Howard Johnson Hotel Guayaquil

... area with men asleep on the pavement.<br>Nobody bothered us but we got back to the main streets as quickly as we could.<br><br>This morning we went to the museum in the Casa de la Cultura. It was well presented with pottery, jewellery and gold work of the early inhabitants of the surrounding areas...and it was free.<br><br>Eating out has been a bit of a problem. I've had a few stomach problems so am being careful what and where I eat. This was no problem in Cuenca but we haven't seen ...

While not the capital, Guayaquil is Ecuador´s largest city at around 2 million, and had a reputation as a seedy and slightly unattractive port. In the last few years though, the place has really seen a massive facelift, and the whole waterfront area and quaint hill north of town has been really funked up, and we were pleasantly surprised. Our main reason for being here though was to book a trip to the Galapagos. While we were in Cuenca we went to ...

We arrived in Guayaquil last night, pretty much on schedule. And as things go, it felt like last year--everyone's bags arrived, except one person's. Last year it was Chris Hamilton"s bag, I think. This year, it was Bobby Bresee. But like last year, it turned out that Bobby's bag DID make it, and we picked it up today.<br> The bad news: the augers were spotted on a baggage cart as we ...

... roof and one wall had collapsed, so his family was living under a tarp - the type of tarp that we would use as ground cover under a camping tent. <br><br>Erwin and Kathy were not on our official list of families to serve. However, through the relationship I developed with them that afternoon, it became clear to me that while we had come to Ecuador to build homes for the very poor, our projects really just provided a way for God to ...

... itself to a tourist friendly stop. I am quite happy to know this because where I am staying doesn't appear to be the safest place in the world... but I don't go out after dark alone. The only night I did leave was when my cousin picked me up from the hotel. Not many photos today because it wasn't about sight seeing... but you can meet my family here in Ecuador! :)

... the city and saw cool things. las penas a huge hill with a great view and the new malecon or riverfront in guayaquil is really cool. i will post some picture later. Then i spent two nights in a hotel downtown guayaquil just 3 blocks from the malecon and was lots of fun. during the day i went to a crazy market and just hung out around the malecon (and ate some MCDONALDS!!) i think i have only taken one hot shower since i arrived in ecuador soooo i am ...

... are filled with business travellers, the unlucky tourists get to spend a night here on their way over to the Galapagos Islands. So, Guayaquil is famous for the heat, the humidity, the El Niño rains and subsequent flooding. It's famous for its size, its confusion, high unemployment, and the resulting violence. A friend who lived in Guayaquil some years ago had told me stories of gated compounds ...

... high snow-capped peaks, connected by razor sharp ridges, with steep, complicated glaciers hanging to the sides. It was amazing, and the walking wasn't that hard either. That's not to say that on occasions, as I usually do, I didn't question what I was doing there. I frequently did, mostly as I panted my way up steep, never-ending passes, but the view of a completely new valley or series of mountains was ...

... of the cathedral there are actually life Iguanas just walking all over the place...that was AMAZING, given that I never seen one before in my life.... <br>Took a flight back to Quito and am leaving back to Europe tonight, having layover in Atlanta for 12hr and hoping to meet Michelle from Coachsurfing to do some shopping or something like that... <br>I miss the guys in Manta and just wish had had more time there to do even more kitesurfing...was so much fun....well, next time... <br> <br>

... was good enough to kep my date book filled. Most people thought that I was from brazil and when I told them I was from the US they were enamored with me because I am diffreent and they think all of north america is lily white like the movies, I had to take them to school. So now Im in Ecuador travling what they call "Ruta del sol" or the "route of the sun", up the coast. Where Ill stop to hang my hat next, nobody knows? Later