Oh what a night! It actaully wasn't too bad but neither one of us got any sleep as we flew to Miami from Guayaquil. We landed right around 5.30 this morning and after getting luggage we picked up the rental car to do all the running about that we had planned. First stop, breakfast of course - can't work on an empty stomach. Then we picked up our mail that Jazmin had sent for us and spent the next while with Mike going through it before finding a park with barbecues that we could use to burn the junk mail. Not really the best time of the year to have a little fire seeing as it's about a hundred degrees outside, but a necessity none the less.
After driving all over Miami (it seemed like it anyway) to get things we needed it was off to drop of the rental and go back to the airport. We had to take a shuttle bus from the car rental place which was fun with all our luggage, but things got a little better when it came time to check in as after they weighed our cases they gave them back to us to take to security. Between the check in and the hand off we managed to stuff about another 10 pounds in each case - awesome.
Then there was more waiting and we were both dead tired by this point. At least on the bright side by this time tomorrow we'll be in Wales with my family and our gorgeous girl.

Mike: Becc, I think there is something illegal about you adding to the luggage, what if the plane crashed because of too much weight?

Today was mostly spent waiting for the hours to tick past so that we could be on our way to the UK via Miami. We ate then we wandered, then we ate some more, and in between eating and wandering we repacked our luggage several times; turns out that the cases weighed lighter in Cuenca due to the elevation. The overwight cases wasn't really a big deal leaving Guayaquil as we could check 2 cases each but it would be a problem when it came time to check in at Miami airport so lots of reconfiguring had to be done. Afterwards we had an early dinner at the same place as yesterday before heading back to the hotel to wait for a taxi to pick us up. Mike confirmed with the hotal desk that a cab was coming for us and we were under the impression that the hotel was paying for it as our reservation had stated that transport to and from the airport was included. The taxi finally came and we got all our luggage loaded and off we went. It wasn't too long of a drive even with traffic, but when we got to the airport the driver wanted paying. Mike explained about the hotel paying and the driver finally got the hotel desk on the phone. Turns out they weren't going to pay for the taxi so Mike asked why we had to wait for them to get us one, his answer was because the taxi company that they used would take us safely to the airport and not kidnap us for ransom - there's really no arguement for that is there?
At the airport I realised that one of our cases was splitting along the expansion seam so we tried to close it. It took both of us with the help of two very nice ecuadorian ladies to get it shut but we got there in the end.
We checked in, went through security and boarded our flight to Miami which left Ecuador a little before midnight.

Mike: I was a little embarrased the two "little ladies" threw our luggage around
like a couple of dock workers and closed the bag, no problem!

We both had a lovely sleep last night. We didn't get to bed much before half past midnight but when we did we fell right to sleep in the lovely big hotel bed; it's so wide I didn't see Mike all night long! The hotel is nice, we have a lovely room and the view out our window is very cool.




I didn't really want to get up this morning but Mike was complaining that he was hungry and that he really needed his coffee, so after showering we headed to the hotel restaurant for a continental breakfast. The breakfast wasn't bad, lots of choices, although who wants ceviche for breakfast is beyond me, and I think there might have been goat soup too but I'll have to confirm that tomorrow morning. We ate enough to last us till dinner and Mike finally got his cup of coffee, it was cold, but he got it. The coffee was actually gross, the waiter gave me three quarters of a cup of warm milk and then a jug of cold thick coffee to add to it. I couldn't drink it (I had lovely mora juego instead), but Mike got seconds.



After our late breakfast we went for a little walk around the hotel area; we didn't go too far as it is super hot and muggy here and it is mostly shops around the hotel and we are all shopped out. We did check out the cathedral which is huge, but quite plain on the inside - a little different to Cuenca which is all faced in marble. It was nice though, and it has some beautiful stained glass windows.






We spent a good chunk of time today in Parque Bolivar, which is right across the street from our hotel, hanging out with the iguanas. I don't know how many live in the park but there are a good number of them and they are so cute; we pretty much spent a few hours watching them going about their business. We got there just as they were being fed breakfast this morning and they are all good little eaters. The gardeners unload barrows full of greens for them and they all come snaking down out of the trees to chow down. They are very cool to watch and they are not afraid of people at all, and they always seem to be willing to pose for a photo or two. After eating they slowly started back up into the trees and found a nice comfy branch to spend the rest of the day hanging out on; they don't half have a good life. They are quite difficult to see in the trees once they have all settled down for the day, but when they are getting settled the whole tree looks like it's writhing as there are so many of the little guys.


















Also in the park is a good size pond that is full of turtles and fish and today the park guys happened to be cleaning it out. They had already done one side when we arrived but we watched them catching the turtles and fish and moving them so they could clean the rest of the pond. The fish weren't too impressed about the whole ordeal, and the turtles just kept trying to sneak back over the wall as fast as the guy was moving them. The figured it out in the end that the fresh water was much better than the dirty stuff.






After Mike took a nap we went to El Fortin for dinner; it is apparently one of the best resturants in Guayaquil and since it was in the hotel we decided to try it out. They of course had lots of stuff we couldn't eat but they also had some really excellent pasta that we did get to eat, along with salad. Mike had four cheese sauce which was super creamy and I had the pesto; it was the nicest I've had. It was really quiet, apart from one other diner we were the only ones which meant that we got excellent service, and no one else got to see us wearing bibs! We finished of the meal with a shared creme brulee which was almost as good as mine. All in all we had a very good day today.

