Well helu once again Since last time we mwt in Quito ive witnessed the anihalation of Kyle on his 21st birthday (our last rum and coke night), Mio and cherry getting a good dose of mustard in the fabled mustard trick of quito (luckily we were wise to the scam), However since departing Quito weve comcoured the volcanic trails of Cotopaxi, played in its snowy summit, gained a spell of comcussion, the cycled (at a rather rapid pace) back down to its base.
Re-grouping with Matt and Charlie we then made way to the small party town of Banos (and despite having the same name as a toilet its not to bad), and without much of a reason not to also indulged ourselves in a spot of advetureous activity.
Our second day in Banos took our six strong group decied to take a canyoning trip, so repelling along a series of waterfalls we worked up quite an appitite, so back at the hostal and two chickens later needless to say we were all feeling a tad stuffed. The night didnt bring much, full belies kept us back at the hostel until boredom struck amd i wandered along to the thermal hot baths down the road meeting an interesting Korean/american chap before heading out for a beer and bottle of Zhumier (the Equadorian equivelant to vodka) But actually alot nicer. Luckily i managed to maintain the comtents of my stomach whea rather intoxicated local decided we were the right people to show his freddie Mercury tatoo too...
But alas, today has brought Mios birthday, amd some what of a treat we decided to make waves as we took to the white waters surrounding Banos for a bit of, well white water rafting, needless to say despite the fact we got rather wet, we all felt pretty darn accomplished when over two ours and god only knows how much river later we had all managed to stay securely in the boat, and yes Jesus truly was proud of his six newest deciples of the waters white!
Tonight there isnt much of a plan, a couple of drinks in the leprechaun bar to celebrate the birth of Mio, and maybe an interesting meal of choichoi...
Who knows, in Ecuador, anything seems to go!
xx
Monday, June 30
Wednesday, June 25
Rum, Gerrard Butler and a whole lot of height!
This trip gets crazier by the day, after leaving the home we had made for ourselves in cuba wasting lazy nights along the malacon before eventually heading via costa rica and onwards to the land of chocolate, (or rather lack of it) so far we have found no such substance to replace my previous fixation with mango´s... Lifes a cruel mistress, especially when the cuban sat trapping you against the window decides to empty the contents of his stomach all over the place as your coming in to land!!
Back to the here and nows of Ecuador, or more specificly its capital city of Quito, we´ve all finally managed to aclimatise to the altitude, and so far have yet to feel the effects of the infamous alc-titude sickness... maybe tonights 12litre rum and coke night might just show us otherwise. But alas, needless to say since arriving in the city that spans forever, we´ve been having a fantastic time. We lost our long standing travel buddy Mirko, and in his absence have now gained a fresh out of the box, Mio, who so far has taken to things like a duck to water. Only slightly detered by 18hours in atlanta airport hes good to go, and like the rest of us, now pretty much gotten to grips with our new found level of altitude.
Our first night was pretty relaxed upon our return from the airport, mio in tow, and soon lead to a fated encounter with two fellow travelers from the UK, Gerrard Butler (Ok his name is matt but he reminded everyone of the infamous spartan king) and Charlie, needless to say the next day we departed as a six for our first activity in the form of a trip full day had been spent taking a trip towards the centre of the earth, the Mitad del Mundo, the line of the equator... well the famous one, also now some 230 plus meters from the mark, but close enough considering it was calculated in the 1700´s. Required photos in hand, it was then off up the road to the actual line of the equator to balance an egg on a nail, watch water flow the wrong way and marvel at the mysteries behind a real shrunken human head, what more could we do with day eeh?
Me, Mio Charlie and Gerrard!
Heads above the rest!
Well needless to say after an interesting time at the equatorial line, still with energy to burn, the gang plus 2 made way up through clouds and beyond to the vast crater of Pullaluha (i think) where unfortuneatly upon reaching its summit, were greeted by nothing other than cloud, that and a shear drop, luckily a nearby waiter came to our aid and gave us a picture or two of the views that could be seen. Back through the cloud we went and returned to our hostel, just in time for rum and coke night...
