Truly beautiful. I highly recomended Galapagos to everyone and I will write about it, but not in this blog.
This blog is about catch up! I do not feel like I'm wasting my travel time by blogging anymore. I sometimes just need a day or two of rest. Also, a guy named Andre from Canadia said, "The thing I miss most is creating things. You don't create anything when you travel". I disagreed because you create conversations and experiences. Of course someone who has been traveling three years knows nothing. Ye gods is he right. I want to create something and just do somethign mundane. That is why I enjoy this blog so much. I create memories for myself and hopefully images for everyone else. Side note - I miss video games so much. I will never travel without a portable video game system again.
Oh right, for some reason I really did want to get away from it all. I felt like I could not call my family or anyone. The only way to keep in contact was by internet and I did not need normal things. I was in a new place experiencing new sights, people, food, and etc. I did have twings of missing home but recently I have been pining a bit more. I still want to travel now and in the future but I got to change some things. First of all, I'm going to find an arcade and use my money for some mindless fun. For goodness sake I found myself missing Spyro. Spyro! It is not even a game I have played that often. I will start listening to more "American" music and I will be calling people more. If you want to be one of those people, give me your number and time to call you. Even better, join Skype so that our calls would be free. My name on Skype is ... kimkipling! A surprise out of left field.
I was wrong. There will be no new information about my travels except for this. I'm in Cuenca and I believe I will be in Peru by November. I'm sad to miss Halloween and the Election Day. I will not be voting this year. I almost signed up to get a ballot but forgot the address at the hostal. I did not sign up in time but also I have no place to send it to. My address is for Lima and I will most likely not be there until Nov 10th or so. If I'm out and about during another big election, I will plan way ahead.
Here is a picture of Cuenca. (When I figure out why Blogger is a butt. and yes! I did push the add image button once and the second time it had troubles loading)
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Miscommunication
I thought I understood numbers in Spanish but I need to double check. I thought my Galapagos tour would start today at doce (noon) but it starts at dos (2) which is a two hour difference. This makes me sad because I rented a bike and tried to make it to a beach on a different part of Santa Cruz. I turned around to make it back by noon and in fact made it back by 11, which is why I'm on the computer in Galapagos at all. I have an hour to kill and I have visited the local stuff. But Grrr! Learning lesson. Just got to keep on telling myself that.
So I called my mom and brother yesterday because I do touristy stuff during the day but the nights so far in Galapagos have been a bit slow. When I talked to my mother, I asked if she read my blogs because she never leaves comments and stopped email me comments. She said, "Yes, but you mostly write it for your friends". What?! One, I consider my mother my friend but I'm writing this for everyone in my life. (The idea of strangers reading it is a bit wierd because my online security is lacking). My mother said she was more interested in the scenery (than my life thanks mom) but really I realized that I'm in another country but I'm not painting a picture of it all for everyone. If I was going to critique my blog: plenty of action, little character development, and no description of the world. Also wow, I started to reread my blogs and the grammar and spelling errors are harsh. I would love to have time to go back and add description to my previous blogs but I just do not have time. From now on, I will try to describe my surroundings more and maybe even add images. Woohoo! How fun is that. Really fun! But if anyone has more constructive criticism that would be great. That was really the point of my Q&A blog but I did not realize it at the time. If there is more of something that you would like to read about, tell me and I will try to change. I mean you all asked for photos and I delivered.
Oh yeah, funny story (sorry mom), my mom complained that she could only see 12 photos so I sent her the link. Same problem. I'm talking with her on the phone going step by step. It clicks! Mom, you got to click on the pictures that you see because they are the album covers. That was a frustrating and funny conversation.
The problem with writing more detailed blogs is time and money. The usual suspects. I want to do things and be involved while I travel (and my whole life). I sometimes feel like I'm stopping my travels to blog. If I have no one to hang out with at night or downtime, and a computer available than all good. The other concern being that usually I'm paying for internet. The average is a dollar per hour which is not bad but it adds up. Also I can get awesome street food or entry into a museum for a dollar or dollar fifty. I do want to make this blog better for everyone so I will try to find the time to post entries that really rock. I will probably cut out some details about what I actually do at an event because I'm already two weeks behind and I will sonn be departing on a cruise so I will be like 3 weeks behind.
My brother had his own story to tell me about when on the phone. My cat is pissed about where she is. She has started to use his bed as the kitty litter. She has never done this in her 15 years of life. She poohed on his bed once and while he was cleaning his sheets, did it again. She later peed on his clean sheets. I recommended that he let (kick) her outside. He was worry she would not come back but I'm mostly confident. I feel really bad about this but can do nothing. Enough seriousness and story time!
This morning I awoke at 7:30am. My body refuses to sleep anymore which makes sense since I went to bed at 9pm. I fought to go to bed at that time. I had hiked at least 5 km yesterday and more like 7 to 8 kms. I also swam twice so I was tired. I spread out on my bed. It is huge! (for me) It is like a double. I look around the room and it is like most private bathroom hostels. There is the big bed, a tv, a nightstand (which is kinda unusual), and a place to hang clothes. The floor is white tile and the walls are a boring beige. There is a sliding door that leads to the bathroom which is a typical bathroom except there is a cloth curtain inside the bathroom to block the public from looking in and another plastic curtain to protect that curtain. There is also another shower curtain on the other side which it the norm. I climb out of my bed and start packing. I'm actually starting to get a bit sick of constantly packing and repacking, but I'm not sick of traveling yet so it is just a necessary part of this life. I had my clothes cleaned at a lavanderia the otehr day so my clothes are already folded. I love have my clothes cleaned and folded by another person for only 3 dollars. I only have to kilograms of clothes but still a great deal. I try not to think about why this is such a great deal and the fact that this country is so poor. I get everything packed and I'm ready to roll.
I head off to the reception to find out what time is check out. It is eleven but can be pushed back to noon. Awesome! because my tour starts at noon or doce in spanish. I decide to eat breakfast in a place instead of just grabbing some bread and fruit from a store. The hotel I'm leaving from is called Los Flamingos and is pretty typical. There is construction on part of it, I believe for the high season that is coming up. There are two buildings that are white and boring. The street and the town is all pretty typical of Ecuador. Run down. That is not true for all parts but stores and homes are small, and usually not painted well. The houses are made out of cinder blocks and cement? or paste between those blocks or they are made out of wood. It is also typical for buildings to look not done. The last floor might have metal rods sticking out or just be frame though to be fair that is not the norm in Galapagos. There are tons of tiendas (stores) and farmacias which all basically sell the same things as the other. The tiendas have water and cookies (and other stuff but really what I care about is the water and cookies) while the farmacias have drugs, water, and cookies. There are many of these little stores so you are always guaranteed easy access to water, cookies, or ice cream.
For breakfast, I went to a panderia and cafeteria. I got a small fruit salad and some pineapple juice. I later grabbed one piece of bread so in fact still got the usual of fruit and bread. I walked up the hill to Hotel Darwin to rent a bike for 2 dollars an hour. I bike around and down the hill to see if the travel agency is open. Nope. Oh well, I will just start off. I head to the main road, Charles Darwin, and start biking up the cobblestone road. It is tough but not too hard. I get to the main road and I'm surrounded by green vegetation. There are some cactus trees but not too many. Cactus trees are exactly what they sound like. They have a bark trunk but have no leaves but are cactus on top. I see a sign for La Mirador. Stop and lock the bike. I hiked a dirt path to see some a lava tunnel. There has been a hole made in the top about 50 meters in so there is plenty of light. There are lots of spider webs and brown rock. The tunnel is pretty mundane but I walk all the way to the back which is not that far. I will admit that I wish I could describe the tunnel better. The sides are smooth and I can see layers, but I'm concentrating on not spraining my ankle on all the big parts of rock. Back to the road.
I swear this bike is a piece of crap because I'm struggling. There are parts that are downhill and my bike just slowly stops. Oh well, I hope I can make it to the beach in the time I got but have to turn around at around 10:45. I bike up this two lane high way. There are talls green grasses and white trunk trees with huge green leaves. I make it to Bellavista. Woot! I find a sign and it says the distance is 6.9km. I stop for a break and two people stop to help me. I do not need help but tell them were I'm trying to go. The road gets smaller and is more hilly. I keep on telling myself, I need to write more description in my blogs. I realize that maybe that tells something about myself because I do not think I always notice my surroundings. There is still lots of lush greenery. I bike some more and turn my head right. Wow. I can see down the green green hill and way off in the distance past some smaller hills is the ocean. What a view. I think about my cat Whiskers. Roy said if I travel again, he cannot take Whiskers. One, she is crapping on his stuff but two, he does not want the responsibility. I was thinking of traveling a lot. What to do? I do not know but have to find her a home or wait for her to die. How depressing is that thought. But I need to travel the rest of South America and I was think living in Australia for a year. That could be a blast. Don't think about it now, but have some major planning when I get home. I bike some more and hope I can make it in time to the beach.
Nope have to turn around. Notice that I can see Puerto Ayora in the distance. Try to capture the moment in film but just can't do it justice. I get back to Bellavista at about 11:05am. I start to fly down the hill. The sensation of have the wind go into your face and going really fast down a hill is impossible for me to describe. Wait! My bike is not crappy, my sense of direction is. I was going up hill the whole time and now is all down hill. I make it back to Puerto Ayora at 11:30am. Dammit! I could have biked more. Oh well. Pay for the hostal and drop my stuff at the agency. I ask her if I have time to get lunch. Yep. Alright. Scraf it down and back to the agency at 12:20pm. Chat with the lady. Ohhhh. The tour starts at dos not doce. Right. What to do. Alright! Go to Galapagos so I can use the internet, which I did. Now I'm off to tour some of the islands in a 10 passagener catamaran (sail) ship that probably also has a motor. It will be loads of fun.
