are the norm, with traditional dishes that are nothing special, but they eat massive amounts, none of us could ever finish a meal, but the Ecuadorians gobble it down, yet they're all so petite. We then arrive in Peru and the meals are pretty much the same, but the dishes are smaller and we're left hungry after each meal, probably thanks to Ecuador.
Pisco Sour is Peru's national alcoholic drink. Could anyone have a look in the supermarket and tell me if we have Pisco?? Peru's other national drink is Inca Cola, which is a nuclear yellow fizzy drink which is sold everywhere Its gorgeous and tastes like cream soda, even though I don't like cream soda.
We're all abit bored of the food now, its the same everywhere, but we havn't resorted to KFC just yet. We will be trying Cuy (Guinea Pig) in the next couple of days. Looking forward to that!
Monday, 30 May 2011
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Slippery When Wet
Day 14
We left Huanchico to go to Lima, Peru's capital. We wern't looking forward to the 9 hour bus ride, but as soon as we stepped on it, we were in Paradise. It was a double decker coach, with seats wide enough to fit Michelle McManus (remember her?) on. We had a TV each, showing 4 films one after the other, personal service giving us food and drinks all journey, pillows, blankets, and best of all, the seats went back to 180 degrees. Thats completely flat!! With a footrest. I smiled the whole journey, even when I was sleeping.
Day 15
Today we were leaderless as we wern't meeting Fernando til 3. So we had a walk round Lima, which isn't that impressive considering its the capital. Fernando is a nice guy, 26, wants us to be a "family", erm, he's got a beard, not much else to say about him really, not made up my mind yet. After the meeting, we went to the catacombs, which contained over 25,000 bodies, most of which their remains were right infront of you, a very eerie place, built underneath a church. The tour was supposed to last one hour, but we were on the last tour of the day, and our guide obviously had plans; running around the place and talking to us whilst walking the other way. Didn't learn a thing, but was very interesting (not sure if thats the right word) to see of the bones. The tour actually only lasted 20 minutes.
After this, we went to a fountain park, the biggest in the world, which was amazing. Over 20 fountains, some more impressive than others, some 'dancing' in time to music, some which created illusions. Me and Fernando decided to go into the Labyrinth Fountain, trying to find our way through moving torrents of water. Unfortunately, I saw a gap and decided to cheat and run through it, forgetting that the floor was wet, I went straight onto my backside and got soaked. More unfortunate, Wendy caught it all on video. Not my proudest moment, but oh well.
Fernando treated us all to a round of Pisco Sours, a great Peruvian alcoholic drink, and we all got a little pissed. All in all, a good day. Heading to the town of Pisco tomorrow.
Out
We left Huanchico to go to Lima, Peru's capital. We wern't looking forward to the 9 hour bus ride, but as soon as we stepped on it, we were in Paradise. It was a double decker coach, with seats wide enough to fit Michelle McManus (remember her?) on. We had a TV each, showing 4 films one after the other, personal service giving us food and drinks all journey, pillows, blankets, and best of all, the seats went back to 180 degrees. Thats completely flat!! With a footrest. I smiled the whole journey, even when I was sleeping.
Day 15
Today we were leaderless as we wern't meeting Fernando til 3. So we had a walk round Lima, which isn't that impressive considering its the capital. Fernando is a nice guy, 26, wants us to be a "family", erm, he's got a beard, not much else to say about him really, not made up my mind yet. After the meeting, we went to the catacombs, which contained over 25,000 bodies, most of which their remains were right infront of you, a very eerie place, built underneath a church. The tour was supposed to last one hour, but we were on the last tour of the day, and our guide obviously had plans; running around the place and talking to us whilst walking the other way. Didn't learn a thing, but was very interesting (not sure if thats the right word) to see of the bones. The tour actually only lasted 20 minutes.
After this, we went to a fountain park, the biggest in the world, which was amazing. Over 20 fountains, some more impressive than others, some 'dancing' in time to music, some which created illusions. Me and Fernando decided to go into the Labyrinth Fountain, trying to find our way through moving torrents of water. Unfortunately, I saw a gap and decided to cheat and run through it, forgetting that the floor was wet, I went straight onto my backside and got soaked. More unfortunate, Wendy caught it all on video. Not my proudest moment, but oh well.
