tak1's Guestbook

Have a great trip!
We'll look forward to hearing all about it!

Glad you had a good time. I know it always feels like your time goes by quickly!

Still in vacation mode
Hoping that you can savor your last few days in the tropics. The trip has been an ambitious one with lots of exercise and local color. It's so fun to be able to follow along on a detailed daily basis. Enjoy the last swings in the hammock, Bob, and those easy on the pocket dinner prices! The deer and squirrels are awaiting you in Minnetonka. Gail and Richard

Catching up on your blogs
Hi Margie and Bob, We are catching up on all the blogs after our Swedish guests have now departed. Great that you are experiencing the Yucatan in the real Mexican way, meeting the people and eating local. It must have been wonderful to see the Mayan ruins and the cave pools. We have only been to Cozumel and see it from a cruise boat. Continued happy travels! Gail and Richard

Birds
I bet you were excited to see the birds! Sounds like you are having fun.

Loved your blog
We just returned from a 5 week trip to Ecuador, staying in hostels and traveling by bus like you. (We are also retired trying to stay on a $100/day budget for the 2 of us). We plan to go back again next year to see more of Cuenca and more beach towns. I appreciated your hotel and restaurant suggestions and have copied them for when we return. Just to let you know there is a "short-cut" bus between Otavalo and Mindo, via a newly paved and spectacularly scenic road, which end at Mitad del Mundo monument where you catch another bus on to Mindo. You don't have to go all the way back to Quito to get to Mindo. Also you can get directly from Otavalo to Tababela by Cita Express Bus line. It runs ever 1-1/2 hour and you catch it on the Highway a few blocks from the Otavalo Terminal. If you get on it in Ibarra where it originates you are guaranteed a seat. If you want to read my trip report you can find it in 3 parts on tripadvisor.com Ecuador Forum, Nov. 27, Dec. 12 and Dec. 14. Maybe next time I'll try writing a blog. I sure enjoyed yours!

Birds!
I can only imagine how much fun you had watching all of those birds. You must have been in heaven!

Great photos!
Great photos, all! You are able to capture the essence of the land in a most artistic way! Especially like the colorful one of the two of you "enjoying the view."

ATM
I mentioned your ATM problem to Karen, Cheryl, and Clay Friday night. They suggested that you U.S. ATM card does not have the embedded chip like European cards and that may be the reason your card can get you any cash.

Fruit???
mangoes - schmangoes ... how is the beer? You know ... important stuff like that.