So I called my mom and brother yesterday because I do touristy stuff during the day but the nights so far in Galapagos have been a bit slow. When I talked to my mother, I asked if she read my blogs because she never leaves comments and stopped email me comments. She said, "Yes, but you mostly write it for your friends". What?! One, I consider my mother my friend but I'm writing this for everyone in my life. (The idea of strangers reading it is a bit wierd because my online security is lacking). My mother said she was more interested in the scenery (than my life thanks mom) but really I realized that I'm in another country but I'm not painting a picture of it all for everyone. If I was going to critique my blog: plenty of action, little character development, and no description of the world. Also wow, I started to reread my blogs and the grammar and spelling errors are harsh. I would love to have time to go back and add description to my previous blogs but I just do not have time. From now on, I will try to describe my surroundings more and maybe even add images. Woohoo! How fun is that. Really fun! But if anyone has more constructive criticism that would be great. That was really the point of my Q&A blog but I did not realize it at the time. If there is more of something that you would like to read about, tell me and I will try to change. I mean you all asked for photos and I delivered.
Oh yeah, funny story (sorry mom), my mom complained that she could only see 12 photos so I sent her the link. Same problem. I'm talking with her on the phone going step by step. It clicks! Mom, you got to click on the pictures that you see because they are the album covers. That was a frustrating and funny conversation.
The problem with writing more detailed blogs is time and money. The usual suspects. I want to do things and be involved while I travel (and my whole life). I sometimes feel like I'm stopping my travels to blog. If I have no one to hang out with at night or downtime, and a computer available than all good. The other concern being that usually I'm paying for internet. The average is a dollar per hour which is not bad but it adds up. Also I can get awesome street food or entry into a museum for a dollar or dollar fifty. I do want to make this blog better for everyone so I will try to find the time to post entries that really rock. I will probably cut out some details about what I actually do at an event because I'm already two weeks behind and I will sonn be departing on a cruise so I will be like 3 weeks behind.
My brother had his own story to tell me about when on the phone. My cat is pissed about where she is. She has started to use his bed as the kitty litter. She has never done this in her 15 years of life. She poohed on his bed once and while he was cleaning his sheets, did it again. She later peed on his clean sheets. I recommended that he let (kick) her outside. He was worry she would not come back but I'm mostly confident. I feel really bad about this but can do nothing. Enough seriousness and story time!
This morning I awoke at 7:30am. My body refuses to sleep anymore which makes sense since I went to bed at 9pm. I fought to go to bed at that time. I had hiked at least 5 km yesterday and more like 7 to 8 kms. I also swam twice so I was tired. I spread out on my bed. It is huge! (for me) It is like a double. I look around the room and it is like most private bathroom hostels. There is the big bed, a tv, a nightstand (which is kinda unusual), and a place to hang clothes. The floor is white tile and the walls are a boring beige. There is a sliding door that leads to the bathroom which is a typical bathroom except there is a cloth curtain inside the bathroom to block the public from looking in and another plastic curtain to protect that curtain. There is also another shower curtain on the other side which it the norm. I climb out of my bed and start packing. I'm actually starting to get a bit sick of constantly packing and repacking, but I'm not sick of traveling yet so it is just a necessary part of this life. I had my clothes cleaned at a lavanderia the otehr day so my clothes are already folded. I love have my clothes cleaned and folded by another person for only 3 dollars. I only have to kilograms of clothes but still a great deal. I try not to think about why this is such a great deal and the fact that this country is so poor. I get everything packed and I'm ready to roll.
I head off to the reception to find out what time is check out. It is eleven but can be pushed back to noon. Awesome! because my tour starts at noon or doce in spanish. I decide to eat breakfast in a place instead of just grabbing some bread and fruit from a store. The hotel I'm leaving from is called Los Flamingos and is pretty typical. There is construction on part of it, I believe for the high season that is coming up. There are two buildings that are white and boring. The street and the town is all pretty typical of Ecuador. Run down. That is not true for all parts but stores and homes are small, and usually not painted well. The houses are made out of cinder blocks and cement? or paste between those blocks or they are made out of wood. It is also typical for buildings to look not done. The last floor might have metal rods sticking out or just be frame though to be fair that is not the norm in Galapagos. There are tons of tiendas (stores) and farmacias which all basically sell the same things as the other. The tiendas have water and cookies (and other stuff but really what I care about is the water and cookies) while the farmacias have drugs, water, and cookies. There are many of these little stores so you are always guaranteed easy access to water, cookies, or ice cream.
For breakfast, I went to a panderia and cafeteria. I got a small fruit salad and some pineapple juice. I later grabbed one piece of bread so in fact still got the usual of fruit and bread. I walked up the hill to Hotel Darwin to rent a bike for 2 dollars an hour. I bike around and down the hill to see if the travel agency is open. Nope. Oh well, I will just start off. I head to the main road, Charles Darwin, and start biking up the cobblestone road. It is tough but not too hard. I get to the main road and I'm surrounded by green vegetation. There are some cactus trees but not too many. Cactus trees are exactly what they sound like. They have a bark trunk but have no leaves but are cactus on top. I see a sign for La Mirador. Stop and lock the bike. I hiked a dirt path to see some a lava tunnel. There has been a hole made in the top about 50 meters in so there is plenty of light. There are lots of spider webs and brown rock. The tunnel is pretty mundane but I walk all the way to the back which is not that far. I will admit that I wish I could describe the tunnel better. The sides are smooth and I can see layers, but I'm concentrating on not spraining my ankle on all the big parts of rock. Back to the road.
I swear this bike is a piece of crap because I'm struggling. There are parts that are downhill and my bike just slowly stops. Oh well, I hope I can make it to the beach in the time I got but have to turn around at around 10:45. I bike up this two lane high way. There are talls green grasses and white trunk trees with huge green leaves. I make it to Bellavista. Woot! I find a sign and it says the distance is 6.9km. I stop for a break and two people stop to help me. I do not need help but tell them were I'm trying to go. The road gets smaller and is more hilly. I keep on telling myself, I need to write more description in my blogs. I realize that maybe that tells something about myself because I do not think I always notice my surroundings. There is still lots of lush greenery. I bike some more and turn my head right. Wow. I can see down the green green hill and way off in the distance past some smaller hills is the ocean. What a view. I think about my cat Whiskers. Roy said if I travel again, he cannot take Whiskers. One, she is crapping on his stuff but two, he does not want the responsibility. I was thinking of traveling a lot. What to do? I do not know but have to find her a home or wait for her to die. How depressing is that thought. But I need to travel the rest of South America and I was think living in Australia for a year. That could be a blast. Don't think about it now, but have some major planning when I get home. I bike some more and hope I can make it in time to the beach.
Nope have to turn around. Notice that I can see Puerto Ayora in the distance. Try to capture the moment in film but just can't do it justice. I get back to Bellavista at about 11:05am. I start to fly down the hill. The sensation of have the wind go into your face and going really fast down a hill is impossible for me to describe. Wait! My bike is not crappy, my sense of direction is. I was going up hill the whole time and now is all down hill. I make it back to Puerto Ayora at 11:30am. Dammit! I could have biked more. Oh well. Pay for the hostal and drop my stuff at the agency. I ask her if I have time to get lunch. Yep. Alright. Scraf it down and back to the agency at 12:20pm. Chat with the lady. Ohhhh. The tour starts at dos not doce. Right. What to do. Alright! Go to Galapagos so I can use the internet, which I did. Now I'm off to tour some of the islands in a 10 passagener catamaran (sail) ship that probably also has a motor. It will be loads of fun.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Dreamkapture Hostal
Is my haven. I'm rather tired and a bit dirty. I still need to finish the Guayaquil story and update everyone on the coast trip. I met a cool chick named Nikki but in her reference of me she put that I had good intentions which to me means she thought I was okay and meant well, but was a bit off or something. I'm not too worried about it but she did seem to bring the stories out of me.
I will do that. Maybe tomorrow. Right now is update what I am doing right this moment time. I had a nine hour bus ride from Atacames to Guayaquil. Long buses rides are hard because I never feel like reading, puzzle solving, writing, or anything. I did sleep a bit so that was nice. I got to Guayaquil as the sun was setting. I was unsure where this hostal was and got a taxi. Three dollars and fifty cents which is a lot but I did negotiate 50 cents down from four so go me. He was a nice taxi driver and drove around until we found the place. It did not take that long but he asked like two people.
I got to this green door and rang the bell. This gentleman opens up and they have room. It looks nice and I sign the logbook. I finally ask the price. 10 dollars. Higher than I have paid but lower than I expect. It is beautiful and restful. Funny enough I recognize the voice of someone I went to school with. Off to chat. And take a shower. Oh, I might see the guide guy tomorrow or maybe not.
I will do that. Maybe tomorrow. Right now is update what I am doing right this moment time. I had a nine hour bus ride from Atacames to Guayaquil. Long buses rides are hard because I never feel like reading, puzzle solving, writing, or anything. I did sleep a bit so that was nice. I got to Guayaquil as the sun was setting. I was unsure where this hostal was and got a taxi. Three dollars and fifty cents which is a lot but I did negotiate 50 cents down from four so go me. He was a nice taxi driver and drove around until we found the place. It did not take that long but he asked like two people.