Fernando treated us all to a round of Pisco Sours, a great Peruvian alcoholic drink, and we all got a little pissed. All in all, a good day. Heading to the town of Pisco tomorrow.
Out
Friday, 27 May 2011
Moan
Reading back my old posts, I notice that I´ve told you all about what I liking about the places I´ve been, so I thought I´d post about what I don´t like:
1. The Peruvian Dog. A dog native to Peru (its got a proper name but I can´t remember what it is) that is completely hairless apart from a tuft on its head and on its armpits (legpits?). Its an ugly little thing, and they´re everywhere. Even the puppies are wrinkly and ugly.
2. Not being allowed to flush toilet paper. I´m sorry to bring this blog down to such a topic, but its something I can´t get over and don´t like doing. Something we take for granted back home.
3. The point that its 30 degrees plus, yet all the hotels feel the need to put an extra thick blanket in your bedding. Some are an inch thick and can only be described as a rug.
4. Nobody speaks English. I don´t actually dislike this point, but I´m running out of things already. Unlike Europe, where most people in Shops, restaurants etc, speak English of some form, people here do not. I understand this is actually my own fault for not learning any Spanish before I came to this land.
Thats it I think.
Out
1. The Peruvian Dog. A dog native to Peru (its got a proper name but I can´t remember what it is) that is completely hairless apart from a tuft on its head and on its armpits (legpits?). Its an ugly little thing, and they´re everywhere. Even the puppies are wrinkly and ugly.
2. Not being allowed to flush toilet paper. I´m sorry to bring this blog down to such a topic, but its something I can´t get over and don´t like doing. Something we take for granted back home.
3. The point that its 30 degrees plus, yet all the hotels feel the need to put an extra thick blanket in your bedding. Some are an inch thick and can only be described as a rug.
4. Nobody speaks English. I don´t actually dislike this point, but I´m running out of things already. Unlike Europe, where most people in Shops, restaurants etc, speak English of some form, people here do not. I understand this is actually my own fault for not learning any Spanish before I came to this land.
Thats it I think.
Out
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Horsing Around
Day 13
Where do I start? Up early for a jam packed day. First we went to a place called 'Chan Chan' which is a massive mud city measuring 22 sqaure kms. This place was just incredible, with tombs, arenas and even a lake built into it, which has survived hundreds and hundreds of years. Our guide was brilliant, he obviously found it as fascinating as we did. Then we went to a slightly newer temple, the name eludes me, which was mighty boring and the guide sounded like a tape recording. It was the same wall over and over again. I have one picture and it shows everything there is to see here.
We then went to see a horse show. I don't like horses. This breed of horse is native to Peru and is called 'the dancing horse' because when it walks, it looks like its dancing. Good to watch for 2 minutes, then the novelty wears off. With this horse was a boy and a girl dancing also. Suddenly, the horse trotts away and the girl comes over to me and puts her hand out to me. So i think 'what the hell' and take it and start dancing with her, some form of latin american dance. Then the realisation that im dancing -well, trying to atleast - in the middle of a field with tens of people watching me, hits in. It was mighty embarassing, and I believe there are many photos, and possibly a video of this.
After the "show", we are toured around the stable, MORE HORSES!, and are shown the local house where the stable workers live. Here we surprise an unlucky couple who are performing a sex act (email me if you want to know which one, you sick freaks) in a hammock. And instead of stopping and running away, they saw us and pulled the hammock up abit and carried on, why not.
A good day overall, and its only 6. Tomorrow is our last day with Johanna (it turns out i've been spelling here name wrong all this time), and we will get our new leader tomorrow night. It will be sad to see her leave because she has been great with us, we all think so. Will let you know my first opinion of our new guy Fernando, tomorrow.
Out
Where do I start? Up early for a jam packed day. First we went to a place called 'Chan Chan' which is a massive mud city measuring 22 sqaure kms. This place was just incredible, with tombs, arenas and even a lake built into it, which has survived hundreds and hundreds of years. Our guide was brilliant, he obviously found it as fascinating as we did. Then we went to a slightly newer temple, the name eludes me, which was mighty boring and the guide sounded like a tape recording. It was the same wall over and over again. I have one picture and it shows everything there is to see here.
