Hotel Miconia San Cristobal

just back from 8 days on a boat... sigh. the galapagos were totally crazy. the landscape is incredible on each island and there are so many different birds, animals, fish, you name it. got a crispy brown tan. did not get seasick despite very choppy seas in some areas (we often travelled overnight and it was rough ...

... but to no avail. Skulky little beggars. We also found a wonderful children's park, and had fun sliding down the European castle and paddleboating in the lagoon.

A few days later, we awoke to a familar sound. It was the antpitta again! Here, in the city! Impossible! After looking out the window a few times, we finally realized that our friends, Cory and Pierre-Paul, were in the next room playing bird calls, hoping to lure us out of bed. They've been ...

... 20 mins before upgr*ding to * double room, it w*s only *bout 5 quid *nd one h*s to be c*reful of the s*nd flies (it will l*ter become *pp*rent how *ttr*ctive this r*mbler is to *nything remotely bitey *nd flyey). Sp*g bol w*s the me*l of choice on our first evening *nd lovely it w*s, cooked *s it w*s on the big g*s cooker jobs. A c*mpfire w*s lit on the be*ch *nd I st*yed up with * couple of the l*ds ch*tting *nd h*ving * few vino tinto's til *bout 2 ...

... top). anyway regretted it straight away as it was pitch black, fierce loud and heaving and i mean heaving full of ecuadorians all on the pull ( i reckon gringo is worth 50 points) so there was a bit of "no fumar espanole" (the stupid blonde thing works here too). gave up the ghost at 2am. i had a bit of me time this morning ans skipped the arranged tour but headed independently anyway later to see where panama hats originate from, imagine my horror when none suit me in ...

... at by Prince Charles and Camilla e) Everything else I wrote the following in a competition on the boat to write a poem about condors. Somehow it didn´t win but I´m very pleased with it nonetheless, and want to stick it somewhere before I forget it. Enjoy: In the massed imagination of the British population the beast they call the condor Is an elegant creation But in the lands of Quito All our dreams come tumbling down For the bird that we ...

... have bought his hats. It was a fascinating experience. That afternoon we went to an English second-hand bookstore (I couldn`t believe it actually existed when we stumbled over it) for a blissful hours browsing then headed to the markets. Cuenca has some lovely flower markets, in fact its original pre-spanish conquest name meant flat place of flowers. After dinner several of us headed out for pool, now most of you are aware ...

... exchange on the other side (including the police!). Fortunately we were all clued up and didn´t get too swizzled...and made our way to Mancora...a Peruvian Beach party town. To our amazement there was hardly any accomodation and spent a good 90 mins searching only to pay $20 for a very basic room. Knackered... we sought out food but everywhere was still heaving from New Years...bar upon bar pumping out the loudest party music in competition with each ...

Photo´s here

Major apologies for this very tardy blog entry.... I'll just dive in rather than attempt to justify its lateness.....

So much to tell you and the sun is still shining so I'll be as brief as poss in an attempt to cover just the highlights...... problem is there were many!!

Anyway, starting from where I left off......

I headed for Guayaquil from Santiago, via Panama, on my most expensive flight to date and ...