Back at the hostel aching joints were soon swapped for ladels of rum as we began tucking into the 12litres of the stuff, needless to say after this the whole hostel came to life, Gerrard, charlie, myself, Mio and Cherry upon consumig many a portion of rum inevitably were a tad off the mark when it came to the pool, so as a result quickly swapped our cues for cups, and carried on. That was until Cherrys challenged a group of Israeli travelers to a round of pool to defend the english honour... No more need be said of this matter!
The night was not only fueled with rum, but also the buzz of meeting new faces, Kyle from Virginia, Eric who is cycling from Alaska to the southern most point of south america, and that crazy danish girl whom no-one understood. A great night filled with great memories and wise cracking spartan promise!
Gerrard, Charlie, Kyle and moi (Must be the altitude)
Our second day consisted of a treck through Quito´s vast old town and a 4 hour rund trip by bus to some pretty funky natural hotsprings, definately the best way of curing altitude induced pressures to the cranium! Not to mention let your imagination run wild with the prospect of a large pyschopathic bovine lunging out at you at any given moment!
Anywho todays been an interesting one, the gang sprouted three extra members for the day so, Me, Cherry, miika, Mio, Leonitas, Charlie (no not the unicorn), Kyle and now Frankie and louise, also from england set forth to concour the cable car of Quito, so some substantial queing and a climb to over 4, 800 feet we found ourselves atop one of Quitos many summits, watching as many a plane flew by... Below our feet! Parting ways with Charlie and Matt, they headed back down the cars of cable to get cracking with to theyre next destination while the remaining 7 of our party played in the clouds. The seven soon became six, Kyle (who incidently has just appeared behind me) departed for a solitary treck along to the next summit, tradgically cut short by the weather.
Cable Car crew!
Anyway, returning to the now im going to have to skidaddle, have to go pick up some laundry and prepare myself physically and mentally for tonight... ey we have to party, its Kyles 21st, we cant not celebrate with rum now can we!
We came, we saw...
Smile guys!
The view atop Quito´s summit!
Right guys and girls, until next time im going to have to dart, theres rum to be drinking, as always, until next time!
Danny signing out!
x
Ps. Ive also just been informed that Matt and Charlie on departing Quito were involved in a bus crash, in which then ensued a chase to catch the culprit down... I Love this country!
Friday, June 20
Addictions, and no, not in a bad way!
Hola amigos! ¿como esta?
Well i really dont have much to inform about this time round other than we´ve now lost our good pal mirko, who sadly has become the victim of a return flight to englland (Mirky you will be missed) and that on sunday were due to fly from the isle of cuba and truly begin out south american tour, starting with Ecuador!
My addiction to frsh mango has somewhat become almost uncontrolable, and im finding myself needing a daily dose to keep me at peace. Anyway, since leaving you in matanzas last weve further all topped up our tans at many tranquil beaches that have been so amazingly picturesque
that i still cant believe weve been to them, even the uber touristy Varaderro beach too.
The wether is still hot, and the sun just never seems to stop shining. And rather like the cubans, nothing is really phasing us as we lazily stroll from one day to the next. Its going to be a damn shame to leave though, Cuba truly is a colourful island with, well actually other than beaches, museums and horse ride... not much else to do... Heck weve even taken to swimming along the Malacon with the locals here in Havana.
The next two days ahould fly by, and before we know it we should be in ecuador welcoming mio to the traveller fold, but until then our last few days here arent going to be to productive. Althoughi must admit i will be reluctant to leave, ive gotten sooooo used to the copious amounts of fresh fruit here that im sure im going to have mango related withdrawl symptoms... Ah well, guess ill just have to replace it with ecuadorian chocolate!
Adios,
Danny!
xx
Ps. sorry about the lack of photos guys, the Cuban computers dont like my usb stick...
Mebe next time!