I got to this green door and rang the bell. This gentleman opens up and they have room. It looks nice and I sign the logbook. I finally ask the price. 10 dollars. Higher than I have paid but lower than I expect. It is beautiful and restful. Funny enough I recognize the voice of someone I went to school with. Off to chat. And take a shower. Oh, I might see the guide guy tomorrow or maybe not.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Guayaquil and the coast!
Alright, I'm so not tech savy it is not funny. I keep on forgeting on how to do things so I keep on relearning. It took me an hour to download picasa, load my photos, and figure out how to upload. Mainly the trouble was with the user but I'm working on that. There was trouble with downloading picasa. But this cafe is super cool because the upload speeds are pretty fast. I'm soon going to be uploading a photo of my butt. It is not the best photo but it shows off the bruise I got when I fell down the stairs. If you do not want to see my butt, do not look at the bruise folder. I'm also not taking as many pictures of the coast. I think it is because I'm traveling with Nikki.
Right, so if anyone has questions, post them in the comment field and I will answer them in my next blog. I have decided it will be Q&A time for Shilo. Some questions I have recieved are "Are you cold, what does the coast look like, and stalking implications?" All of these and maybe more will be answered next time.
Last I left off, I'm waiting at the bus terminal for the woman Vany who I'm suppose to couchsurf with Nikki. I waited for around an hour and half to two hours. I felt really bad because my stomach was still upset from throwing up earlier that morning. I bought a personal pizza and 7-up to try to calm the stomach down. It did not work. When I met Vany I was exhausted and feeling unwell. Vany and I took an unmarked taxi to Andrea's place to drop my stuff. I complimented Vany's earnings which she promptly gave to me. I tried to decline but it was not happening. Vany then wanted me to go with her to the airport so I could point out Nikki. I tiredly rode the bus to the air terminal where Vany started to freak out because we thought the flight arrived at 4:30 but it arrived at 3:30. It was 4:30. We walked around then went back to the original point where Vany then saw Nikki. Vany did not need me at all. I spoke a bit of English to Nikki but tried to keep it in Spanish. Now the fun bit was that Vany is too nice. She said she could take both of us but in fact had family in town. She knew she would have family but did not realize how much.
Nikki was going to stay with Paulo´s family and I was staying with a girl name Joanna. Alright, not a problem. So we all waited at the airport for Paulo's wife Karen to pick us up. Karen came in a truck with her two adorable girls. Vany took off and I have not seen her since. Karen drove us to Duran which is actually quite far from the center of Guayaquil. I still felt like crap. We got to their pretty house and Karen showed me where I could rest. These people are just too nice. The parents were going to sleep in the kid´' room which did have three beds and Nikki was going to take their bed. Wow! Of course, then a stranger is not sleeping near their kids. I went in to visit the girls' room. They promptly showed me a lot. The girls folded paper for me and made what look like a frog face but the eldest drew a cat face on it. I sat in a tiny sit while they put a sparkly headband with two little attennas on it on my head. The youngest kept on asking me the name of shapes in Spanish and I could not help her. I wandered out to the living room and the mother looked at me. She said "I thought you were tired". I shrugged because I'm a sucker for kids. I sat with the kids a bit longer but really did start feeling worn out.
I rested on their bed for like an hour when they served dinner. It was so delicious! and I could not eat much. It was fresh veggies with bits of grained fed chicken on delicious rice. So much onion! I ate like four or five bites. And their was tomato of the tree juice which I did not drink. I ate soda crackers. Vany wanted to go out dancing apparently (she had told the family) and I was having nothing to do with that. Neither was Nikki. She had just spent 8 days on a boat in the Galapagos Island and she was tired. Andrea came over to pick me up. It amazes me how much time and money these people put into both of us but especially me because I experienced it directly. Part of the problem is that I do not think they could comprehend woman traveling alone. I did not need Andrea to come pick me up. I could have been put in a taxi alone and it would be cool. Andrea hung out with the family because the couchsurfers are a close knit group in Guayaquil. Andrea and I then took a bus to some part of Guayaquil. Not all the way to her home. I convinced her that we could take a taxi and I would pay. She actually let me pay.
I got to her house to learn that actually I would be staying with Joanna. Alright. Whatever just let me sleep. Not yet! Joanna came over and we caught a cab to a different part of Mira Flores (the name of the barrio). I was zoning out because I was tired and traffic is always kinda crazy so I never pay attention. Blue blazer passing in front of us WHAM!!
The taxi slammed into the green blazer and my head slammed into the side of the taxi. Joanna got the name of the plate of the blue blazer because it had ran a stop sign. The taxi driver tried to give chase. The blue blazer actually came back for some reason and whipped right on pass. The taxi driver valiently tried to chase but could not turn fast enough. We got out and that was that. Except the driver could not get any help from the police because there was no pictures. I was completely fine. I got no bruises and have had no trouble since.
Joanna and I got to her home where I had to meet the whole family right then. We watched TV for a while. They watched a Killers video just because I liked it. Joanna and I then shared her brother's bed because it was bigger. So I met her for an hour and I'm sharing her bed. No problem because I'm exhausted. I go to be at like 11 but have to get up at 6:30am because Joanna needs to get to work. I get up and get mostly dress but no one seems in a hurry. We eat breakfast and Joanna like "Lista?" Hell no, I have not brushed my hair or anything but I'm rushed off to Andrea's house. Bye Joanna! Andrea then takes me to the center part of town on a bus because she is working there today. I'm staring to get impatient because people on pushing me different places but I want to go my own way. Andrea finally sets me free. But first, we argue about direction because I will later learn that my map is slightly wrong on one street. Oh well, it all works out.
I explore the city and try to find my bearing. I'm still very grumpy because I have not much sleep and I'm still getting over my stomach thing. I come to a street corner and Wow. There is art on the side of a building. A lot of art, it calms me. This is why I travel. To find the beauty in different areas. There is a phot that reminds me of Tempest so I take a photo of it. I'm feeling a bit better. I then find a travel agent so I can book a trip to the Galapagos Islands. The guy does not do economy tours anymore but can book me a flight. Done. Chevere (cool), he also accepts travelers' checks. Woohoo! I'm no longer carrying 450 dollars worth of travelers' checks with me at all time. Only 150. But I´m excited that he accepts them because most places do not and the banks will change them to money but charge some interest rate. I got them to a one to one rate. I'm leaving from Guayaquil on the 13th of October and returning on the 22nd.
I´m off. I explore Guayaquil more. There is two main touristy sections in Guayaquil: 9th de Octobre blvd and the Malecon 2000. The Malecon is right on the river and stretches for blocks and blocks. I walk north to the MAAC (Museum of Anthropology and Arte Contemporia) and run into the cutest cat! I pet it and there is even more calm in my soul. I accidently spill water which startles the cat but not too much. It then starts to drink from the puddle. I have now repaid it for its kindness. I reach MAAC and sit to wait for Nikki. We were suppose to met at noon. I wait until 12:30 and decide to walk to the Peñas on my own.
Peñas is a sction of town just north of the Malecon. It used to be a rough part of town but parts of it are now really safe. It is really pretty and there are pictures up of it now. Oh right, I had misplaced my camera so Joanna lent me hers. So nice. The streets are really narrow and the buildings are liek two to three stories high. Also, it is built on a hill so it is all uphill. I get winded and this guard chats me. I do not understand a lot but he does tell me to take stock because there is more up. I'm like I will go straight. He looks at me weird. I go straight and pass this gate which I did not notice. Another younger gentleman talks to me but I again do not understand a lot. I keep on going. He whistles at me but I ignore it because you have to ignore since it happens so often. I see no guards and the buildings are not as pretty. I get to a spot and this other guy says "You want to go back the way you came" Alright, I go back the way I came and go back through the gate of safety. Nikki calls and says she is running late because she is really far from central which she did not realize. She is going to met up with another Aussie and then me in a few hours. All good but she still wants to see the Peñas. Okay back to the MAAC.
Well everyone that has read my blog now knows this bit. This is where I ran into the hot guide and did not make anything happen. Saddness. Nikki calls while I'm in the museum because her and Claire are in Peñas. I will be there as soon as the guide stops showing me around. He asks if I'm cold. Nope! Oh shit. I had forgotten my really cool jacket in the lunch place in the Peñas. I biff it with the guide and I'm off again. Up. Up. Up. the stairs running so I can meet the girls and get my jacket. Run into the girls outside the right place (what a cowinkadink) (coinicdence (I wish I could spell)). I run in hoping agains hope. YES. My jacket is still there.
Flashback --- Lunch was in a woman´s home. Peñas is hot because the buildings trap the heat. I get a lunch that I do not like very much for 1.50 (the usual). This boy across the way wanders in to watch TV but no really to hit on me. He is only 20 and kinda awkward looking. He sells handicrafts here and in Matañita ( a coast city) where I do plan on being. He starts off sitting further away but puts that chair back so he can sit at my table. He asks if it bothers. No not really. The usual questions insue. Where are you from? What part of the states? How old are you? What is your name? and then the usual compliment. You have really blue eyes. Thank you. He then turns on Chuck Norris: Texas Ranger. Too funny. I pay and go to the museum unknowingly leaving behind the jacket -- Flashback over.