We then went to see a horse show. I don't like horses. This breed of horse is native to Peru and is called 'the dancing horse' because when it walks, it looks like its dancing. Good to watch for 2 minutes, then the novelty wears off. With this horse was a boy and a girl dancing also. Suddenly, the horse trotts away and the girl comes over to me and puts her hand out to me. So i think 'what the hell' and take it and start dancing with her, some form of latin american dance. Then the realisation that im dancing -well, trying to atleast - in the middle of a field with tens of people watching me, hits in. It was mighty embarassing, and I believe there are many photos, and possibly a video of this.
After the "show", we are toured around the stable, MORE HORSES!, and are shown the local house where the stable workers live. Here we surprise an unlucky couple who are performing a sex act (email me if you want to know which one, you sick freaks) in a hammock. And instead of stopping and running away, they saw us and pulled the hammock up abit and carried on, why not.
A good day overall, and its only 6. Tomorrow is our last day with Johanna (it turns out i've been spelling here name wrong all this time), and we will get our new leader tomorrow night. It will be sad to see her leave because she has been great with us, we all think so. Will let you know my first opinion of our new guy Fernando, tomorrow.
Out
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Guess What...
I can't Salsa dance. I was terrible. A couple of stars among us, but most gave up after half an hour.
Day 12
10 HOUR BUS RIDE!!!
That is all
Day 12
10 HOUR BUS RIDE!!!
That is all
Monday, 23 May 2011
Deepest Darkest ...
Day 9
Not alot to be said about today, went to a secret place that i cant mention because i bought Shep a present from there and i dont want him to know what it is, but he should get it in about 2 weeks. This was my last night in Cuenca, which is a fantastic City, we agree its the best place we´ve been so far.
Day 10
Another boring post, involved 8 hours on a coach travelling from Peru. Border control was one shed, and they didn´t even check our passports properly. The difference between Ecuador and Peru is amazing. Ecuador is just green, everywhere, whereas Peru is just brown, everywhere. So far, all we have seen is desert sand. We arrived in Mancora, where were staying for 2 nights, and its a proper holiday destination, with bars and Brits getting pissed, not exactly what we were hoping for, but the beach is absolutely beautiful, like something from a paradise island. Again in a little wooden lodge, and bathroom is one hell of a spectacle. Will take a picture and try and put it on here.
Day 11
My ankle is almost better, luckily i didn´t hurt it that badly. Was suppost to go snorkelling this morning, but passed on it because i wasnt feeling too bright. Its nearly 3pm now, feeling alot better, and tonight (get ready to laugh) i´m going for a Salsa dancing lesson. I´m looking forward to it. I´ve spent most of the day in the pool, because i need a rest from everything.
In not so good news, Murry got bitten by a stray dog and has to have 12 shots of the rabies vaccine, so he´s not particularly happen at the moment.
Thats all ive got. Will let you know how the dancing goes
Out
Friday, 20 May 2011
Just Brilliant
Thats sarcasm by the way.
Day 7
Day 7 was abit of a none day, it involed 7 hours on a coach to get to Cuenca, where I am for 3 nights. When i got here i was setting off to go into the town from my hotel room and managed to fall down the stairs and sprain my ankle. Which leads on to day 8
Day 8
Missed out on walking round the national park with everyone, and instead stayed in my hotel room with my ankle taped up on ice. Luckily, i'm travelling with 2 nurses and a pharmacist, so theyre looking after me and i can feel little pain thanks to the drugs. Also luckily, i am on 2 free days at the moment so I not losing any money as i havnt paid anything for these days, but i am missing out on everything else. Its almost 6 oclock in the evening and i'm still in my room with my foot on a pillow. Pissed off doesn't go far enough to explain how i'm feeling. Hopefully it will heal enough for my to bare weight on it in the next couple of days. It needs to be better by the time i clim Machu Picchu in 2 weeks time.
Out
Day 7
Day 7 was abit of a none day, it involed 7 hours on a coach to get to Cuenca, where I am for 3 nights. When i got here i was setting off to go into the town from my hotel room and managed to fall down the stairs and sprain my ankle. Which leads on to day 8
Day 8
Missed out on walking round the national park with everyone, and instead stayed in my hotel room with my ankle taped up on ice. Luckily, i'm travelling with 2 nurses and a pharmacist, so theyre looking after me and i can feel little pain thanks to the drugs. Also luckily, i am on 2 free days at the moment so I not losing any money as i havnt paid anything for these days, but i am missing out on everything else. Its almost 6 oclock in the evening and i'm still in my room with my foot on a pillow. Pissed off doesn't go far enough to explain how i'm feeling. Hopefully it will heal enough for my to bare weight on it in the next couple of days. It needs to be better by the time i clim Machu Picchu in 2 weeks time.