Well i really dont have much to inform about this time round other than we´ve now lost our good pal mirko, who sadly has become the victim of a return flight to englland (Mirky you will be missed) and that on sunday were due to fly from the isle of cuba and truly begin out south american tour, starting with Ecuador!
My addiction to frsh mango has somewhat become almost uncontrolable, and im finding myself needing a daily dose to keep me at peace. Anyway, since leaving you in matanzas last weve further all topped up our tans at many tranquil beaches that have been so amazingly picturesque
that i still cant believe weve been to them, even the uber touristy Varaderro beach too.
The wether is still hot, and the sun just never seems to stop shining. And rather like the cubans, nothing is really phasing us as we lazily stroll from one day to the next. Its going to be a damn shame to leave though, Cuba truly is a colourful island with, well actually other than beaches, museums and horse ride... not much else to do... Heck weve even taken to swimming along the Malacon with the locals here in Havana.
The next two days ahould fly by, and before we know it we should be in ecuador welcoming mio to the traveller fold, but until then our last few days here arent going to be to productive. Althoughi must admit i will be reluctant to leave, ive gotten sooooo used to the copious amounts of fresh fruit here that im sure im going to have mango related withdrawl symptoms... Ah well, guess ill just have to replace it with ecuadorian chocolate!
Adios,
Danny!
xx
Ps. sorry about the lack of photos guys, the Cuban computers dont like my usb stick...
Mebe next time!
Saturday, June 14
Site's Sand and Sadle Sores!
Well, after over a week here in Cuba and my first official report under way im not entirly sure where to start, perhaps at the begining... or somewhere inbetween.
Arriving in Havana on the 5th, after a rather long and slightly tiring journey we settled into the heat pretty quick, arriving at our cassa run by Dr.Porro we were welcomed with mojitos all round then departed for a meal in china town, great little chinease eatery that seemed to specialise in itallian food's a plenty. After two days of exploring it was off to our next location, the somewhat laxidasical (scuse the spelling) town of Vinales.
Vinales was pretty interesting, we travelled to a rather remote little beach that was suposedley crowded... all of 15 people hardly seems that much of a crowd. Anywho, our time in Vinales was also filled with our first horse treck, pretty interseting actually, stopped off at a tobacco farm and cave and even learnt how to roll proper jobby cuban cigar's (Dad theres one winging its way to you soon). The streets of Vinales are filled with a certain unique charm, and one thing we had learnt by now was that it seems everyone in these little towns, really does know everyone.
Have i mentioned that the food here in cuba is fantastic, huge ginormous sized portions of everything, a rather chillie con carne flavoured bean soup (very tasty) sooooooooooo much fresh fruit and juice, im actually addicted to mango's now, ive started requiring a daioly fix of my new favourite fruit!
Slightly sidetracked there, but leaving the comfort of our friendly host Neryda in Vinales again we departed for a four day stop over in Trinidad (taking an 11hr 45min taxi ride by the way). Trinidad a town which holds a history in the production of sugar, and in which no matter what street you turn down, your pretty much going to bump into someone youve already bumped into just before. Not only that but the city of Trinidad is amazingly colourful, (like the rest of cuba so far), and really does live upto its clasification as a world heritage site.
Bring on two more trips to the most amazing beach ive ever seen so far(and some more sunborn for danny) and a rather cool horse treck along a rather close your eyes and dont look down cliffs edge trails... Well worth it though for a swim in an amazingly cool waterfall pool at the end.
But to round up our time in trinidad was a rather relaxing one filled wioth fun experiences, people and places such as a dog named "Corned Beef", some pretty funky Israeli's whom I spent numerous hours pondering the mysteries of the 'Cuban box' and dancing the night away inside a disco cave! (even though the music taste was attrocious).
Alas, now we are residing in Matanzas for the coming days, and its a bit of a shock again going from the quaint country relaxed life to the bustle of the city once again.
Cuba so far has been an vast assault on the senses, full of colour, life, amzingly cool cars, it has so far been one hell of a country, heck ive even started to pick up the lingo!