Woah, we are back in real time. The girls and I walk in Peñas. We use an internet cafe and in fact go back to MAAC for a stalker moment to find Daniel. Does not happen. Then back to Peñas for drinks. There is a bar at the highest point (yes I walked all 350 stairs again - they label them for you so you can know) with the best view. They sold beer, cola, and wine by the crate. Claire wants beer, I want cola, and Nikki wants wine but cannot drink it by the crate. They discuss it and discuss it. I go out to call Joanna and she says dancing is near Peñas cool. She will meet me there. Alright. Go back. Nikki and Claire have got the staff to go out and buy wine. Impressive. Joanna shows up and in fact dancing is in the Mira Flores section. Miscommunication because of the phone and the fact that they will not tell me no! Nikki wants to get back earlier so bye Nikki.
Joanna and I take the bus 52 back to Mira Flores. I take a quick tepid shower and get ready. Some funny moments: yes, I do have to warm (iron) my shirt because Joann thinks it is better and if I did not do it. She would have. Blah. Yes, I try on two different pairs of Joanna's sandals because they look better. Ahhh! I do not care that much when I'm home but I'm her guest. We are ready to go out. Fabulous.
Photos are completely up and I need to leave because 2 hours and half in an internet cafe is enough. What I do for all of you (and me).
Ciao!
Right, so if anyone has questions, post them in the comment field and I will answer them in my next blog. I have decided it will be Q&A time for Shilo. Some questions I have recieved are "Are you cold, what does the coast look like, and stalking implications?" All of these and maybe more will be answered next time.
Last I left off, I'm waiting at the bus terminal for the woman Vany who I'm suppose to couchsurf with Nikki. I waited for around an hour and half to two hours. I felt really bad because my stomach was still upset from throwing up earlier that morning. I bought a personal pizza and 7-up to try to calm the stomach down. It did not work. When I met Vany I was exhausted and feeling unwell. Vany and I took an unmarked taxi to Andrea's place to drop my stuff. I complimented Vany's earnings which she promptly gave to me. I tried to decline but it was not happening. Vany then wanted me to go with her to the airport so I could point out Nikki. I tiredly rode the bus to the air terminal where Vany started to freak out because we thought the flight arrived at 4:30 but it arrived at 3:30. It was 4:30. We walked around then went back to the original point where Vany then saw Nikki. Vany did not need me at all. I spoke a bit of English to Nikki but tried to keep it in Spanish. Now the fun bit was that Vany is too nice. She said she could take both of us but in fact had family in town. She knew she would have family but did not realize how much.
Nikki was going to stay with Paulo´s family and I was staying with a girl name Joanna. Alright, not a problem. So we all waited at the airport for Paulo's wife Karen to pick us up. Karen came in a truck with her two adorable girls. Vany took off and I have not seen her since. Karen drove us to Duran which is actually quite far from the center of Guayaquil. I still felt like crap. We got to their pretty house and Karen showed me where I could rest. These people are just too nice. The parents were going to sleep in the kid´' room which did have three beds and Nikki was going to take their bed. Wow! Of course, then a stranger is not sleeping near their kids. I went in to visit the girls' room. They promptly showed me a lot. The girls folded paper for me and made what look like a frog face but the eldest drew a cat face on it. I sat in a tiny sit while they put a sparkly headband with two little attennas on it on my head. The youngest kept on asking me the name of shapes in Spanish and I could not help her. I wandered out to the living room and the mother looked at me. She said "I thought you were tired". I shrugged because I'm a sucker for kids. I sat with the kids a bit longer but really did start feeling worn out.
I rested on their bed for like an hour when they served dinner. It was so delicious! and I could not eat much. It was fresh veggies with bits of grained fed chicken on delicious rice. So much onion! I ate like four or five bites. And their was tomato of the tree juice which I did not drink. I ate soda crackers. Vany wanted to go out dancing apparently (she had told the family) and I was having nothing to do with that. Neither was Nikki. She had just spent 8 days on a boat in the Galapagos Island and she was tired. Andrea came over to pick me up. It amazes me how much time and money these people put into both of us but especially me because I experienced it directly. Part of the problem is that I do not think they could comprehend woman traveling alone. I did not need Andrea to come pick me up. I could have been put in a taxi alone and it would be cool. Andrea hung out with the family because the couchsurfers are a close knit group in Guayaquil. Andrea and I then took a bus to some part of Guayaquil. Not all the way to her home. I convinced her that we could take a taxi and I would pay. She actually let me pay.
I got to her house to learn that actually I would be staying with Joanna. Alright. Whatever just let me sleep. Not yet! Joanna came over and we caught a cab to a different part of Mira Flores (the name of the barrio). I was zoning out because I was tired and traffic is always kinda crazy so I never pay attention. Blue blazer passing in front of us WHAM!!
The taxi slammed into the green blazer and my head slammed into the side of the taxi. Joanna got the name of the plate of the blue blazer because it had ran a stop sign. The taxi driver tried to give chase. The blue blazer actually came back for some reason and whipped right on pass. The taxi driver valiently tried to chase but could not turn fast enough. We got out and that was that. Except the driver could not get any help from the police because there was no pictures. I was completely fine. I got no bruises and have had no trouble since.
Joanna and I got to her home where I had to meet the whole family right then. We watched TV for a while. They watched a Killers video just because I liked it. Joanna and I then shared her brother's bed because it was bigger. So I met her for an hour and I'm sharing her bed. No problem because I'm exhausted. I go to be at like 11 but have to get up at 6:30am because Joanna needs to get to work. I get up and get mostly dress but no one seems in a hurry. We eat breakfast and Joanna like "Lista?" Hell no, I have not brushed my hair or anything but I'm rushed off to Andrea's house. Bye Joanna! Andrea then takes me to the center part of town on a bus because she is working there today. I'm staring to get impatient because people on pushing me different places but I want to go my own way. Andrea finally sets me free. But first, we argue about direction because I will later learn that my map is slightly wrong on one street. Oh well, it all works out.
I explore the city and try to find my bearing. I'm still very grumpy because I have not much sleep and I'm still getting over my stomach thing. I come to a street corner and Wow. There is art on the side of a building. A lot of art, it calms me. This is why I travel. To find the beauty in different areas. There is a phot that reminds me of Tempest so I take a photo of it. I'm feeling a bit better. I then find a travel agent so I can book a trip to the Galapagos Islands. The guy does not do economy tours anymore but can book me a flight. Done. Chevere (cool), he also accepts travelers' checks. Woohoo! I'm no longer carrying 450 dollars worth of travelers' checks with me at all time. Only 150. But I´m excited that he accepts them because most places do not and the banks will change them to money but charge some interest rate. I got them to a one to one rate. I'm leaving from Guayaquil on the 13th of October and returning on the 22nd.
I´m off. I explore Guayaquil more. There is two main touristy sections in Guayaquil: 9th de Octobre blvd and the Malecon 2000. The Malecon is right on the river and stretches for blocks and blocks. I walk north to the MAAC (Museum of Anthropology and Arte Contemporia) and run into the cutest cat! I pet it and there is even more calm in my soul. I accidently spill water which startles the cat but not too much. It then starts to drink from the puddle. I have now repaid it for its kindness. I reach MAAC and sit to wait for Nikki. We were suppose to met at noon. I wait until 12:30 and decide to walk to the Peñas on my own.
Peñas is a sction of town just north of the Malecon. It used to be a rough part of town but parts of it are now really safe. It is really pretty and there are pictures up of it now. Oh right, I had misplaced my camera so Joanna lent me hers. So nice. The streets are really narrow and the buildings are liek two to three stories high. Also, it is built on a hill so it is all uphill. I get winded and this guard chats me. I do not understand a lot but he does tell me to take stock because there is more up. I'm like I will go straight. He looks at me weird. I go straight and pass this gate which I did not notice. Another younger gentleman talks to me but I again do not understand a lot. I keep on going. He whistles at me but I ignore it because you have to ignore since it happens so often. I see no guards and the buildings are not as pretty. I get to a spot and this other guy says "You want to go back the way you came" Alright, I go back the way I came and go back through the gate of safety. Nikki calls and says she is running late because she is really far from central which she did not realize. She is going to met up with another Aussie and then me in a few hours. All good but she still wants to see the Peñas. Okay back to the MAAC.
Well everyone that has read my blog now knows this bit. This is where I ran into the hot guide and did not make anything happen. Saddness. Nikki calls while I'm in the museum because her and Claire are in Peñas. I will be there as soon as the guide stops showing me around. He asks if I'm cold. Nope! Oh shit. I had forgotten my really cool jacket in the lunch place in the Peñas. I biff it with the guide and I'm off again. Up. Up. Up. the stairs running so I can meet the girls and get my jacket. Run into the girls outside the right place (what a cowinkadink) (coinicdence (I wish I could spell)). I run in hoping agains hope. YES. My jacket is still there.
Flashback --- Lunch was in a woman´s home. Peñas is hot because the buildings trap the heat. I get a lunch that I do not like very much for 1.50 (the usual). This boy across the way wanders in to watch TV but no really to hit on me. He is only 20 and kinda awkward looking. He sells handicrafts here and in Matañita ( a coast city) where I do plan on being. He starts off sitting further away but puts that chair back so he can sit at my table. He asks if it bothers. No not really. The usual questions insue. Where are you from? What part of the states? How old are you? What is your name? and then the usual compliment. You have really blue eyes. Thank you. He then turns on Chuck Norris: Texas Ranger. Too funny. I pay and go to the museum unknowingly leaving behind the jacket -- Flashback over.