Out
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
ARGH! SOUP!
Day 6
Sorry for the lack of posts, you'll understand why when you've read this one. Best start in chronoligical order, so here goes.
On Day 3, we started by visiting the equator line, which had an interactive museum. This was fascinating, and I can't wait to tell people about some of the experiments there. I know some people won't believe some of them, so I recorded a couple as proof. After that, we went to look round old Quito, where we looked round some old cathedrals (and climbed one) and tried an alcoholic drink called chica (sp) which is 100 per cent proof, so was obviously watered down with a juice, and it was vile. While we were out and about, the heavens opened for about 20 minutes. Now this isn't ordinary poxy english rain, this is rainforest terrential downpour. 20 minutes caused mas flooding (the streets of the old town are like San Francisco, mostly hills) so we dived in a shop and watched the vehicles and the odd person flow down the street. This apparently happens almost everyday, so wasn't a big deal for the locals. Follwed was our last night in Quito, we couldn't be bothered to go out so ordered in pizza.
Quito really was a beautiful city, combining the very old and very new, and very poor and very rich. You walk down a street that could only be classed as slums, and round the corner is a brand new plaza with massive TV screens and modern eateries. At 2,800 meters up, its not easy to breathe and the weather is totally unpredictable, but still worth going.
Day 4
We set off from Quito in the early hours of the morning to go to the Jungle. We stayed in a lodge for 2 nights next to the Napa river, the main tributary for the amazon. Don't be fooled by the word tributary, the river was massive, nearly 100 meters wide at points. The lodge was fantastic, it was exactly what I had wanted to experience. We had a wood cabin each which was just that, a wood cabin. No electricity, no hot water. Only two gas lamps would guide your way around your room and bathroom; an amazing experience which I just loved. After we settled in our cabins, we went to visit a local tribal village, where they showed us how they panned for gold, made pottery and how to shoot blow darts, which isn't as easy as it sounds. On our way back, there were some children from the tribe playing football, so me and Murray decided to give them a run for their money. Four young boys with no shoes, versus me, Murray and Vanda (in their 50s), Yeti (40) and Joanna in goal. We kept up the pace for a good 20 minutes but in the end, the boys with no shoes beat us 1-0. Was a good laugh though. Funny how football solves a language barrier.
That night I had far too many beers (i'm with alot of aussies remember) and we discovered that I was the baby of the group, as Amy is 26 and Joanna 27.
Day 5
The best day so far. We spent an hour nd a half trekking through the thick rainforest, with our local guide showing us all sorts of interesting uses for plants, and some amazing animals. We crossed rivers and mud and finally arrived to what we like an oasis to us. It was 35 degrees while trekking, and the humitidy was just awful, and all of us were exhausted, but at the end was a beautiful waterfall and plungepool where most of us stripped off and dived straight in. I was the first one in and the last one out, it was glorious. Joanna told us that if you went right underneath the waterfall it felt like a massage; lies, it bloody hurt. A couple of people didn't go in so they should have some pictures of us in it. Trekking back from the waterfall, we got back to the boat we arrived in and they told us that instead of boating back, we were going to get in a rubber ring and drift the mile and a half back down to the hotel. Parts of the river were calm and it was so relaxing, apart from one section which was more like white water rafting. Very fun, but got very sunburnt on my back.
Day 6
I was sad to leave the Lodge because I (and infact all of us) loved it so much. Living with all the wildlife (tarantulas, snakes, beetles etc) was such a different experience. But we set off on a four hour bus journey to go to the city of Riobamba, where I am as I write this. We've had a quick look round the place and its nothing special, but this stop wasn't planned, as we were suppost to be staying in Banos, and trekking up the Volcano, except the Volcano has started erupting and all our governments have told us we arn't allowed to go there. So its just one night here in Riobamba, then we're travelling to Cuenca tomorrow, where we will spend 3 nights.
A quick word on us as a group (and I mean quick because this post is far too long as it is) we have all become even closer than before and all get on so well. There seems to be no friction between anyone, and we all have a great laugh and the conversation is always flowing. I couldn't have asked for a better group.
