Date: 30th September 2006 

Quito part 2 - Day 1 of the tour, although we were not actually meeting the group till 5:00 pm (there was a message on the board) this offically counts as day 1 of our 9 week tour. We did however find out which room the tour leader was in and knocked on his door to introduce ourselves, ask him where we could change travellers cheques and a good place to burn photo´s to DVD. This did wake him up (oops) although I don´t think he minded too much as it was 10:00 am, his name was Mike and he is 30 and American.  We spent the day scouting the New town getting a few bits done; collected our laundry, put photos on DVD and got money to pay for the local fund of the tour.  When we got back to the hotel that day the big yellow tour truck named Dorris (the big girl weighs 18 tons) was parked infront of the hotel so got us all excited about the trip.  We met a guy who was sharing our room for the night Rich from Aberdeen he was sound, poor guy had been out the night before had his wallet stolen, unlucky just before the tour starting! We met the rest of the tour group at 5 in the dining room area, there was 27 of us on the tour which was mad! The tour guy Mike and the Truck driver Steve (Aussie) were talking us through the tour and collected some docs from us.  We got ready and quite a few of us went our for a meal at Mongos Mongolian restaurant which was well nice, you pick out the food you want from the buffet veggies and meat and diff sauces and they cook it all for you, this was quite cheap was all you can eat for $5 and the cocktails were 99 cence so we filled our boots! Was a cool way to get to know people on the tour we were sat with Shalini (from London), Brandi (from Canada), Debbie (from sydney) and the Irish couple Debbie and Felix.  From here we went to a few bars and clubs, where there were lots of locals dancing Salsa, I got chatting to a local guy who was helping me improve my spanish was cool, but a guy puked right next to me which wasn´t nice!! Called it a night at 2 coz we wanted to be fit for the drive next day, although some of the irish were out till 6!!

Quito - Otavalo (In Doris Truck) 1st October 2006

 Next day felt little hungover but not too bad, left the hotel at 10 in the Truck, me and Matt sat at the front around one of the tables with the irish couple Felix and Debbie and next to the irish boys sat on the other table was quite a laugh on the journey to Otavalo listening to the IPOD through the trucks speakers and playing cards! We stopped on the way for lunch in this little village next to a lake surrounded by mountains which was a great setting.  As we were making up the sandwich fillings and eating a few of the local people came and watched us eat (quite sad coz they were very poor and were so grateful when we gave them a bag full of leftovers :(). We learnt the rules of the Truck and each got given a job, mine was to fill the water bowls for washing the dishes at every meal, Russ is a bootleg which is responsible for putting everyones backpacks on the coach with 2 others, and Matts job is chair master/pots and pans. We carried on the journey to Otavalo and arrived there at half three, the views during the journey were amazing! We spent the afternoon in Otavalo looking around the market and bartaring with the locals to get bargains!! Me and Russ brought a few bits! The hotel for this night was really nice and for the first time since we left home me and Matt had our own room, Russ was sharing with Pete from NZ. That night we ate at a really nice mexican before getting an early night for our early start the next day to Mishualli....Welcome to the Jungle Baby!!