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There´s many things one gets used to while travelling - nothing ever being on time, toilets rarely ever having seats and really long bus rides. One thing I have not been able to get used to, however, is leaving people who have just come my new best friends; it happened on the Colca Cayon trek, the Lares Trek, in Cusco and now in Mancora.
Mancora! Our long awaited paradise. After the mammoth bus journeys Jordan and I had been enduring, we felt like we deserved a few days of sun. Mancora is a tiny little town with basically just this one major hostel to stay in, which is part of the Loki chain.
Aside from chilling in the sunshine there is not much else to note. One evening we took part in a beer pong tournament and (as ashamed as I am to say it, as everyone who was fun seemed to play it in my first year at Uni) neither Jordan or myself had played it or had a clue of the rules, this set-up for quite an entertaining evening.
Our first opponents were these two super keen geeks. Jordan went first and threw an illegal ball and then so did I, both for reasons we had no clue about. The two geeks then took full advantage and took away a couple of lives. We then battled back and won. British spirit right there! Our next opponents included the Hostel´s manager, someone who we were told HATES losing. At this point we were both a little drunk as we were drinking spirits as well as the beer. No matter, we very quickly dismantled them and were quickly becoming the fans favourites. Our next match was against the two guys who went on and won, and they did smash us. They however were not drinking, took it far too seriously and had someone on the side constantly trying to put us off. That night we also came friends with two lads and a lass who were well fun.
On our final day in Mancora, we played a game of cricket on the beach to celebrate this guy turning 30. And that´s that. 3 nights. Mancora done.
Next stop: Guayaquil, Ecuador.
We only stayed one night here before travelling to Banos. It is the biggest city in Ecuador, with I think about 5mill population. On our first day we wondered around the beach front, which has undergone a lot of redevelopment as it used to be quite an unsafe area. We also walked to the top of a very big hill so we could have an lovely view of the city. Only other thing to note is that we kept being asked by ladies (of different ages) for photographs. It was very surreal.
Next stop: Banos, Ecuador.
For a long time we have found it amusing that this place has the same name as ´toilets´in Spanish. But actually it means showers and is named it because it has loads of natural hot baths. We stayed here for two nights On our second day (a Sunday) we hired bikes and cycled to this bridge which is 100metres high and then jumped off it. We then cycled a further 20 something km and got a bit of exercise in roasting hot sun and beautiful surroundings. We later popped into a Cafe for some food (which was delicious) but even better was this great french film we watched. Jordan wrote the name of it down so he can add it in some time. On the Monday we left for the capital
Quito! This place sounded like it was going to be a bit like Cusco, with old buildings and being very intimate, especially since we elected to stay in the old town. Instead it was more like La Paz - big, polluted and a horrible feel. Our hostel was however awesome. We arrived at about 5pm, signed up for dinner (you eat altogether as one massive group, like a family) and then walked into town for some ´lunch´. After finding a place we realised that it was already quite late and that we didn´t know what time dinner was. Yes it was pretty thick of us but you get so disorientated when travelling on buses for a long time. Turns out it was at 6.30pm and we got back just in time, although it did mean we had to eat two meals back-to-back.
The next day we went to the Equator and it turns out there is two.... One which a guy back in the 1700´s worked out was the equator and there´s a massive statue etc (feels very much like a Disney park) and then another site 300 metres north, much smaller place and clearly has less money but it has the real line as proved by GPS. Here they did some ´scientific´experiments to prove it was the equator. Some of them I am a bit cynical about however.
On our third day we went up to a massive mountain on a cable car and got great views of the city. Once back at the hostel, we had dinner and then got drunk for free as the workers just poured rum down our throats all night.
The fourth day (Thursday 18th August) was a big one however and is partly why I´ve been rushing through this entry as I want to catch-up. At 10.30pm Jordan and I partied ways, temporarily at least. He wants to spend some more time in Ecuador and do a bit of trekking, while I want to see why everyone has been raving about Colombia and now travelling on a very tight budget. We plan to meet up again somewhere along the Caribbean coast.
Anyway, that´s us up to date. Tomorrow or sometime very soon I will update what I have been doing and Jordan may do the same himself, so this blog may get a bit confusing.
Till next time, Michael
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