Photos from Ecuador

Above have the Inca ruins at Ingapirca. Please note the distinct lack of tourists. It was bliss

This is the artists district in Guayaquil at night. A really beautiful part of the city that they restored over recent years, as it had become very run down and a hide out for thieves and stuff. Now it is a vibrant, gorgeous part of the city covering a hill with 444 steps that lead up to a beautiful lighthouse. As well as finding art works here, there are some good bars and restaurants, plus obviously panoramic views of Guayaquil from the top

Here is one of the many gorgeous views of the area around Banos. I would put the many photos of waterfalls that I took up too, as there are so many in the area, but my blog might melt down! So here is a nice panoramic shot to give you a feel of what that area looked like

And this final photo is dedicated to Gaby, who was determined to see an Iguana while she was in Ecuador She finally saw one on her last day (she left this morning), but as it was a pretty quick glimpse, I though she would like this shot of Iggy (original name I know) who was having a bit of a snack on the lawns at the university today. The university has loads of Iguanas roaming the campus, I think they like to lounge around in the sun and look studious. Reminds me of my student days.... or at least it would if they were lounging around, pretending to be studious and drinking beer. Ah what fond memories I have!

Ecuador and footie fever

Ola All

Well here I am on the final (bar a few days in California) leg of my travels round the world. Can't believe that it is almost over, it is making me depressed just thinking about it! So I won't!

I am writing this in Guayaquil, which is my base while I am in Ecuador. To be more precise, I am at my friend Gaby´s cousin Sonia´s house. So, since I have been remise at updating my blog over the last 10 days, I had better zip through my time here for you all.

OK, we arrive on Monday night (5th June) at Guayaquil airport, where I hung on to our baggage trolley for dear life, fighting off the swarm of porters that all wanted to "help" us. Fortunately we were soon surrounded by the huge contingent of Gaby´s family that had all come to meet her at the airport. It felt like there were 100s of them, although there can´t have been more than about 30-40.

We were taken by Sonia and Haskel to their house, which is gorgeous! Felt like I had arrived in an exclusive spa hotel. It is really really lush. Very nice base for a scummy old backpacker like me, I can tell you. Unfortunately they don´t speak much English and I don´t speak much Spanish (although my vocab is growing fast) so poor old Gaby has to do a lot of translating.

As we arrived quite late after a long trip, it was off to bed for us and our ecuador adventure started the next day.

So Tuesday we were taken to visit Guayaquil, walked along the boardwalk 2000 (was built for the millennium) which gives you great views of the river etc.., went to the rio grande mall and in the evening ate crab at the Red Crab, complete with hammers (I have had a training course on eating crab Ecuadorian style and I am apparently a natural at it, although do feel that I was wearing a lot of my dinner by the time we left). Sonia was a great teacher re how to dispose of a crab. It was a really fun night out

Wednesday we met more of Gaby´s family, so more people that I couldn´t communicate with very well, but they were very friendly, saw a bit more of Guayaquil and headed that evening to the artists quarter, which is a beautifully restored part of town. It is up a hill (444 steps to the top) which has a lovely lighthouse at the top. Got some great views of the city.

Thursday - Saturday we went to Banos which means Baths, is kind of like Bath in UK in that it has thermal and mineral springs there that are supposed to have healing properties. It is also right by a very active volcano and surrounded by mountains (kind of like it is in a basin) in the Andes. There we visited lots of beautiful waterfalls on a sort of tourist bus called a Chiva. Went up to look at the lights of the volcano at night (sadly was too cloudy to see much, but boy could we hear it complaining - so much so we weren´t surprised to find that our car was covered in volcanic ash in the morning). Plus of course we watched football and the atmosphere when Ecuador beat Poland, was amazing. Lots of Canelazos (alcholic local tea like drink - yum yum) to celebrate afterwards.

Also managed to watch the England v Paraguay game that next morning before we headed back to Guayaquil. Go for it England! Please, please for the love of all that is holy bloody well go for it! Sorry had to get that off my chest.

We were in Banos with an aunt of Gaby´s, her daughter in law and her chauffeur/brother of the daughter in law. It was really good fun.

Saturday we made it back in the afternoon, headed back to Sonia´s and had lovely local snacks (sorry am not going to go in the details of all the food that we have eaten, as lots of names of things that will mean nothing to you, but suffice it to say that I am trying everything and it all tastes good).

Sunday we met up with Gaby´s cousin Johnny and his family (who speak English) and were taken on a boat trip, to a church where they have the body of a girl that is in the process of being made a saint and had more local delicacies. After that we went to Gaby´s aunt house for dinner and a lovely walk along the boardwalk of Salado.

Monday we went out on more of a tour of Guayaquil with Gaby´s uncle Walter, having lunch at his house (following a spicy fish soup snack at 11 and ice cream at 12 - they could have warned me that there was going to be lunch as well! was fit to explode afterwards).