Woah, we are back in real time. The girls and I walk in Peñas. We use an internet cafe and in fact go back to MAAC for a stalker moment to find Daniel. Does not happen. Then back to Peñas for drinks. There is a bar at the highest point (yes I walked all 350 stairs again - they label them for you so you can know) with the best view. They sold beer, cola, and wine by the crate. Claire wants beer, I want cola, and Nikki wants wine but cannot drink it by the crate. They discuss it and discuss it. I go out to call Joanna and she says dancing is near Peñas cool. She will meet me there. Alright. Go back. Nikki and Claire have got the staff to go out and buy wine. Impressive. Joanna shows up and in fact dancing is in the Mira Flores section. Miscommunication because of the phone and the fact that they will not tell me no! Nikki wants to get back earlier so bye Nikki.
Joanna and I take the bus 52 back to Mira Flores. I take a quick tepid shower and get ready. Some funny moments: yes, I do have to warm (iron) my shirt because Joann thinks it is better and if I did not do it. She would have. Blah. Yes, I try on two different pairs of Joanna's sandals because they look better. Ahhh! I do not care that much when I'm home but I'm her guest. We are ready to go out. Fabulous.
Photos are completely up and I need to leave because 2 hours and half in an internet cafe is enough. What I do for all of you (and me).
Ciao!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Chill at home
I was hoping the coast would be refreshing, but I still feel like I need a break. Oh well there is nothing I can do. I have visions of cooking my own meals and just being home. I love traveling but I love my home. Unfortunately it is too expensive to take a break from traveling by vacationing at home.
Back to the story. I was at Caco waiting for my bus to Tena. I got the bus and watched Terminator in Spanish. There is something about buses that make you tired no matter how much energy you had before you get on but I cannot sleep. I got to Tena and it was dark. I saw a sign for a hostal when I guy came up asked if I was looking for Limonchola (or whatever its name was. I went with this random guy into a humble neighborhood and part of me thought "This is kinda scary". It worked out and I gave him 50 cents as a tip. It was pretty nice place.
Tena was slightly boring. It was a nice city but not much going on. Apparently people go there for white water rafting and to go into the jungle for cheaper. I had already visited the jungle. I instead blogged and figured out how to upload photos. I spent like 3 hours in internet cafes. I met an American woman whose names has escaped me. She was so insecure. It was weird to meet a long term traveler who was cracking under the pressure. I order a tostada with cheese and salsa and doritos with guacomole. I expected a Mexican tostada and regular chips with guacomole. I got a cheese sandwhich and literally Doritos with guacomole. So different and weird. I spent two nights in Tena and got in a bus for Baños.
Baños is a touristy town famous for its baths, waterfall, and the fact that a very active volcano is right there. It went off like three years ago and destroyed towns on the other side of the volcano. I got in the bus and waited for it. A guy dressed up in a clown outfit got in and directed people. It amused me and I took pictures. He ten later started begging for money and showed his scar. I gave money for the picture not the begging. The interesting part about the bus ride was I met Chris(L.A.)and the other two Americans that I had met right before i had left for jungle. Chris sat next to me and we chatted. I was interested in hanging put with Americans so invited myself along.
We were traveling very different. I am a long term traveler and they were here for like two weeks. I wanted to walk to a hostal but they wanted to take a taxi. It is a small town for goodness sake! They paid for it but I do not like being a leech. We headed to a hostal and suddenly I was sharing a room with Chris. I should have stayed in the dormitory because it was cheaper but I got roped in by the moment. We had separate beds for those that are thing wrong thoughts. I was not interested at all. I did have fun hanging out with them but I also felt trapped.
We headed to a restaurant called Cafe Hood. It was delicious but boy were the other Americans different. They were so gluttonous. I had an almuerzo for three dollars which came with delicious pineapple juice, a thick and hearty soup, and pasta. I could not even eat most of the pasta. They ordered nachos (which were delicious). Chris had a hamburger, taquitos, and like three sodas. Mike had a big platter of food and so did the girl with sodas. My portion was 3 dollars and I included fours dollars. The total bill was 28 dollar which is huge in Ecuador. Not that this is terrible but just so different from what I'm use to.
We then headed off to a pool. A lot of them were closed for some reason - we were told this by taxi drivers. We went to one and there were quite a few kids. Mike and Tao (his girlfriend), I think her name is different, did not want to get in and they put their stuff in a waterprrof bag so they could get in if they decided. I ran down to use the bathroom and deposited my stuff including clothes with the staff. I got a nifty yellow armband with the number of my crate. I then ran up the path in only my bikini feeling hot. Chris was in and I got in. It was not that impressive. It looked like a pool with muddy water in it. No natural feeling at all. I jumped in and had a great time. Chris was not bothered by the idea that people could be peeing in water or anything. I have swam in public pools all my life and in fast was a kid who peed when young. Sorry everyone! I was not bothered. Mike and T got in. We swam in the warmish water. Then everyone started to empty out of the pool fast. I see brown bits floating in the water. Yeww!!! I tell the others and start to make for the stairs but the pooh is in my way. I jump out. Mike and T are cracking up. The people who did not want to get in because of this very problem. I'm a bit grossed out but good. Chris is almost retching in the grass and takes like a ten minutes rinse in the showers. What a role reversal!. So aptly enough, in Baños someone used the pool as a baño.
The American group wandered off so I wandered the city. The waterfall was beautiful and I will upload photos soon. I had just a marvelous time looking at the sites and being by myself. I went back and found the group on the roof. We chatted a bit and they wanted to do something I did not. I instead went to eat dinner at Casa Hood. They have a lot of hood resturants. There is also a Casa or Cafe Good. Anyway, it was delicious and fun. It had a funky cafe feeling and I had a great fruit smoothie. Got a touch lonely but had my diary so started to write. Live music played and it was just wonderful.
I went back to use the free internet and meet this guy. He was kinda short and cute. I did not pay terribly attention to him. I then spent the night with Chris and he snored. I left that day for Riobamba. I wwaited for a bus but decided I need to buy some of the toffee I had seen earlier. I ran back, grabbed it, and rushed back. Just as I got back, the bus arrived. It was full and it was the first time I had to stand in a bus. I had a blast. I saw this guy up front who looked kind cute and was short. We kinda made eyes at each other but not terribly much. I got a seat about an hour later. I saw another cute guy rush to the back to grab a seat.
I got to Rhiobamba and the guys got off as well. They were together, odd. The short guy asked me if I knew where I was going. "Of course I know where I am going, just have to find a street." I walked a bit off and found a street. They walk to the same point and we started to explore the town together. That is when I meet Chris and Matt from Conneticut. I had swore I would not share a room with anyone again but I did exactly that. I shared a room with a Chris for a second night in a row. It was cheaper so I met two cute guys and was sharing a room with them like 30 minutes later. We explored the city for a while but they did not want to do what I wanted. I looked at a church and went into a free museum. I played in the kid section and went back. Chris was there and we chatted. He had an experience in the plaza where a kid almost drowned, and he and Matt gave advice to the local drunk on things to say to have sex with a tourist. Chris told me where he planned on going and I tried to find it on a map. It was a town called Mantanita. He sat really close to me and I will admit it was nice. They wanted to use the internet so I walked really far to the bus terminal and back. When I got back, we all went out for a chicken dinner and amazing ice cream. A two scooped cone for seventy cents. Matt got the best one which was Kiwi and Guaynaba as one scoop and mora with yourgut as the second. Mora being blackberry. I got lemon and mora. We ended up the night watching Million Dollar baby. I swear I watch more movies in Ecuador than USA.
The next day we all caught a bus to Guayaquil. I sat next to Chris who I thought was cuter. I did not know what bus ride I was in for. Breakfast was from a panderia which was great. It was really amazing traveling with other long term travelers because they know the joys of walking and cheap bread. I also ate an apple on the bus. That was the mistake. The view from the bus was beautiful but I was queasy. I ended up actually throwing up a little bit into a bag. Chris did not even notice because I did not really talk about it. I felt better. About thirty minutes later, the bus stopped for a quick break. Chris got off and I threw up everything in my stomach. I ran off the bus and threw away the bag. The trip was better but I was still weak the rest of the day. When we got to the bus terminal, I called the girl from couchsurfing whose couch I was going to crash. She was surprised because she expected me another day. She told me she would pick me up from the food court. I escorted the guys to the ticket booth and their bus was leaving in 15 minutes. Said goodybye.
It was now the 30th of September. It was month since I started my trip and I was waithing for a girl named Vany to pick me up from the bus. Soon Nikki and I would meet up to travel up the coast.
Omg, I am traveling with Niiki now and I totally told her about my saying sorry too much in the past. I started saying it again! She totally called me out on it which made me sad and want to say sorry. Grrr!
Back to the story. I was at Caco waiting for my bus to Tena. I got the bus and watched Terminator in Spanish. There is something about buses that make you tired no matter how much energy you had before you get on but I cannot sleep. I got to Tena and it was dark. I saw a sign for a hostal when I guy came up asked if I was looking for Limonchola (or whatever its name was. I went with this random guy into a humble neighborhood and part of me thought "This is kinda scary". It worked out and I gave him 50 cents as a tip. It was pretty nice place.
Tena was slightly boring. It was a nice city but not much going on. Apparently people go there for white water rafting and to go into the jungle for cheaper. I had already visited the jungle. I instead blogged and figured out how to upload photos. I spent like 3 hours in internet cafes. I met an American woman whose names has escaped me. She was so insecure. It was weird to meet a long term traveler who was cracking under the pressure. I order a tostada with cheese and salsa and doritos with guacomole. I expected a Mexican tostada and regular chips with guacomole. I got a cheese sandwhich and literally Doritos with guacomole. So different and weird. I spent two nights in Tena and got in a bus for Baños.
