Border crossing

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After having to say goodbye to our family, all our friends as well as the kids at Adinea and the orphanage in Cuenca we were both officially emotional wrecks so took a couple of days in Vilcabamba to relax. Had a hellish start today with a 4.30am wake up call in order to catch the first bus of the morning from Vilcabamba to Loja. Unfortunatley this didn't turn up until 5.50am which meant we drove into Loja just as our 7am bus to Piura, Peru drove out. You would think buses would go regularly but no. Missing this one meant a six hour wait in Loja bus terminal in order to get the 1pm bus. Believe me, bus terminals are not nicest places to wait and we got a lot of weird looks for sitting there playing games on mini-magnetic chess. I don't see what was so weird about it!

Made it onto the bus and reached the border at six. Very relaxed border crossing with one man just wanting to look at our passports on the Ecuadorian side and then a walk across a footbridge to the Peruvian side where we just had to fill in a form and get a stamp. We were all safely on our way within half an hour to Piura. Got off the bus and straight into a taxi who drove us to a hostal stopping on the way to change some money at the side of the road. Not really liking the money situation at the moment as, according to our taxi driver and the Lonely Planet, most places will only take Peruvian soles whereas some insist on dollars. Got money out the next day but the machines seem to only give hundred soles notes which are next to impossible to get changed. Can see it's going to be very annoying!

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Photos

The sign says it all!
Crossing from Ecuador to Peru

Setting off!
Yes, we were this excited to be going to Peru!

18 hours later!
The excitement had worn off a bit by the time we finally arrived.

Kebab time!
Who thought street food for 50 cents could be so good!

Comments

[Ellie]

How to be a Lady ...
Honestly, Katherine - didn't you learn *anything* from that book I gave you for going away? An 18 hour coach journey isn't the end of the world, you know! ;-) On the up side, you seem very adept at pelican etiquette ;-) E

[Anna]

Fetching photographs
Well Katherine darling, you look simply stunning in the photos. I've never seen anyone travel with such grace - you look fresh and relaxed and ready for anything.... hmm... maybe not!!!!

[jeannie]

And you think you look tired???
Ok. So you're tired after that coach trip and you actually published the photo??? You should have seen me last week after the worst wee with those 24 little dears all over the place in class. I think I nearly fell asleep!!!!! Love mum