Monday evening was our really touristy moment as we went on a tour of Guayaquil on an open top bus. We went with Gaby´s mum, Jenny´, best friend and her husband. They took us for a nice meal afterwards, although how I managed to squeeze more food in is a mystery to me, similar to the mystery of how we manage to eat so much at Christmas! They were very sweet though and even negotiated me a free key ring as a souvenir from the restaurant.

To be honest it is impossible to give our money away here, as with the various friends and family of Gaby always insisting on taking us out, we are having to be quite sneaky in order to pay for anything! And even than our plots often fail and they beat us to it with payment for things! Obviously this is good news for my bank account, but I do feel bad being treated for everything by Gaby's family. They are far too generous.

Tuesday - Thursday we were in Cuenca (with 3 of Gaby´s aunties, her cousin Simon, her cousin Reuben´s wife Louisa and Louisa´s little boy Daniel AKA monster), which is again up in the mountains. We went to visit the Inca ruins at Ingapirca, which was great, as there were only about 4 other tourists there, so could really visit it in peace. We also went round some of the small towns around Cuenca, which are really pretty. Plus the scenery on the drive there was breathtaking (drive to Banos was also stunning although different kind of scenery, more rainforesty while Cuenca, more lagoons and llamas).

Of course we watched Ecuador beat Costa Rica on our last morning. Free Canelasoz afterwards courtesy of our hotel, as they were just so thrilled by the result! Unfortunately I was unable to watch the England game as I was trapped in a car to Guayaquil. Can´t remember the last time I missed an England game. I am officially a traitor! Consumed with guilt I tell you! Absolutely riddled with it! After the altitude in Cuenca I had a storming headache yesterday night, so I got an early night. That brings us up to today, which has only just started so you will have to wait and see what happens!

Love to allxxx

California baby!

Well hello all, it is my last day in sunny California, so that would make it a good time to update you on my lovely time here!

When I left off I had reluctantly departed Rarotonga (man, I can't wait to get back there when I next get a chance) for lovely Californ I A. My flight was pretty uneventful, although it has to be the first time that I have known so many random people on a flight (well Rarotonga isn't a big place so I met a lot of the other travellers during my stay) which was good as I had Adam to chat to when waiting for the plane, Deb to chat to at my stop over in Tahiti and lots of other random people to say hi, and exchange chit chat with at US baggage collection and customs. I felt positively popular by the time I headed through the system (OK I have to share this, my immigration guy was nice and smiled! what is going on? that has NEVER happened before). My lovely friend Gaby was waiting to meet me at the other side, so lots of hugs and squealing before we headed off.

Now the drive itself was fabulous as Gaby had come to pick me up in her convertible (BMW one that was in a bond film, very smooth), so I felt I had arrived baby! Yes, I might have been wearing tatty trousers, a crumpled, old and worn out t-shirt plus some very very well worn in hiking sandals with a minor stinky problem..... but I looked good! Plus the traffic was bad (it was Friday afternoon before a long weekend, what was I thinking arriving at a time like that) so I had lots of time to catch up with Gaby and enjoy the experience of being in a car that other people were lusting at (I kid you not, just yesterday a guy wolf whistled at us on the freeway... we were going at 70km/h but we could still hear him as we went past his truck).

When we made it back to Tustin it was fabulous to see Eduardo and Jenny (Gaby's parent's) and I was once again enveloped in the warmth of their family. Like an abandoned kitten that needs a home. That evening Gaby and I went to see X Men 3, as it had opened that day (enjoyed it and the fish tacos we had before at Rubios - yummy yummy).

Saturday was the day that my mum was arriving. Gaby, Jenny and I headed out to LAX to meet their plane. It was slightly delayed so we drank lots of frozen coffee and people watched. My mum and Maggie were flying over with Paul, who was coming to stay in Santa Monica with his sister. As I had met her before, it was great when we bumped in to her at the bit where you wait for people to come out, so that she could wait with us too. We had great fun talking about not waiting but taken the 20th (30th... etc) person that came through even if it wasn't them. Unfortunatley while we kept changing the numbers... none of the lucky winners of our random lottery tempted us enough to abandon my mum, Maggie and Paul, so we were still there when they came through and ready to pick them up.

It was great to see them all. Once again lots of hugging and squealing. Can't believe that it had been over 4 months since I had seen my mum. Felt like so much longer and yet like yesterday too. Weird sensation.

Paul headed off to Santa Monica with his sister and nephew, while Maggie and Mum headed back to Orange County. There was lots of catching up going on.. hugs... and some lovely food. That pretty well covers Saturday.

Sunday we went and did some shopping in the afternoon in Newport beach. There is something about the US and California in particular, that really makes a person want to shop. It is weird! But it was nice to wander round Newport and chat etc... I actually didn't buy anything that day (obviously saving it all up for the major shopping spree I have been on since).

Monday - Wednesday we headed up the coast to Monterey... Gaby, Maggie, my mum and I. We went to see Sandy, Rick and their gorgeous little girls Giorgina and Sophia. What fun we had. As it is quite a long drive we didn't make it to Monterey until around 3pm. We caught up with Sandy and Rick, went to visit a Mission and had the most lovely bbq that evening (being Memorial day I am assured that this was the American thing to do and that we were being authentic).