Off for some tea now. Oh that reminds me, every meal in Ecuador starts with soup. I hate soup. I have had more soup in the last 6 days than I have had in my entire life.
Out
Sorry for the lack of posts, you'll understand why when you've read this one. Best start in chronoligical order, so here goes.
On Day 3, we started by visiting the equator line, which had an interactive museum. This was fascinating, and I can't wait to tell people about some of the experiments there. I know some people won't believe some of them, so I recorded a couple as proof. After that, we went to look round old Quito, where we looked round some old cathedrals (and climbed one) and tried an alcoholic drink called chica (sp) which is 100 per cent proof, so was obviously watered down with a juice, and it was vile. While we were out and about, the heavens opened for about 20 minutes. Now this isn't ordinary poxy english rain, this is rainforest terrential downpour. 20 minutes caused mas flooding (the streets of the old town are like San Francisco, mostly hills) so we dived in a shop and watched the vehicles and the odd person flow down the street. This apparently happens almost everyday, so wasn't a big deal for the locals. Follwed was our last night in Quito, we couldn't be bothered to go out so ordered in pizza.
Quito really was a beautiful city, combining the very old and very new, and very poor and very rich. You walk down a street that could only be classed as slums, and round the corner is a brand new plaza with massive TV screens and modern eateries. At 2,800 meters up, its not easy to breathe and the weather is totally unpredictable, but still worth going.
Day 4
We set off from Quito in the early hours of the morning to go to the Jungle. We stayed in a lodge for 2 nights next to the Napa river, the main tributary for the amazon. Don't be fooled by the word tributary, the river was massive, nearly 100 meters wide at points. The lodge was fantastic, it was exactly what I had wanted to experience. We had a wood cabin each which was just that, a wood cabin. No electricity, no hot water. Only two gas lamps would guide your way around your room and bathroom; an amazing experience which I just loved. After we settled in our cabins, we went to visit a local tribal village, where they showed us how they panned for gold, made pottery and how to shoot blow darts, which isn't as easy as it sounds. On our way back, there were some children from the tribe playing football, so me and Murray decided to give them a run for their money. Four young boys with no shoes, versus me, Murray and Vanda (in their 50s), Yeti (40) and Joanna in goal. We kept up the pace for a good 20 minutes but in the end, the boys with no shoes beat us 1-0. Was a good laugh though. Funny how football solves a language barrier.
That night I had far too many beers (i'm with alot of aussies remember) and we discovered that I was the baby of the group, as Amy is 26 and Joanna 27.
Day 5
The best day so far. We spent an hour nd a half trekking through the thick rainforest, with our local guide showing us all sorts of interesting uses for plants, and some amazing animals. We crossed rivers and mud and finally arrived to what we like an oasis to us. It was 35 degrees while trekking, and the humitidy was just awful, and all of us were exhausted, but at the end was a beautiful waterfall and plungepool where most of us stripped off and dived straight in. I was the first one in and the last one out, it was glorious. Joanna told us that if you went right underneath the waterfall it felt like a massage; lies, it bloody hurt. A couple of people didn't go in so they should have some pictures of us in it. Trekking back from the waterfall, we got back to the boat we arrived in and they told us that instead of boating back, we were going to get in a rubber ring and drift the mile and a half back down to the hotel. Parts of the river were calm and it was so relaxing, apart from one section which was more like white water rafting. Very fun, but got very sunburnt on my back.
Day 6
I was sad to leave the Lodge because I (and infact all of us) loved it so much. Living with all the wildlife (tarantulas, snakes, beetles etc) was such a different experience. But we set off on a four hour bus journey to go to the city of Riobamba, where I am as I write this. We've had a quick look round the place and its nothing special, but this stop wasn't planned, as we were suppost to be staying in Banos, and trekking up the Volcano, except the Volcano has started erupting and all our governments have told us we arn't allowed to go there. So its just one night here in Riobamba, then we're travelling to Cuenca tomorrow, where we will spend 3 nights.
A quick word on us as a group (and I mean quick because this post is far too long as it is) we have all become even closer than before and all get on so well. There seems to be no friction between anyone, and we all have a great laugh and the conversation is always flowing. I couldn't have asked for a better group.
Off for some tea now. Oh that reminds me, every meal in Ecuador starts with soup. I hate soup. I have had more soup in the last 6 days than I have had in my entire life.
