Well a trip to Ecuador wouldn't be complete without a trip to Otavalo to load up on all the touristy goodies that you can possible fit in your rucksack. Which is exactly where we were headed from the beach. Despite a six hour trip to Quito from Atacames and then three more hours to Otavalo (I'm sure it doesn't usually take that long but we seemed to stop every five seconds to let someone on or off) we arrived in good time to find a hostel and get money out of the bank in preparation for the next days shopping spree. [View Full Entry]

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Decided to finally see Guayaquil as last year as we ever saw was the airport and bus terminal. Despite the countless warnings of Guayaquil being very dangerous there has been a massive movement in the last few years to improve both the safety and the image of Guayaquil. The areas that would be of any interest to tourists at least have been smartened up a lot and on Las Peñas there seems to be a constant police presence (more to yell at people who walk up the wrong side of the barrier than anything else!) First stop was a park, ostensibly [View Full Entry]

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A visit to the cloud forest of Mindo always promises to be fun - unfortunately I spent the first day throwing up unable to eat or drink anything but undeterred we set off walking in search of the mariposaria that was ´just up the road´. It turned out to be a four kilometre walk which is not much fun whilst feling very ill and sans water. Mindo is really beautiful and a wonderful contrast to the mountains that are normally the view from the bus window. The downside was that it was just as hot as at the beach so I [View Full Entry]

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After Colombia we decided we needed a little rest and relaxation in the form of sun, sea and surf. Well, sun and sea for me and watching the others surf. Spent a couple of days at Las Peñas (absolutely impossible to get to - I understand fully why it isn't even mentioned in the Lonely Planet). Absolutely beautiful and amazing seafood (add to that I was the only non-Ecuadorian there) and it was very relaxing. Next we headed to Tonsupa (quieter, smaller version of Atacames a ten minute motortaxi ride away) in search of a hotel and a cocktail after the [View Full Entry]

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After all the warnings of gringos being kidnapped or falsely accused of drug smuggling I have to say Colombia was almost a bit of a let-down. Apart from the style of salsa being different and maybe having a few more mountains I can't say it struck me as being all that different from Ecuador. The scenery in southern Colombia as we crossed the border and made our way towards Pasto was certainly breathtaking and the caminetta decided to liven things up a bit by taking every turn (and there were a great number of these) at breakneck speed. No wonder caminettas [View Full Entry]

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I thought I might as well write a blog about somewhere I spend as much time whilst travelling as I do seeing stuff - ie. Sat on a bus. Now in England a ten hour bus ride would certainly be an absolute hell but here I think bus journeys are half the fun! Unlike England there is no need to buy snacks before you leave and sit quietly in your seat making every effort not to touch the stranger sitting next to you. For a start your neighbour is your best friend for the next x-number of hours and you will [View Full Entry]

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Well I´m back in mi linda Cuenca after almost a year. I was woken this morning (rather annoyingly) by peals of bells at quarter to seven - I would be greatly indebted to any Catholics out there who could inform me just what is so special about 6.45am on a Thursday morning...and 7.05.....and 7.23.....in fact the bells continued at frequent intervals until eight so I just gave up on trying to readjust my body clock after two days of straight travelling (I officially hate airports after having had an eleven hour delay in Madrid) and decided to have breakfast. Now who [View Full Entry]

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Having had the most amazing six months living and working in Ecuador I thought I would do a photo summary of our time there just to have a chance to inflict my photos on yet more people! Don't worry - it's just some highlights, not the full 3000 photos! [View Full Entry]

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Well me, Soph and Louisa reached Cuenca after three days straight travelling exhausted, dirty and dishevelled. We'd had an absolutely amazing time in Peru and Bolivia but were glad to be home (yes, Cuenca is now our home!) We got in to the bus terminal at about midnight so just got a taxi straight to Robbie's apartment (he had been nice enough to say we could all stay with him to save Soph having to return to her family!) and pretty much just collapsed. We managed to stay up for a while (personally I think it was still the effects of [View Full Entry]

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Somewhere in the south of Bolivia! We arrived in Uyuni on the overnight bus to find the town is exactly as described; desolate, dull and completely pointless going to except as a stepping stone to the Salt Flats. Well that's alright seeing as that's what we were here to do. We wandered around in the truly FREEZING weather (although we had been warned far worse was to come) looking at tours but ended up going with the first woman who approached us and who managed to talk us into the full three day tour which we had initially been put off [View Full Entry]

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