6 Weeks of Advice from an Ill Person in Quito

Yeah ill.  Earlier today I checked out of my hostel, The Magic Bean in Quito, and hopped in a cab for the Terminal Terreste, to begin my journey to Peru, by bus.  As we pulled into the station I realized my stomach would not behave during a 10 hour bus ride to Cuenca.  I told the cab drive went in and bought my ticket, for tomorrow and hopped back in the same cab to go to the same hostel.

It was not the same experience.

I spent most of the time hoping that my intestines would not erupt in a taxi cab in Quito.

I spent most of the time hoping that my intestines would not erupt in a taxi cab in Quito.

They did not.

Let's leave it at that though.

So, after this scare I have spent most of the time reading or on the internet.  In hopes of making the best use of this extremely down time I wish to impart some advice to you, dear reader, in hopes of making the world a better place.  Also I feel like I should book end my experience over the last six weeks.

Volunteering in the Galapagos is an amazing experience.  The island of San Cristobal is full of friendly, far from tourist-jaded people.  The malecon is a great place to watch sea lions belch, kids laugh.  Also a great place for icea cream.

Advice:  If the locals say you have pata de china no Chinese person has kicked you.  You have pink eye.

More advice:  Find a crew of Brits and a Canadian who like to participate in odd dress up parties.  It will be fun.

More advice:  Befriend as many locals as possible, especially if they happen to be guides.    There are many advantages to this, from inside knowledge to occasional Spanish practice to great lunches and dinners to great dates.  The latter applies to Jhosellyn, not to you Hernan. Sorry, fruitcake.

Okay I think I'll drop the advice façade now.

Truly my last six weeks on the Galapagos have been absoutely inolvidable, unforgettable.

First of all 6 weeks is the longest I have been in one place since November, December 2007.  Kind of odd to think about really.  And I have met so many great people, Galapaguenians and Galapa-Gringos alike.

Hasta Amsterdam...