Out
Saturday, 14 May 2011
Trying to Spend a Penny
In the litteral sense.
Day 2
Today we all went to a mahoosive market in the middle of nowhere, taking 2 hours to get to the town of Otavalo. There was everything you could imagine (and things you couldn't) and i desperately wanted to buy some cheap tat, especially some tatty jewellery for the Mrs as a jokey present, but unfortunately everything was of a fairly good standard, so i bought nothing.
The final person of our tour arrived late last night, she's called Yeti and she's from England (wahay), Worcester (sp) to be precise. I should mention our tour guide Joanna. She's lived in Ecuador all her life and knows everything there is to know about the country. She's also a good laugh and speaks very good English; we're all happy with her.
Tomorrow i'm very much looking forward to. We're going to the Ecuator line, where there is apparently a great museum. Then we're off to the old city of Quito (i'm in the new city) to look round the monuments and cathedrals etc.
Out
Day 2
Today we all went to a mahoosive market in the middle of nowhere, taking 2 hours to get to the town of Otavalo. There was everything you could imagine (and things you couldn't) and i desperately wanted to buy some cheap tat, especially some tatty jewellery for the Mrs as a jokey present, but unfortunately everything was of a fairly good standard, so i bought nothing.
The final person of our tour arrived late last night, she's called Yeti and she's from England (wahay), Worcester (sp) to be precise. I should mention our tour guide Joanna. She's lived in Ecuador all her life and knows everything there is to know about the country. She's also a good laugh and speaks very good English; we're all happy with her.
Tomorrow i'm very much looking forward to. We're going to the Ecuator line, where there is apparently a great museum. Then we're off to the old city of Quito (i'm in the new city) to look round the monuments and cathedrals etc.
Out
Friday, 13 May 2011
The Tour Starts Here
Day 1
Today was actually Day 1 of my tour. I arrived a couple of days early to explore Quito by myself. So this evening i finally met all of my group (minus one who is yet to arrive). There are 7 of us, and i am the only one from England. Everybody else is from Oz and New Zealand, and they are all such a laugh. Most are in their 40's plus, except myself and another single traveller Amy, in our twenties. Theres a group of 3, which includes the only other male in our group, and a group of two women. The latter two will be on the tour with me for the full 63 days, whereas the others are only with me for 36 days. They have already adopted me as "their son" and told me to call them both "mum". I've spend the last few hours chatting to them all endlessly, and I couldn't be happier with them all. Three of them have even been to York.
Meeting them all has cheered me up no end. We have a free day tomorrow but we've all decided to go on a trip together to big market two hours out of the city. I'll let you know how it goes
Out
Today was actually Day 1 of my tour. I arrived a couple of days early to explore Quito by myself. So this evening i finally met all of my group (minus one who is yet to arrive). There are 7 of us, and i am the only one from England. Everybody else is from Oz and New Zealand, and they are all such a laugh. Most are in their 40's plus, except myself and another single traveller Amy, in our twenties. Theres a group of 3, which includes the only other male in our group, and a group of two women. The latter two will be on the tour with me for the full 63 days, whereas the others are only with me for 36 days. They have already adopted me as "their son" and told me to call them both "mum". I've spend the last few hours chatting to them all endlessly, and I couldn't be happier with them all. Three of them have even been to York.
Meeting them all has cheered me up no end. We have a free day tomorrow but we've all decided to go on a trip together to big market two hours out of the city. I'll let you know how it goes
Out
Jackpot
I decided to go to the Sports Bar down the road for my tea last night, however on my way there, i walked past a restaurant called 'British Bulldog' with the tag 'English bar and restaurant'. So i thought sod the Sports Bar, lets go in there. I walked into a empty, but swanky looking place, and was greeted by an English woman (owner) who ended up sitting with me for a good half an hour or so chatting. She explained to me that tonight was the grand opening of the restaurant, and that i could have as many free drinks as i wanted. JACKPOT! After many a beer and cocktail, the VIPs started to arrive, including people from the British and American Embassies, as well as local politicians. They were all wearing suits and fancy dresses, i was wearing jeans and a quick drying fleece! After i ate and had another beer or two, and after many a conversation with people much more powerful than myself, i decided to leave, reflecting on my good luck. A two course meal and many drinks only cost me US$6. Couldn't complain
Thursday, 12 May 2011
OMG! (with a Peaches Yoghurt)
Its morning in Quito, Ecuador. I should have posted this last night but I was knackered and had to go straight to bed. Yesterday was a big farce. The first flight from Heathrow to Madrid was fine, and i was told by a Portugese chap that I looked Spanish, which i assume was why he started talking to me in Spanish. From Madrid it all went tits up. The first plane we all go on ended up being broken, so we had to unload, and wait three hours for another plane. We ended up going back onto that plane because it was "fixed" and headed off. The cabin crew handed us all a free pillow and blanket, which I thought was pretty good, only to find out it was a necessity, at the seats were bloody uncomfortable and the plane was rediculasly cold - everybody on the plane had the blanket wrapped around them.