Tuesday Rick was at work, we headed to a vineyard and tasted some wines. Met up with Rick at lunchtime and had some fabulous burgers before heading round Monterey and to Carmel. Had a coffee break and did some window shopping (still controlling myself at this point)

Now Wednesday is when it all starts going wrong for my flexible friend. We head to Gilroy with Sandy (we have packed up as we will head straight back to OC from there) and the Outlet shops... Umm well it had been a long time since I had had a serious dose of retail therapy and obviously I was in need. 2 skirts, 3 tops and 2 pair of sandals later... I felt good! Oh and a hair band thingie too It was great! There was so much more I could have bought, but didn't so I was really quite restrained. As we shopped for so long, we didn't make it back to OC until around 11pm, so I was only really fit for bed at that point.

Thursday was a beautiful day and we headed back to Newport Beach to do some more shopping (well ostensibly for my mum to look for nice kids clothes and for me to go to the Ipod shop to talk to them about the fact that my Ipod had been in a coma since Rainbow beach and was showing no inclination to come back to life). Sadly the prognosis was not good for my little Ipod (hard drive was screwed, which is what I told them anyway but I had to wait 1 hour for them to confirm it). As it was out of warranty the repairs wouldn't be covered....rrr! But on the bright side we could send it to the recycling home for ipods and get 10% off a new one. My mum, being very naughty and following much debating (read arguing) with me about it, bought me a new black one (30gb) It is very beautiful! I look forward to playing with it when I get home as she took it back to London for me. On the additional brightside I found another fabulous skirt and top on this trip too, so I will not disgrace Gaby in front of her family when we go to Ecuador (she had every reason to be worried!)

When we got back Gaby and Jenny had prepared a feast of roasted rosemary potatoes, roast chicken, Jenny's ecuadorian/greek style beans, artichoke etc.. It was lovely. Really enjoying all the home cooked food I am getting here in California (don't even get me started on Sandy's cooking when we were in Monterey - delicious - I am going to be the size of a house by the time I get home if this continues in Ecuador)

Friday we drove the PCH from OC towards LA. Had lunch in Venice Beach, drove up and round Malibu before doing some more shopping in Santa Monica (stocked up on some fab CDs) before heading back for my Mum and Maggie's final meal in California.

Saturday morning was weird. Felt sad saying goodbye to my mum and Maggie. So once they had left for the airport, Gaby and I went shopping (for practical stuff we would need in Ecuador and I needed to find new odour eaters for my stinky sandals as the ones I had bought before were just turning them white but not actually doing anything about the smell), helped out with the office move (Jenny's business was changing offices, I could show off just how strong and macho I am, even with a manicure... it was fun), went for fish tacos at Rubios (just love those, have to go again before I head home, they are just too good), and did buy some more CDs (we had to go and get a CD as a present for Gaby's cousin Johnny in Ecuador and I just couldn't help myself, I bought myself a few more to keep me going - have been listening to the same CDs for too long since my Ipod died on me, needed some new stuff or would go crazy).

Saturday night Gaby and I went to see "the Break up" in the cinema (thought it was mainly good but could have done with moving faster, being shorter and having more funny moments... acting was very good as you did feel rather uncomfortably like you were witnessing a break up). Didn't have fish tacos as had those for lunch and it would be over kill. But I do think popcorn is a heavenly dinner alternative and it has been so long since i had any.

So today is Sunday. Gaby and I went to meet up with my friend Bettina (who I know from my time at Fox, she works for Fox in LA and is fabulous). We went to her house in the Hollywood hills and parked up the lovely and still sexy convertible. Bettina, Jack (her 3 year old son who is very cute) and Linus (her big, soppy dog) took Gaby and I on a tour of Hollywood and the Fox lot. We parked at Santa Monica and walked along the pier, before having lunch at Bubba Gumps (good shrimp, plus they supplied crayons so that I could colour stuff in, since Jack lost interest very quickly). It was just great. We had some good cocktails there so I was feeling quite rosy cheeked by the time we left.

After lunch we wandered on the pier, allowing Linus to stretch his legs and Jack to play on the various little moving car things that kids adore. Bettina than took us on a tour of the mansions on Sunset boulevard, Bel Air etc.. before heading back to her house and a final glass of wine. Unfortunately as we have to get up at a really obnoxious time for our flight tomorrow (we have to leave the house at 4.30am) and we still need to pack, we couldn't stay too late so we headed back here. It looks like Gaby and Bettina are going to keep in touch, as they got on like a house on fire (never have understood that expression but it doesn't stop me using it) so a new friendship has been born.

I have taken the opportunity to update this blog as my packing is much easier than Gaby's (joy of living out of a backpack). Hope that everyone is well. Not sure how much internet access I will have in Ecuador, so don't worry if I go a bit quiet for a while. I will update when I can.

Love to all