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I started out believing that today was going to be a relaxing, quiet day. For the most part it was. I visited some parks and read on the lawn for a while. I took only a couple of pictures today, just because I was taking it slow.
I went to western union to get my latest wire transfer from San Diego. The problem was that when I arrived, they told me that I can't use the damn copy of my passport that everyone says I should carry instead of my original. Makes me wonder what the hell I'm supposed to be carrying this copy for.
Oh well, western union opens at 9:00a, so I'll head down there and be at the door when they open. This was supposed to help pay for my expenses this weekend.
If all works out, I'll be heading up into the mountains tomorrow (9:00a cash getting time). We're supposed to head up to El Mica, close to Cotopaxi via horse, and spend about three hours fishing for trout. Then, I'll clean the Trout (that I will DEFINITELY catch (yea, right, Jim Williams has heard that before), and we'll cook it/them over flat-stone over a fire, probably smoke a few doobies (old word), then head back to Quito.
Well the remainder of my story of life today in Quito, is that once I found I couldn't get the money from Western Union, and I was walking back toward my Hostel's side of town, and even though I was kinda tired, I stopped into what's fast becoming my favorite hang out in Quito, "Finn McCools!" I simply love this place! I spent the evening talking with a new friend from Tunisia. Great guy. I also know a couple of the waitresses, the bartender, the owner, the doorman ( a Rastafarian, bad ass looking guy who's as cool as they come.). They play GREAT English and Irish and a little American music. They've got a couple of pool tables, which I haven't introduced myself to yet. They all want me back, and I want to go back. Great place.
I had about six beers and dinner there and the cost was $11.00, for approximately five hours of great fun. When I'm in Quito, that's probably where you'll find me if I'm not out biking, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, or getting more money from western union!
Another note.
I've decided to cancel my intended excursion to Chile. After a lot of research, study, and calculations, I determined that it's simply to far to go and still maintain my desired level of enjoyment which is very important to me. I'll take Chile and Argentina on when I come back in November or December.
I, instead, have decided to spend those four weeks traveling through Columbia. I can hear all the gasps! I've researched it well and never will my exposure to danger be greater than it would be visiting New York City. So there!
There's tremendous beauty in Columbia, with Caribbean coast, high mountains, fantastic colonial architecture, great hiking, traffic is totally shut down in many areas on certain days to allow bicycles to own the road, it's as cheap, of not cheaper than Ecuador. Hey, I could have decided to spend that time in Amazonia. I've talked to many, many people who have traveled there recently, and unanimously they've all said it's a fantastic place to visit.
So before you criticize, read up on current Columbia, I think you'll be impressed.
That's about all the prose my tired brain can conjure, so I'll say ciao for tonight.
-robert
- comments
Sandy Ok, I am researching.
Jim Hi Robert, Just remember to watch the eagles and they will show you where the fish are. I always defere to current local intel about my travel destinations and never let the gov hype scare you off as they have other agendas. November, December in southern Chille is the middle of summer and the warmest time to go to Patagonia and not freeze your buns. But you do like it cooler don't you. Enjoy your fish, take some seasoning with you, salt, pepper, garlic, onion, tyme, basil, lemon, etc. Your friend, Jim