We had pre booked a hostel and the google maps print out was able to translate to the taxi driver where we were headed although, surprisingly to both of us, Leanne managed to get a price out of him before we took off. From the outside the hostel, with its high walls and electric fence, looked more like a gang pad. Inside felt safe and secure though and the caged parrots and monkeys lightened the mood.
After a good nights sleep it was time to make a plan about where exactly we are going to go now that we have arrived. Our trip has always been based around a start and finishing point and a very vague route in between.
After tossing around many ideas we‘ve decided to head east to the coast to Montañita, a surf town with a Spanish school where we can do a crash course. After experiencing the taxi ride and seeing the chaos on the roads of a city with over 2 million people (half of whom drive demolition derby cars), we think the safe option is to take the four hour bus ride out there. The hostel will mind our bikes and in a couple of weeks we’ll return before catching a bus west out of the city to begin riding.
We don’t plan for this blog to be a day by day account of our trip but here are some highlights from day one in Guayaquil.
- Using our very basic Spanish to ask questions in shops and not understanding a word of the reply.
- Watching a middle aged man casually jump out the open door of a bus in front of us as it was accelerating out of corner.
- Security guards at the banks armed with pistols, similar to what we saw in the States, but to see guards with pistols outside McD’s, the stationary shop and even a mall car park toll booth was odd. The most intimating guard however was the one standing outside the Sony shop with his pump action shot gun!
- The baby monkey hanging at the hostel with one of the owners, its about 7cm long, cute.
- Exposed wiring in the shower.
Until next time.
cute monkey!
ReplyDeleteGreat looking shower head, just don't splash!!!
ReplyDelete