Baños is a touristy town famous for its baths, waterfall, and the fact that a very active volcano is right there. It went off like three years ago and destroyed towns on the other side of the volcano. I got in the bus and waited for it. A guy dressed up in a clown outfit got in and directed people. It amused me and I took pictures. He ten later started begging for money and showed his scar. I gave money for the picture not the begging. The interesting part about the bus ride was I met Chris(L.A.)and the other two Americans that I had met right before i had left for jungle. Chris sat next to me and we chatted. I was interested in hanging put with Americans so invited myself along.
We were traveling very different. I am a long term traveler and they were here for like two weeks. I wanted to walk to a hostal but they wanted to take a taxi. It is a small town for goodness sake! They paid for it but I do not like being a leech. We headed to a hostal and suddenly I was sharing a room with Chris. I should have stayed in the dormitory because it was cheaper but I got roped in by the moment. We had separate beds for those that are thing wrong thoughts. I was not interested at all. I did have fun hanging out with them but I also felt trapped.
We headed to a restaurant called Cafe Hood. It was delicious but boy were the other Americans different. They were so gluttonous. I had an almuerzo for three dollars which came with delicious pineapple juice, a thick and hearty soup, and pasta. I could not even eat most of the pasta. They ordered nachos (which were delicious). Chris had a hamburger, taquitos, and like three sodas. Mike had a big platter of food and so did the girl with sodas. My portion was 3 dollars and I included fours dollars. The total bill was 28 dollar which is huge in Ecuador. Not that this is terrible but just so different from what I'm use to.
We then headed off to a pool. A lot of them were closed for some reason - we were told this by taxi drivers. We went to one and there were quite a few kids. Mike and Tao (his girlfriend), I think her name is different, did not want to get in and they put their stuff in a waterprrof bag so they could get in if they decided. I ran down to use the bathroom and deposited my stuff including clothes with the staff. I got a nifty yellow armband with the number of my crate. I then ran up the path in only my bikini feeling hot. Chris was in and I got in. It was not that impressive. It looked like a pool with muddy water in it. No natural feeling at all. I jumped in and had a great time. Chris was not bothered by the idea that people could be peeing in water or anything. I have swam in public pools all my life and in fast was a kid who peed when young. Sorry everyone! I was not bothered. Mike and T got in. We swam in the warmish water. Then everyone started to empty out of the pool fast. I see brown bits floating in the water. Yeww!!! I tell the others and start to make for the stairs but the pooh is in my way. I jump out. Mike and T are cracking up. The people who did not want to get in because of this very problem. I'm a bit grossed out but good. Chris is almost retching in the grass and takes like a ten minutes rinse in the showers. What a role reversal!. So aptly enough, in Baños someone used the pool as a baño.
The American group wandered off so I wandered the city. The waterfall was beautiful and I will upload photos soon. I had just a marvelous time looking at the sites and being by myself. I went back and found the group on the roof. We chatted a bit and they wanted to do something I did not. I instead went to eat dinner at Casa Hood. They have a lot of hood resturants. There is also a Casa or Cafe Good. Anyway, it was delicious and fun. It had a funky cafe feeling and I had a great fruit smoothie. Got a touch lonely but had my diary so started to write. Live music played and it was just wonderful.
I went back to use the free internet and meet this guy. He was kinda short and cute. I did not pay terribly attention to him. I then spent the night with Chris and he snored. I left that day for Riobamba. I wwaited for a bus but decided I need to buy some of the toffee I had seen earlier. I ran back, grabbed it, and rushed back. Just as I got back, the bus arrived. It was full and it was the first time I had to stand in a bus. I had a blast. I saw this guy up front who looked kind cute and was short. We kinda made eyes at each other but not terribly much. I got a seat about an hour later. I saw another cute guy rush to the back to grab a seat.
I got to Rhiobamba and the guys got off as well. They were together, odd. The short guy asked me if I knew where I was going. "Of course I know where I am going, just have to find a street." I walked a bit off and found a street. They walk to the same point and we started to explore the town together. That is when I meet Chris and Matt from Conneticut. I had swore I would not share a room with anyone again but I did exactly that. I shared a room with a Chris for a second night in a row. It was cheaper so I met two cute guys and was sharing a room with them like 30 minutes later. We explored the city for a while but they did not want to do what I wanted. I looked at a church and went into a free museum. I played in the kid section and went back. Chris was there and we chatted. He had an experience in the plaza where a kid almost drowned, and he and Matt gave advice to the local drunk on things to say to have sex with a tourist. Chris told me where he planned on going and I tried to find it on a map. It was a town called Mantanita. He sat really close to me and I will admit it was nice. They wanted to use the internet so I walked really far to the bus terminal and back. When I got back, we all went out for a chicken dinner and amazing ice cream. A two scooped cone for seventy cents. Matt got the best one which was Kiwi and Guaynaba as one scoop and mora with yourgut as the second. Mora being blackberry. I got lemon and mora. We ended up the night watching Million Dollar baby. I swear I watch more movies in Ecuador than USA.
The next day we all caught a bus to Guayaquil. I sat next to Chris who I thought was cuter. I did not know what bus ride I was in for. Breakfast was from a panderia which was great. It was really amazing traveling with other long term travelers because they know the joys of walking and cheap bread. I also ate an apple on the bus. That was the mistake. The view from the bus was beautiful but I was queasy. I ended up actually throwing up a little bit into a bag. Chris did not even notice because I did not really talk about it. I felt better. About thirty minutes later, the bus stopped for a quick break. Chris got off and I threw up everything in my stomach. I ran off the bus and threw away the bag. The trip was better but I was still weak the rest of the day. When we got to the bus terminal, I called the girl from couchsurfing whose couch I was going to crash. She was surprised because she expected me another day. She told me she would pick me up from the food court. I escorted the guys to the ticket booth and their bus was leaving in 15 minutes. Said goodybye.
It was now the 30th of September. It was month since I started my trip and I was waithing for a girl named Vany to pick me up from the bus. Soon Nikki and I would meet up to travel up the coast.
Omg, I am traveling with Niiki now and I totally told her about my saying sorry too much in the past. I started saying it again! She totally called me out on it which made me sad and want to say sorry. Grrr!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
The Jungle!
Back to the world of Quito - I was hanging out with some friends for dinner like two weeks ago. We split up. Clara and Brian went home while Nikki walked me to the corner of Plaza Foch to catch a cab. I ended up meeting a guy named Chris and his two friends because of Nikki. Hey and Goodbye. I took the taxi to the McDonald´s to wait for my ride to the jungle. It cost me two dollars. I ended up eating their for nostalgic sake but will never eat at McDonald's again. The memories of Big Macs do not live up to my expectations.
I waited and this guy named Tobias came up. He was waiting for the school as well so we chatted. Only three of us showed up at that spot and got a ride to the bus which cost money as well. Really, I wished they had just told us where to go for the bus because it would have saved a bit of money.
I was waiting and who should walk up? Reto, the cool Swiss dude, who I really liked. We chatted a bit and it was fun. I met Andre a Canadian man who has been traveling for like two years. We all got on this bus where we got served apple soda and little cookies. Very posh for Ecuador. An hour and a half into the ride, the bus breaks down. We wait for another one which is worse. I wore my rain jacket through most of the ride because when the bus would stop or turn, the roof would leak on my head. I was exhausted from my 7 hour hike but could not sleep.
We got to Coca and made a mad dash through the town to wait at a pier. Why the mad dash? I do not know. Perhaps we were a bit late because of the bus breaking down. Off to breakfast. Where I learned the joys of hot milk and powdered hot chocolate. I drank that all week in the jungle. Then there was an awesome ride in a boat on the River Napo (?) which looked like a lake because it was so big. There was something so peaceful and amazing about the river by the jungle. 45 minutes later, there was a sign for the Yarinia Lodge and we slid into a tributary. Ten minutes later, we made it to the lodge.
The jungle was beautiful and there was a lot of structure. Breakfast was at 6:30am, lunch at noon, and dinner at seven. My schedule for classes switched around but everyones did so two groups were on the same schedule. I was a bit sad because I got stuck with the six german girls, two swiss girls, and one really cool Swedish chick. The Germans were just so annoying because they were so young and always talked in German. It was frustrating when we had tours and I would ask them to pass information back because that was where I was. They would. In German.
Anyway, we had a guide named Marcelo and lots of nice male staff. No female staff. The rumor going around the lodge was there was female staff in the past but they kept on getting pregnant. We studied Spanish and when not studying Spanish, would be exploring the jungle. I was a bit lonely because most people wanted to talk their own language. Spanish was cool but the Europeans languages were not for me. I was also a bit sad because the connection with Reto was gone and in fact we argued a bit. Not bad but just a bit of heat butts when talking.
There are some highlights though. Walking through the lodge and suddenly seeing Tapirs hanging out on a porch. The lodge did feed them but still cool to see. I caught the tapirs eating out of the organic waste bucket. Which reminds me of the food - delicious and plentiful. I shared my room with this cool women named Franzika. She was late coming to the jungle because her first plane crashed. It never made it off the runway and went into a brick wall. There was a problem with the door so they had to exit off emergency exit on the wings. She had the newspapers' stories because she was freaking a bit and was trying to cope.
I saw some of the other group swimming in the river and sighed. My teacher told me to go so I ran down and swam instead of learning Spanish, for 15 minutes or so. I got a group of people to play equibole (like volley ball but different) and we ended up playing futbol. Fun because it was muddy.
