Quito to Tulcan to Ipiales to Cali was 21 hours, minus about 3 hours when I crossed into the border town of Colombia. We were stopped in Colombia about 3 times by the police who came on the buses to check everyone's ID. All carrying machine guns, of course. No troubles at all. They just checked ID.
When I got to Cali, I went to buy tickets to Bogota and was asked for ID by a police officer. Except he didn't show any type of ID. So I ignored him and was quite rude to him. "Police officer" scams are common and I should say I acted appropriately. As I walked away, he grabbed my pack. At the same time, a security guard came over. I showed the guard my ID. Meanwhile, I was still glowering at the "cop." I heard the security guy say to the "cop" that I spoke English (because my passport is from Canada). They left, satisfied about discovering my identity - or something - and I went about my business. It's funny how things work out... I had run into one of the guys I met in Mancora on the Quito bus and, him being over 5" taller than both these guys, made me feel all the safer. Although, in hindsight, both these guys had guns, so it wouldn't have mattered anyways.
Alfred is a filmaker from Iceland. The whole time in South America, he was making a video blog of the places he had been to. Interesting character who likes to talk a lot. We stayed in Cali for about 14 hours. We went to a hostel for a day, just to drop our things off and to recoup some of the sleep lost.
Showing posts with label Ecuador. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ecuador. Show all posts
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Busride to Quito
Lush lush lush greenery. Different types of vegetation next to each other. No two of the same trees were next to each other. I sucks so bad that I'm allergic to mosquitoes. The jungle is RIGHT THERE!!!
In Quito, Ecuador
I'm in Quito. High altitudes again. Met up with a friend I met in Buenos Aires for coffee. Going to Colombia in about 2 days. Hell stories about bus trips to tell....
Monday, January 30, 2006
Quito, Ecuador
I met up with a buddy who's Ecuadorian and had to say farewell to Mike. Too bad, he was cool. Anyways, Juance, his gf and I went for coffee at a restaurant overlooking the night lights of Quito. We re-hashed our party days at Domus ( the hostel I stayed in for 3 months). Originally, I was going to stay at his place but, as I was 1.5 weeks late getting there, there was no room because his gf was in town. Juance took me hostel hunting, in which I am most grateful. He's fluent in Spanish and haggled for me.
The next day I took the public bus to Mitad del Mundo - The middle of the world. I took a couple of pictures of the monument over the ecuatorial line. The complex was a tourist trap, full of stores and resturant. The main obelisk had an etnographic museum, showing the various indigenous groups in Ecuador. This was most interesting.
For dinner, I went to an Irish Pub next to the hostel. It was called the Killkenny. Nothing at all like the one in BsAs. In fact almost opposite. I ordered an overpriced, over-salty burger with a bun harder than the table I was at. The fries - I couldn't eat them as they were way too salty. I ordered a dark beer- Llama Malta - whiche turned out quite nice. Not too sweet, perfect temperature, and just spicy enough. Althought the head was gone halfway through. And no, it did not take me an hour to finish half the beer. Maybe 30 mins.... :)
The next day I took the public bus to Mitad del Mundo - The middle of the world. I took a couple of pictures of the monument over the ecuatorial line. The complex was a tourist trap, full of stores and resturant. The main obelisk had an etnographic museum, showing the various indigenous groups in Ecuador. This was most interesting.
For dinner, I went to an Irish Pub next to the hostel. It was called the Killkenny. Nothing at all like the one in BsAs. In fact almost opposite. I ordered an overpriced, over-salty burger with a bun harder than the table I was at. The fries - I couldn't eat them as they were way too salty. I ordered a dark beer- Llama Malta - whiche turned out quite nice. Not too sweet, perfect temperature, and just spicy enough. Althought the head was gone halfway through. And no, it did not take me an hour to finish half the beer. Maybe 30 mins.... :)
Guayaqil, Ecuador
It was very humid and it was raining when we got there. Luckily, Jeppe, from Denmark (?) had been there before and knew of a good place to stay. So, me and Mike from the USA all tagged along. Surprisingly, my Spanish was quite helpful. Ed your Spanish lessons actually has been put to good use!
After we checked in and freshened up, we all went for a bite to eat at a Chifa. At first, I went to Chifa's because I missed Chinese food. But really most of the places I've been to served bad Chinese food so I've avoided them. So, when the food came, I wasn't expecting much. The food turned out good, obviously, mainly due to, I think, me asking for no salt. The boys had a HUGE platter of chicken lo-mein noodles). I was surprised at how much they were able to polish off.
Itching for beers, we wandered into a casino, hoping to buy a beer. Well, the beers were free as long as we stayed and played. Mike and Jeppe sat at the blackjack tables with about $10 USD each in chips. They, of course, lost it all but had about 13 or so beers between them. I had only one beer, got $5 USD in coins and wnt to the slots. They were in Spanish and complicated. I was surprised that I won the dollar I put in back. I ened up playing $4 in Blackjack and lost both hands right away. At least the boys drank their money's worth.
When the lost their money and had another beer, we were going to walk back to the hotel. Then we saw a security guard with a shotgun and quickly opted to take a cab instead. Two 6' tall blondish gringos will probably attract quite a bit of attention.
After we checked in and freshened up, we all went for a bite to eat at a Chifa. At first, I went to Chifa's because I missed Chinese food. But really most of the places I've been to served bad Chinese food so I've avoided them. So, when the food came, I wasn't expecting much. The food turned out good, obviously, mainly due to, I think, me asking for no salt. The boys had a HUGE platter of chicken lo-mein noodles). I was surprised at how much they were able to polish off.
Itching for beers, we wandered into a casino, hoping to buy a beer. Well, the beers were free as long as we stayed and played. Mike and Jeppe sat at the blackjack tables with about $10 USD each in chips. They, of course, lost it all but had about 13 or so beers between them. I had only one beer, got $5 USD in coins and wnt to the slots. They were in Spanish and complicated. I was surprised that I won the dollar I put in back. I ened up playing $4 in Blackjack and lost both hands right away. At least the boys drank their money's worth.
When the lost their money and had another beer, we were going to walk back to the hotel. Then we saw a security guard with a shotgun and quickly opted to take a cab instead. Two 6' tall blondish gringos will probably attract quite a bit of attention.
Bus ride to Guayaqil, Ecuador
I booked a fairly expensive bus, $20 USD, to get me across the border on a really comfy bus that serves food, has decent moies and A/C. It was 1 hour late and it broke down 30 mns into the trip. They had a replacement bus come from a diffferent company to take us to the border town of Tumbes where we transferred to another company. A shit ass company. The 6 hour bus to Guayaqil was hot and sticky and wet. There was no A/C. It started raining and the overhead window above me dripped water all over me. What a way to make a profit.
The saving grace was that I met some English-speaking guys and we hung out when we got to Guayaqil.
The saving grace was that I met some English-speaking guys and we hung out when we got to Guayaqil.
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