The captain pipes up and tells us that to be on schedule, we will be skipping out Quito altogether, and going straight to its final destination, a city I can't pronounce, let alone spell. So from this city, we had to catch another plane to Quito. Finally arrived at the hotel at 22.30 local time. To top off the whole journey, i tried to open a Peach yoghurt and it went all over me, and i mean all over me - not a happy bunny.
But i am happy now, had a nice breakfast and glad to finally be in Ecuador. Not met anyone else on my trip yet, but then it doesn't start til tomorrow night. Gunna go for a walk around the city
Out
The captain pipes up and tells us that to be on schedule, we will be skipping out Quito altogether, and going straight to its final destination, a city I can't pronounce, let alone spell. So from this city, we had to catch another plane to Quito. Finally arrived at the hotel at 22.30 local time. To top off the whole journey, i tried to open a Peach yoghurt and it went all over me, and i mean all over me - not a happy bunny.
But i am happy now, had a nice breakfast and glad to finally be in Ecuador. Not met anyone else on my trip yet, but then it doesn't start til tomorrow night. Gunna go for a walk around the city
Out
Saturday, 7 May 2011
The Magic Number
This is going to be my final post (and yes I realise, only my second) before I go. As i write this, I am setting off in 3 days. This has been the worst part so far; being so close and ready to go, but having to wait.
A lot has happened since my last post. I've left my job which I've been at for the past three and a half years, a very surreal experience having it being such a massive part of my life for so long; I have got everything bought, packed and I've finished with being jabbed in my arm; and most importantly to me, I have achieved my proudest moment to date - climbing Helvellyn in the Lakes, along with a few other peaks in the 2 days I was there. This has made me feel so much more confident about climbing up to Machu Picchu, even if Helvellyn is a measily 3000ft to Machu Picchu's 14,000ft.
I rang the company I am travelling with the other week, and amongst other things, asked them how many people were booked up on my trip. Considering there is space for up to 16 people, I was expecting around that number, but to my surprise, I was told only 3 people (including myself) were booked. I'm actually quite pleased about this, as long as they speak english, otherwise it could be a pretty lonely 10 weeks.
Before I wrap this post up, I'd just like to thank my friends and (ex) colleagues for all the presents, support and kind words. The hardest part of this trip will be how much I will miss all my family, friends, and of course, my wonderful girlfriend.
Please feel free to post comments on here, and keep my up to date with the gossip. Alternatively, my email address is: domward77@hotmail.com
Out
A lot has happened since my last post. I've left my job which I've been at for the past three and a half years, a very surreal experience having it being such a massive part of my life for so long; I have got everything bought, packed and I've finished with being jabbed in my arm; and most importantly to me, I have achieved my proudest moment to date - climbing Helvellyn in the Lakes, along with a few other peaks in the 2 days I was there. This has made me feel so much more confident about climbing up to Machu Picchu, even if Helvellyn is a measily 3000ft to Machu Picchu's 14,000ft.
I rang the company I am travelling with the other week, and amongst other things, asked them how many people were booked up on my trip. Considering there is space for up to 16 people, I was expecting around that number, but to my surprise, I was told only 3 people (including myself) were booked. I'm actually quite pleased about this, as long as they speak english, otherwise it could be a pretty lonely 10 weeks.
Before I wrap this post up, I'd just like to thank my friends and (ex) colleagues for all the presents, support and kind words. The hardest part of this trip will be how much I will miss all my family, friends, and of course, my wonderful girlfriend.
Please feel free to post comments on here, and keep my up to date with the gossip. Alternatively, my email address is: domward77@hotmail.com
Out
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