Mancora, Peru to Quito, Ecuador

I write this post seemingly in the lap of luxury and comfort. After 2 months of hostels, dirty clothes, and 12 person dorm rooms, I have made it to a good friend's apartment in Quito, Ecuador. Let me just say that your taxpayer dollars are put to good use down here.

But first things first...I did have to go thru some painstakingly journeys to get here. When I last wrote, I was getting on my longest of bus journeys. Basically 2 days of bus rides. 20 hours from Cusco to Lima, a 3 hour layover in Lima, and 16 hours from Lima to Mancora. It was as bad as it sounds...but well worth it once the ocean appeared out the window. It had been over a month since I had seen the ocean and I realized it was the longest I had ever gone, which means I have been pretty darn lucky. It was a great site and somehow made me feel like I was home/safe/comfortable.

The bus rides eventually ended and I spent the days of Monday-Thursday in what I can only describe as a spoiled vacation from my travels in Mancora, Peru. I stayed at a resort/hostel that was ON the beach, with a pool, ping pong tables, etc. and just happened to have a great surf spot out front similar to Haggertys back home. Of course the first thing I did on Monday morning was rent the worst, beat up, water logged surfboard and get in the water. All was good.

The plan for the days there were surf, eat, play futbol, and lay by the pool. I am, by the way, the absolute worst futbol/soccer player. There were about 25 of us playing and it was a unanimous choice. Once again, I did not represent the Americans too well.

The only thing that threw a wrench into my time in Mancora was my feeling on invincibility that I could eat nearly anything and basically drink the water. After a day of eating delicious Ceviche for lunch and dinner and having a few pina coladas (hey, I was basically at a Mexican resort) , I spent the better part of the next day praying to the porcelain god (i.e. the toilet). I was even throwing up the medication I was taking. It was not a good day and South America put me back in my place real fast.

I had one last bus ride to go on this adventure and got on my final overnight bus from Mancora, Peru to Quito, Ecuador on Thursday afternoon. Ecuador definitely has the strictest of border crossings. It is like every country likes to flex its power and strength just for intimidation purposes. I did leave one item on the bus that I had worn probably 90% of my days in South America...the brown/green/dark/whatever color fleece that you have probably seen in many pictures. It is ironic, but lucky, that I left it on the final bus ride.

I got to Ecuador and Bo's place on Friday morning and it was a very welcomed feeling when I stepped into his 12th floor apartment overlooking the city. A very beautiful place and city with volcanoes surrounding the entire city. I got to go into my first US Embassy and it is simply beautiful.

Saturday, Bo, me, and a couple other friends headed to the Cloud Forest to go zip lining. I have told you all about my fear of heights and this definitely topped all I have done while in South America. There were a total of 10 and after the 3rd, my stomach finally let up a bit. But, they saved the best/worst for last. This one, and we all agreed, probably went for a good 1/2 mile. 50 seconds suspended. Definitely gives you a lot of time to think up there and I have to admit that my eyes were not always open. I am getting better with heights but there is NO WAY I AM GOING SKYDIVING.

The day continued with a soccer game involving Quito's best team. 3 futbol matches for me down here. More than I have been to in 20 years combined.

My beard...it is definitely time to go. While in Mancora, I had someone say "You look like ____, but with a beard." There it was...an acknowledgment and it only took nearly 10 weeks!!! haha. I just have to show my roommate, who has always been a big proponent of my neck beard growing abilities then it goes. The last 10 days or so it has been getting to be a bit embarrassing...

I want to wish my nephew Cooper a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 2 years old!?!? I can't begin to tell you how much seeing all these cute kids down here has made me miss all those little nephews of mine. Even though they are all dirty little hoodlums who like to beat up Uncle Tommy way too much.

It is Sunday and I have 4 more days of this adventure and then back to reality...

Buenas Cosas

Fight On! (My first supporting line)

Thomas Allen

(For some reason I can't upload photos, so I will try later)