Well well well. I have finally propelled myself into the 21st century by creating a blog. I do not totally agree with the concept of blogging, as it seems somewhat self indulgent. But for the purposes of the convenience of recording my travels somewhere online, rather than a book I have to lug around 24-7, I have succumbed to my yearn to blog.
It seems rather stupid that I have created this now as tomorrow will be my month anniversary of traveling but hey better late than never right?
Well, the day started rather arduously - had to leave the hostel at 4am to catch our flight to Lima and then to Quito. We stupidly decided not to go to bed and stay up til it was time to go to the airport and so we had a few drinks... Suddenly it was 3am and I was feeling tired and hungover and rather weird. Decided to lie down for an hour - had a weird intermittent sleep as I kept stressing out that my alarm wouldn't go off and we would miss our flight. Anyhow, we woke up and left on time and made it to the airport in record speed thanks to our taxi driver driving like a possessed man. Got to the airport, checked in, went to the departure lounge. Dozed for an hour. Got on plane. Dozed for 5 hours, ate some plane food (which was actually good). Actually, I must mention that TACA was exceptional to travel with. Well perhaps exceptional is a rather strong word but TACA was far superior compared to Aerolineas Argentinias (spelling??). We got nice blankets and free (good) food and even a movie!
So, got off at Lima, dozed for another hour. Got on plane to Quito. Dozed for another hour. Finally arrived at roughly 1pm Ecuadorian time which was actually 4pm Rio time. Suffice to say we were both exhausted and had stopped talking to each other by this point.
It was obvious however that we had arrived in a very different land to the glorious lazy haze of sun and sand that is Rio de Janeiro. I was immediately enthralled and quickly forgot my lingering sadness to leave Brazil. After a month in that bright and bubbly utopia I had started to feel rather at home. And leaving Rio until last was a surefire way to end on a high note however also creating a certain amount of regret on one's departure.
However, it was obvious upon arriving in Lima (even though we didn't leave the airport) that we weren't in Kansas anymore Toto. The main difference being of course the abundance of indigenous-looking people. I immediately felt like I had landed in the 'real' South America. As Brazil and Argentina (Buenos Aires anyhow) are undoubtedly more European-influenced than most of their Western counterparts. Suddenly there were gorgeous long faces with almond shaped-eyes everywhere framed by sheets of sheeny, glossy black hair. And the traditional clothes of course.
So anyway, there we were shunting along in the cab and feeling very strange after a minimum amount of sleep. However looking out at the bustling activity of Quito and the excitement of being somewhere new were enough to prevent the usual slip into melancholy that often accompanies my move to a new locale. I have realised a pattern that these times are usually the absolute lowest of the lows. As it is usually after a long bus-plane ride with little to no sleep and this combined with the sudden collapse of the 'security' you have created for yourself for the previous few days has proved to be just the right ingredients for a wee Luther cry.
Finally got to the hostel, checked in with a jolly Iowan native called John who showed us round and reeled off some info before making myself a mug of steaming hot organic coffee that comes from one of the owner's parents farms. I was happy. Sat on the terrace roof sipping my coffee and reading information on Quito and Ecuador. Wow, there is so much to do here! It seems to be an adventure-lovers paradise - hiking, biking, horse-riding, volcano climbing, thermal bath bathing... the list goes on!
I have even found a 'hostel' that is about 40 minutes out of Quito which is situated on an extinct volcano right next to the equator boundary line. It sounds like absolute heaven. They have their own chef onsite along with organic chickens, guinea pigs (that they sell 'live' and frozen - ha!) and various fruits and vegetables. $7 for lunch and dinner and $3 for breakfast! And they offer so many different hikes and tours and horse rides it just looks amazing. I am thinking of going there by myself for a week or so to zen out and try and learn how to do something proactive like meditate or write a novel or something. Hmmm... watch this space.
So the afternoon was spent doing research into various activities, the sights of Quito and surrounds and the possibility of Spanish lessons here - there are copious amounts of schools it is actually rather overwhelming trying to choose one!
Joel woke up around 6 and after we both showered (best shower of my life) we headed out for dinner. Our roommate Atilla (ha ha) told us about this little Ecuadorian place close to the hostel so we set off with grumbling bellies. What I have also failed to mention is the glorious change in climate from the humid oven that was Rio. Even though Quito is on the equator, the altitude means that the climate is actually incredibly pleasant - it was about 20 degrees Celsius when we landed - heaven after two days of migraines in Rio!
We found the Ecuadorian place and were given a plata each which consisted of fried chicken, corn, spuds and salad. And we shared a longneck of beer. And the bill came to? $4.20US. $2 each. Wow.
I'm going to end this blog on that note. I don't know how I will keep these up if every day will be this length... Hmmm.
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