I'm in Ecuador. It's greener than Peru and there's a whole load more bananas. Which isn't a bad thing. It also seems a lot more like a proper country. The currency's strong (which has been deceptive for the last couple of days, I'm sure that I'll remember that $6 is VERY expensive for a beer soon) and the houses have been finished. Driving through the outskirts of Cuenca yesterday reminded me a bit of Wickford - possibly because it was drizzling.
Anyway I'm in Cuenca, it's Ecuador's third biggest city and (fact fans) home of the Panama hat. Just come out of a hat factory. Turns out Panama hats suit me, but I really couldn't justify $120 for a hat that I'm not going to wear.
Had probably the best steak of my South American travels last night. Which isn't praise I give lightly. Previous top three steaks 1. the restaurant on the hill in El Calafate; 2. the piece of Faye's steak I stole in BA; 3. the one from the heaven and hell restaurant in Cuzco (loses points for being too small).
Thinking about it, I've now been away for three months, so should probably share some generic traveller musings:
Things that have pleased me:
Inca Kola - Peru's premier soft drink. It's the colour of a spirit level and way more tasty.
Ceviche - raw fish and lime juice. How comes it's not come into my life before?
Exotic stuff - Hummingbirds, toucans, pelicans, orchids, hibiscuseseses, cacti all pretty much common place round here
Things that have disappointed me:
Microfibre towels - they might be small and quick drying but they just aren't very good at being towels.
Anti-blister socks - Hot, uncomfortable and I was wearing them the only time i got a blister.
Base layer t-shirts - So. Very. Smelly.
Things that I'm well bored of:
Bus journeys over the nine-hour mark - Yawn. (I have read a lot of books though. Top three since I've been away: Count of Monte Cristo, A Million Little Pieces, The Perks of Becoming a Wallflower)
Launderettes - most of my t-shirts now have pink stitching in; most of my boxers have numbers stapled in; I don't really have any socks left.
Travel journals - I never pretended that I'd keep a journal. I've got this instead so I can force my whitterings on you guys. But really when are you going to read journal entries like "today we got up at 6.30, had a mediocre breakfast, got on a bus at 7 and stayed sat on a bus in an uncomfortable position listening to mediocre dance music for another eleven hours. By the time I got to Pisco (unpleasant) I was grouchy, so went to bed straight after a mediocre paella." It's really not going to be of much interest to anyone. And all I seem to hear are people saying "Can you remember what we did on March 17th? Did we arrive at the necropolis at 2.15 or 3.30?" Who cares?
Anyway I'm in Cuenca, it's Ecuador's third biggest city and (fact fans) home of the Panama hat. Just come out of a hat factory. Turns out Panama hats suit me, but I really couldn't justify $120 for a hat that I'm not going to wear.
Had probably the best steak of my South American travels last night. Which isn't praise I give lightly. Previous top three steaks 1. the restaurant on the hill in El Calafate; 2. the piece of Faye's steak I stole in BA; 3. the one from the heaven and hell restaurant in Cuzco (loses points for being too small).
Thinking about it, I've now been away for three months, so should probably share some generic traveller musings:
Things that have pleased me:
Inca Kola - Peru's premier soft drink. It's the colour of a spirit level and way more tasty.
Ceviche - raw fish and lime juice. How comes it's not come into my life before?
Exotic stuff - Hummingbirds, toucans, pelicans, orchids, hibiscuseseses, cacti all pretty much common place round here
Things that have disappointed me:
Microfibre towels - they might be small and quick drying but they just aren't very good at being towels.
Anti-blister socks - Hot, uncomfortable and I was wearing them the only time i got a blister.
Base layer t-shirts - So. Very. Smelly.
Things that I'm well bored of:
Bus journeys over the nine-hour mark - Yawn. (I have read a lot of books though. Top three since I've been away: Count of Monte Cristo, A Million Little Pieces, The Perks of Becoming a Wallflower)
Launderettes - most of my t-shirts now have pink stitching in; most of my boxers have numbers stapled in; I don't really have any socks left.
Travel journals - I never pretended that I'd keep a journal. I've got this instead so I can force my whitterings on you guys. But really when are you going to read journal entries like "today we got up at 6.30, had a mediocre breakfast, got on a bus at 7 and stayed sat on a bus in an uncomfortable position listening to mediocre dance music for another eleven hours. By the time I got to Pisco (unpleasant) I was grouchy, so went to bed straight after a mediocre paella." It's really not going to be of much interest to anyone. And all I seem to hear are people saying "Can you remember what we did on March 17th? Did we arrive at the necropolis at 2.15 or 3.30?" Who cares?
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