After the last separated expidition, the guide asked me if I wanted to play volleyball because he saw us all playing like two days before. I said yes but also said I wanted to go swimming. He said there was time for all. He organized a game while I ran back to get my suit on. When I got back, everyone was playing including the German girls! After three games, most people left but a small group of us played futbol. So much fun and tiring. Then we were done and everyone left. I was a bit sad because it was nice and not safe to swim in the river. So I walked to the pier to rinse my feet and legs off. The guide was there as well and asked if I was going swim. I said no because it was dangerous. He was like "Its fine". I stared at hime. "You showed me cayman (like alligators and crocidiles but slightly smaller) and serpents in the river!" "Its safe" swears the guide. He then takes off his shirts and dives in. I think all right. I take off my shirt and jump in. I was wearing my suit and my waterproof pants. It was so nice! It was refreshing and nothing bad happen! I got out after a very little bit. I guess he need to wash his pants because the guide took off his pants and was wearing like a cloth speedo. It covered the important bits but not much. And wow, just imagine a guy who walks all day for a living, and climbs trees, play sports, and swims in a river for fun. What a body! The pants had dragged me down so I got down to just my swimming suit. We did not end up swimming at the same time because one of us would be on the pier but it was great. I was the only one in the school who went swimming at night. I then had a crush on the guide. It is apparently what I do in Ecuador. I get crushes on my guides.
Which is a prefect segue to the current guide story. Nikki and I did go back to the museum two days ago. A different guide met us at the bottom. We used the rest room and when we got out, that guy asked us "You are looking for Daniel?" That is right, he or someone else recognized me and remember. Now the question to ask is what did I say? Hmmmm, really think about who I am and make a guess in your head. ....
The answer - No! I startled the guide. He faltered and did not know where to go from there because he was expecting yes and so was Nikki. I then kicked myself while looking at cool art. I finally pushed myself to ask another guide if in fact Daniel was working that day. He had left for the day. Stupid Shilo! Like a soap opera, I made you all wait for the story and nothing actually change. And! the story might continue. I go back to Guayaquil to catch a plane to the Galapagos Islands on the 13th of October. The museum is free on Sundays and I have even more people who are willing to go. Will I do it? I do not know. The time might be past but part of me really wants to at least get a photo. I will keep everyone informed on what happens.
Real fast about the jungle, we ended with two expeditons. We saw a mock shaman do a ritual and it was interesting but I did not go through it. I want a real shaman. It was long but people really enjoyed it. We also went to see indigenous people living in the jungle. Our guide did most of the talking and there were standing there awkward. So would I if like 15 tourists were in my house staring around. People did buy up the handicrafts.
We took a boat back up to Caco. I tried to get a bus to Tena but two other students took the last two seats. I had paid for a trip back to Quito but changed my mind. It worked out because Franika took it and gave me money. I waited at Coca for an hour and half to catch the bus to Tena. That is when the next segment of traveling happened. Will catch up even more next time!
Oh yeah, I responsed to people's comments in the comment section. I did not try the coffee at Mindo. Coffee in Ecuador is usually hot water with instant coffee. I did not see anything different at Mindo. Anali, you will have to travel down here and try it yourself.
I waited and this guy named Tobias came up. He was waiting for the school as well so we chatted. Only three of us showed up at that spot and got a ride to the bus which cost money as well. Really, I wished they had just told us where to go for the bus because it would have saved a bit of money.
I was waiting and who should walk up? Reto, the cool Swiss dude, who I really liked. We chatted a bit and it was fun. I met Andre a Canadian man who has been traveling for like two years. We all got on this bus where we got served apple soda and little cookies. Very posh for Ecuador. An hour and a half into the ride, the bus breaks down. We wait for another one which is worse. I wore my rain jacket through most of the ride because when the bus would stop or turn, the roof would leak on my head. I was exhausted from my 7 hour hike but could not sleep.
We got to Coca and made a mad dash through the town to wait at a pier. Why the mad dash? I do not know. Perhaps we were a bit late because of the bus breaking down. Off to breakfast. Where I learned the joys of hot milk and powdered hot chocolate. I drank that all week in the jungle. Then there was an awesome ride in a boat on the River Napo (?) which looked like a lake because it was so big. There was something so peaceful and amazing about the river by the jungle. 45 minutes later, there was a sign for the Yarinia Lodge and we slid into a tributary. Ten minutes later, we made it to the lodge.
The jungle was beautiful and there was a lot of structure. Breakfast was at 6:30am, lunch at noon, and dinner at seven. My schedule for classes switched around but everyones did so two groups were on the same schedule. I was a bit sad because I got stuck with the six german girls, two swiss girls, and one really cool Swedish chick. The Germans were just so annoying because they were so young and always talked in German. It was frustrating when we had tours and I would ask them to pass information back because that was where I was. They would. In German.
Anyway, we had a guide named Marcelo and lots of nice male staff. No female staff. The rumor going around the lodge was there was female staff in the past but they kept on getting pregnant. We studied Spanish and when not studying Spanish, would be exploring the jungle. I was a bit lonely because most people wanted to talk their own language. Spanish was cool but the Europeans languages were not for me. I was also a bit sad because the connection with Reto was gone and in fact we argued a bit. Not bad but just a bit of heat butts when talking.
There are some highlights though. Walking through the lodge and suddenly seeing Tapirs hanging out on a porch. The lodge did feed them but still cool to see. I caught the tapirs eating out of the organic waste bucket. Which reminds me of the food - delicious and plentiful. I shared my room with this cool women named Franzika. She was late coming to the jungle because her first plane crashed. It never made it off the runway and went into a brick wall. There was a problem with the door so they had to exit off emergency exit on the wings. She had the newspapers' stories because she was freaking a bit and was trying to cope.
I saw some of the other group swimming in the river and sighed. My teacher told me to go so I ran down and swam instead of learning Spanish, for 15 minutes or so. I got a group of people to play equibole (like volley ball but different) and we ended up playing futbol. Fun because it was muddy.
After the last separated expidition, the guide asked me if I wanted to play volleyball because he saw us all playing like two days before. I said yes but also said I wanted to go swimming. He said there was time for all. He organized a game while I ran back to get my suit on. When I got back, everyone was playing including the German girls! After three games, most people left but a small group of us played futbol. So much fun and tiring. Then we were done and everyone left. I was a bit sad because it was nice and not safe to swim in the river. So I walked to the pier to rinse my feet and legs off. The guide was there as well and asked if I was going swim. I said no because it was dangerous. He was like "Its fine". I stared at hime. "You showed me cayman (like alligators and crocidiles but slightly smaller) and serpents in the river!" "Its safe" swears the guide. He then takes off his shirts and dives in. I think all right. I take off my shirt and jump in. I was wearing my suit and my waterproof pants. It was so nice! It was refreshing and nothing bad happen! I got out after a very little bit. I guess he need to wash his pants because the guide took off his pants and was wearing like a cloth speedo. It covered the important bits but not much. And wow, just imagine a guy who walks all day for a living, and climbs trees, play sports, and swims in a river for fun. What a body! The pants had dragged me down so I got down to just my swimming suit. We did not end up swimming at the same time because one of us would be on the pier but it was great. I was the only one in the school who went swimming at night. I then had a crush on the guide. It is apparently what I do in Ecuador. I get crushes on my guides.
Which is a prefect segue to the current guide story. Nikki and I did go back to the museum two days ago. A different guide met us at the bottom. We used the rest room and when we got out, that guy asked us "You are looking for Daniel?" That is right, he or someone else recognized me and remember. Now the question to ask is what did I say? Hmmmm, really think about who I am and make a guess in your head. ....
The answer - No! I startled the guide. He faltered and did not know where to go from there because he was expecting yes and so was Nikki. I then kicked myself while looking at cool art. I finally pushed myself to ask another guide if in fact Daniel was working that day. He had left for the day. Stupid Shilo! Like a soap opera, I made you all wait for the story and nothing actually change. And! the story might continue. I go back to Guayaquil to catch a plane to the Galapagos Islands on the 13th of October. The museum is free on Sundays and I have even more people who are willing to go. Will I do it? I do not know. The time might be past but part of me really wants to at least get a photo. I will keep everyone informed on what happens.
Real fast about the jungle, we ended with two expeditons. We saw a mock shaman do a ritual and it was interesting but I did not go through it. I want a real shaman. It was long but people really enjoyed it. We also went to see indigenous people living in the jungle. Our guide did most of the talking and there were standing there awkward. So would I if like 15 tourists were in my house staring around. People did buy up the handicrafts.
We took a boat back up to Caco. I tried to get a bus to Tena but two other students took the last two seats. I had paid for a trip back to Quito but changed my mind. It worked out because Franika took it and gave me money. I waited at Coca for an hour and half to catch the bus to Tena. That is when the next segment of traveling happened. Will catch up even more next time!
Oh yeah, I responsed to people's comments in the comment section. I did not try the coffee at Mindo. Coffee in Ecuador is usually hot water with instant coffee. I did not see anything different at Mindo. Anali, you will have to travel down here and try it yourself.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Catch up
I'm really behind and things seem to be accelerating so I need to catch up. Okay last I wrote seriously, I was in Mindo two Wednesdays ago. Mindo was a small town and not that exciting. I went hiking with the Americans and it was enjoyable. I might have had more fun by myself but they were biology students just fresh done with a course so had a good eye. They pointed out many animals and bugs I would never have seen. The best part was using a cable car to go over the canopy to get to the side with the waterfalls. An hour hike later, a nice waterfall. Pictures might be coming soon. I separated from the Americas. The next day (Thursday), I saw butterflies at a mariposa farm (butterfly farm) and it was nice. There is so much life and death in a butterfly cage. They die so quickly but they are useful to feed fish and frogs. I walked a lot that day. I stayed too long in Mindo because it is really a one day visit.