Hope all is well, catch you soon,
Danny!
ps. internet access so far here is rather scarce, so the updates will probably come once every week or so!
Arriving in Havana on the 5th, after a rather long and slightly tiring journey we settled into the heat pretty quick, arriving at our cassa run by Dr.Porro we were welcomed with mojitos all round then departed for a meal in china town, great little chinease eatery that seemed to specialise in itallian food's a plenty. After two days of exploring it was off to our next location, the somewhat laxidasical (scuse the spelling) town of Vinales.
Vinales was pretty interesting, we travelled to a rather remote little beach that was suposedley crowded... all of 15 people hardly seems that much of a crowd. Anywho, our time in Vinales was also filled with our first horse treck, pretty interseting actually, stopped off at a tobacco farm and cave and even learnt how to roll proper jobby cuban cigar's (Dad theres one winging its way to you soon). The streets of Vinales are filled with a certain unique charm, and one thing we had learnt by now was that it seems everyone in these little towns, really does know everyone.
Have i mentioned that the food here in cuba is fantastic, huge ginormous sized portions of everything, a rather chillie con carne flavoured bean soup (very tasty) sooooooooooo much fresh fruit and juice, im actually addicted to mango's now, ive started requiring a daioly fix of my new favourite fruit!
Slightly sidetracked there, but leaving the comfort of our friendly host Neryda in Vinales again we departed for a four day stop over in Trinidad (taking an 11hr 45min taxi ride by the way). Trinidad a town which holds a history in the production of sugar, and in which no matter what street you turn down, your pretty much going to bump into someone youve already bumped into just before. Not only that but the city of Trinidad is amazingly colourful, (like the rest of cuba so far), and really does live upto its clasification as a world heritage site.
Bring on two more trips to the most amazing beach ive ever seen so far(and some more sunborn for danny) and a rather cool horse treck along a rather close your eyes and dont look down cliffs edge trails... Well worth it though for a swim in an amazingly cool waterfall pool at the end.
But to round up our time in trinidad was a rather relaxing one filled wioth fun experiences, people and places such as a dog named "Corned Beef", some pretty funky Israeli's whom I spent numerous hours pondering the mysteries of the 'Cuban box' and dancing the night away inside a disco cave! (even though the music taste was attrocious).
Alas, now we are residing in Matanzas for the coming days, and its a bit of a shock again going from the quaint country relaxed life to the bustle of the city once again.
Cuba so far has been an vast assault on the senses, full of colour, life, amzingly cool cars, it has so far been one hell of a country, heck ive even started to pick up the lingo!
Hope all is well, catch you soon,
Danny!
ps. internet access so far here is rather scarce, so the updates will probably come once every week or so!
Wednesday, June 4
Well guys and girls, ladies and gentlemen friends and Daryl...
It is once again that time of tear when myself and a bunch of like minded individuals jet off to some far flung destination somewhere aroound the globe, and it seems that this time round the pin has landed on the land of the south americas.... Sounds fun!
Join me and take a journey through the wilderness as i document the mishaps and happenings of the next four months as immerse myself once again in a foreign land and try hoplessly to understand what the hell is going on around me.
Complete with updated whereabouts, pictures and the occasional mild rant feel free to join in and leave a comment, you never know it might actually give me some direction! (oh and you dont need to register to leave a comment, see below)
But for now guys and girls, i will say adios, and ill be writing soon!
Danny!
xx
To leave a comment :-
Join me and take a journey through the wilderness as i document the mishaps and happenings of the next four months as immerse myself once again in a foreign land and try hoplessly to understand what the hell is going on around me.
Complete with updated whereabouts, pictures and the occasional mild rant feel free to join in and leave a comment, you never know it might actually give me some direction! (oh and you dont need to register to leave a comment, see below)
But for now guys and girls, i will say adios, and ill be writing soon!
Danny!
xx
To leave a comment :-
- click the comments tab under the relevant post, this will open a new pop-up window
- Write your message in the comment space
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