I got up really ear and caught the bus back to Quito at 6:30 or 7:30. That day was preety uneventful. I found a hostel on my own, went to my school to find out about the jungle visit, and shopped. I spent around 150 dollars on one outfit. I bought a waterproof jacket for 80 dollars, socks for 14 (totally worth it because they rock), 34 dollars for water proof pants, and 15 dollars for a hat. Some of the things I needed or wanted where a bit more expensive here in Ecuador than in the States. Oh yeah! It started to rain in the afternoon so I hun out at the South American Explorer club. That is when I made the Knocked Up mistake. It was raining pretty hard and I had forgot my great water proof out, poncho, or umbrella so I decided to watch a movie. I choose Knocked Up and it was really funny. I made the mistake of watching it in English. I got so absorbed. I did not get to see the very end but when I left I was actually confused as to where I was at. Why was I not in America? For one moment, the first moment, I got so homesick. I missed the sillness of friends and I missed cussing. I walked around Quito and got over it. I have decided to not watch movies in English only again in Ecuador. I had also meet up with Brian at SAE to chat about our planned hike up the mountain Pinchincha (spelled most likely wrong).
The next day was more shopping. I was slightly tired so the night before was resting and sleeping. Oh! I had exchanged one of my books for another book the day before. I got a horror book called Blue Moon full of short stories. I read that a bit the night before. I shopped and got everything! Go me! I had plans on uploading in Quito but got a call from a girl named Nikki from couchsurfing. We met up and started to chat. She had confused me by saying catch up which apparently means meet up or hang out in Australia because I actually we thought we had met previously but I had no recall of her. We started to walk to a free music festival in the park and it started to pour. There was very little notice. It started to rain lightly which I was fine with. Nikki started to pull out her umbrella when we saw it coming. It was line of hard raining heading straight for us. I have never see anything like it. I tried to get my umbrella out in time but it still got me a bit. We caught a taxi to Plaza Foch (think their Mill street but more like a block and part of it is Plaza Foch) and drank hot chocolate and ate potato fries at Dragonfly. Two for one drinks are the balm. We chatted and she wanted to go up the coast on the 30th of September after she returned from the Galapagos islands. I changed my plans and decided instead of another week of Spanish school in Quito, I would head to the coast instead. We were also staying at the same hostal - very cool. We hung out that night and watched I, Robot in English with Spanish subtitles or maybe reversed. It was better than I expected.
Side note, my brain is switching a bit to Spanish and I seriously feel like I'm losing my English a bit. Or I just need a refersher. I look at words and they do not look quite right but I cannot tell if they are wrong or my brian just like the Spanish spelling better.
The next day, Sunday, I took the Teleferico up the side of Pinchicha. The Teleferico is a like a inclosed cable car that goes up the side of the mountain and my brain refuses to give me a better word. Brian and I forgot food and it was a seven hour hike. Okay, we did have cookies. When coming down the mountain (love that phrase), we ran into some other hikes. Swore one was not Ecuadorian because he had white hair, skin, and blue eyese. Spoke really good Spanish and not great English. I told him we could not stay long because we were hungry. He then promptly gave me an apple and bread. Later he gave me a postre (which I cannot remember the English word) Dessert that sounds similiar to postre and pastel. Horrible! I meet up with Clara (German girl) and Nikki for dinner with me and Brian. Clara has been sick and I really miss that girl. We had a really nice connection and she dances really funny.
Jump to the present, I'm running out of time so I'm going to give everyone a soap opera moment. Most people know just how excellent I'm at flirting. How I run in the opposite directin quite well. Well yesterday, I went to a museum and they come with guides. I started to go down the stairs and I saw one of the most attractive (to me) Ecuadorian man I have ever seen. He is not super hot but very cute, short, and muscular. I of course was going to walk right on by but he was my guide! I actually flirted a bit and did not blow him off in like 5 minutes! (It is one of my talents.) But I was still me. For example he asked if "Te comes" which translates in my world to "Do you eat?" I thought it was a silly question so I said Nunca (Never) but then answered seriously. He was one of the most polite flirters in Ecuador as well. He actually tried to remember my name and asked me how to say respect in English. He then told me in English "With most respect, who have nice eyest" A usual compliment with a twist. He was fairly obvious about his interest and I was politely friendly. Not as distant as usual but definitely not where I should be. Well, two Australian girls (Nikki and Claire) got me to go back to the museum when it was close and wait for him. I stalked two guys but missed Daniel. Sooo...., in the interest of getting better and being more obvious, Nikki and I are going back to the museum to track him down. Am I nervous? Hell yes. Do I even know what I want? Hmmm... no but I would like to maybe go to lunch or dinner. I will tell you all what happens in the next episode.
To be continued ...
I got up really ear and caught the bus back to Quito at 6:30 or 7:30. That day was preety uneventful. I found a hostel on my own, went to my school to find out about the jungle visit, and shopped. I spent around 150 dollars on one outfit. I bought a waterproof jacket for 80 dollars, socks for 14 (totally worth it because they rock), 34 dollars for water proof pants, and 15 dollars for a hat. Some of the things I needed or wanted where a bit more expensive here in Ecuador than in the States. Oh yeah! It started to rain in the afternoon so I hun out at the South American Explorer club. That is when I made the Knocked Up mistake. It was raining pretty hard and I had forgot my great water proof out, poncho, or umbrella so I decided to watch a movie. I choose Knocked Up and it was really funny. I made the mistake of watching it in English. I got so absorbed. I did not get to see the very end but when I left I was actually confused as to where I was at. Why was I not in America? For one moment, the first moment, I got so homesick. I missed the sillness of friends and I missed cussing. I walked around Quito and got over it. I have decided to not watch movies in English only again in Ecuador. I had also meet up with Brian at SAE to chat about our planned hike up the mountain Pinchincha (spelled most likely wrong).
The next day was more shopping. I was slightly tired so the night before was resting and sleeping. Oh! I had exchanged one of my books for another book the day before. I got a horror book called Blue Moon full of short stories. I read that a bit the night before. I shopped and got everything! Go me! I had plans on uploading in Quito but got a call from a girl named Nikki from couchsurfing. We met up and started to chat. She had confused me by saying catch up which apparently means meet up or hang out in Australia because I actually we thought we had met previously but I had no recall of her. We started to walk to a free music festival in the park and it started to pour. There was very little notice. It started to rain lightly which I was fine with. Nikki started to pull out her umbrella when we saw it coming. It was line of hard raining heading straight for us. I have never see anything like it. I tried to get my umbrella out in time but it still got me a bit. We caught a taxi to Plaza Foch (think their Mill street but more like a block and part of it is Plaza Foch) and drank hot chocolate and ate potato fries at Dragonfly. Two for one drinks are the balm. We chatted and she wanted to go up the coast on the 30th of September after she returned from the Galapagos islands. I changed my plans and decided instead of another week of Spanish school in Quito, I would head to the coast instead. We were also staying at the same hostal - very cool. We hung out that night and watched I, Robot in English with Spanish subtitles or maybe reversed. It was better than I expected.
Side note, my brain is switching a bit to Spanish and I seriously feel like I'm losing my English a bit. Or I just need a refersher. I look at words and they do not look quite right but I cannot tell if they are wrong or my brian just like the Spanish spelling better.
The next day, Sunday, I took the Teleferico up the side of Pinchicha. The Teleferico is a like a inclosed cable car that goes up the side of the mountain and my brain refuses to give me a better word. Brian and I forgot food and it was a seven hour hike. Okay, we did have cookies. When coming down the mountain (love that phrase), we ran into some other hikes. Swore one was not Ecuadorian because he had white hair, skin, and blue eyese. Spoke really good Spanish and not great English. I told him we could not stay long because we were hungry. He then promptly gave me an apple and bread. Later he gave me a postre (which I cannot remember the English word) Dessert that sounds similiar to postre and pastel. Horrible! I meet up with Clara (German girl) and Nikki for dinner with me and Brian. Clara has been sick and I really miss that girl. We had a really nice connection and she dances really funny.
Jump to the present, I'm running out of time so I'm going to give everyone a soap opera moment. Most people know just how excellent I'm at flirting. How I run in the opposite directin quite well. Well yesterday, I went to a museum and they come with guides. I started to go down the stairs and I saw one of the most attractive (to me) Ecuadorian man I have ever seen. He is not super hot but very cute, short, and muscular. I of course was going to walk right on by but he was my guide! I actually flirted a bit and did not blow him off in like 5 minutes! (It is one of my talents.) But I was still me. For example he asked if "Te comes" which translates in my world to "Do you eat?" I thought it was a silly question so I said Nunca (Never) but then answered seriously. He was one of the most polite flirters in Ecuador as well. He actually tried to remember my name and asked me how to say respect in English. He then told me in English "With most respect, who have nice eyest" A usual compliment with a twist. He was fairly obvious about his interest and I was politely friendly. Not as distant as usual but definitely not where I should be. Well, two Australian girls (Nikki and Claire) got me to go back to the museum when it was close and wait for him. I stalked two guys but missed Daniel. Sooo...., in the interest of getting better and being more obvious, Nikki and I are going back to the museum to track him down. Am I nervous? Hell yes. Do I even know what I want? Hmmm... no but I would like to maybe go to lunch or dinner. I will tell you all what happens in the next episode.
To be continued ...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)