Mike: I wanted to take a little lizard back for my mother in law! Becc said NO!

It's finally here, we left Cuenca today to start our four day journey to the UK. For most of the day we just hung out at the apartment, packing the last bits and pieces and moving stuff from one bag to another to make sure we are under the 23 kg weight limit. While I napped this afternoon (I'm still a little under the weather) Mike watched the TV for the last time; hopefully everything we watch will soon be in English. Then about 4 o'clock we got serious, the computer got packed away, clothes got changed, and Angelita came in to inventory and make sure we hadn't broken, stolen or borrowed anything we shouldn't have. When she was satisfied that the apartment was being left as we found it there were hugs all around.
Mike had asked Anjelita to call us a taxi for 5.30, and we started taking all our luggage down a little before. She had to call the taxi company back to make sure we were being sent a big enough car for all our luggage, and a few minutes later our ride arrived. We had more hugs with Javier and Anjelita before stacking up the taxi and setting off for the airport. We did make it to the airport in one piece although I'm not sure how we didn't lose a case or two out the back as the there was definitely a knack to opening and closing the boot. Javiers last comment as we left was that he hoped we made it to the airport!
Well we did and we got there with lots of time to spare. Fortunately we got to check our bags in almost immediately (even though there was a raised eyebrow or two about the 4 bags we were checking), and they were checked right through to Guayaquil so we didn't have to mess about with them in Quito. We waited in the food court for about an hour and then boarded the first of our two flights to Quito. It was a little out of our way to fly to Quito first but LAN does not have a direct flight from Cuenca to Guayaquil. The first flight lasted all of 30 minutes, then we were shuttled to the national arrivals area, we walked into national departures and through security to our second flight of the night. We only had to wait a little while and then we were shuttled from the terminal to the plane. The flight to Guayaquil was a bit longer, about 35 minutes, and we both had the worst ear popping experience ever. In fact, we are both still having trouble hearing; I guess that's what happens when you go from 9,000ft to sea level - or maybe the cabin wasn't completely pressurized!
When we landed we collected our luggage (it all made it) and went to meet the hotel shuttle. The hotel person was waiting for us in the arrival lounge and I'm very glad he was as there were very few taxis around tonight - apparently Sunday in Guayaquil is a day of rest. We had to wait for a car for a short time before we were taken to the hotel; the hotel guy had to have one of our cases on his lap in the front seat as it wouldn't fit anywhere else. It was all very slick, from the time we got off the plane till we were in our room was only about half an hour in total, and we didn't once have to pick up our own bags - nice.

Mike: Very nice! Everything went smoothly!

This weekend I'm not feeling very good, stupid cold, why do they always make my eyes run so it looks like I'm crying? I hope it goes away before we head home as I wouldn't want to spread my lovely germs to everyone on the plane.
We are almost completely packed tonight and ready to leave tomorrow afternoon. Mike helped with the last case today and packed his rucksack ready for the journey home. He even rigged up a makeshift weighing scale so we could make sure the cases weren't over weight; we don't want to have to pay extra weight charges especially since we are already paying a tidy chunk to take the third case home. All we have left to do now is pack the computer and the clothes we are wearing today and get hugs from Angelita. We gave her chocolates today when she came in to clean and she promised that she would see us tomorrow to give us both goodbye hugs.
Only 3 1/2 days till we are in Wales, yeah!

Mike: This is a very huggy place!

We had our last Spanish lesson today and got a crash course in the two past tenses. I don't actually remember anything we did this morning other than some Spanish words, once they have the past tense tense endings added are just stupidly long and almost impossible to say. At least while we are gone I have plenty to work on. It was quite sad saying goodbye to our Spanish teacher, but hopefully we'll be able to take lots (and lots) more lessons when we get back.
When we got home today I did the bulk of the packing; two cases down and one more to go. I think Mike and I might be wearing several layers of clothes home on the plane; I only hope it'll be cool in Miami!
We have also almost finished eating all the food that we had in the apartment. The next few days are going to consist of boxed Mac & Cheese and cheese rolls I think - very healthy.

Mike: Sure, it's been in the 90's all week!

Mike had his last visit to the dentist today and I'm not sure who was more sad, him or the dentista. He had to go get his night guard fitted which didn't take too long, and also pay for the work he has had done. I think he got a pretty good deal, a three tooth bridge and a night guard for $700 - I don't think that would have even paid for one tooth in the US! Now he can smile again, as all his teeth are lovely, no broken ones anywhere. He got a big hug from Paula when he left which I think made his day.

Mike: It made my week!

We got a phone call this morning from mam right before we went to our Spanish lesson asking us to go on Skype as they had something to show us. When their picture came up my poor puppy was sitting in her lap with her leg in what looked like a cast - what are they doing to her? Turns out it wasn't a cast but a star covered bandage and a booty. After getting up Monday morning and not being able to put her foot on the floor the vet had to remove a piece of glass from her pad; they knocked her out and everything. She looked so funny, and ever so sad, although it sounds like she was having more trouble walking with the boot on than she did with the glass in her foot. Don't worry Tal-y, we'll be home in a few days.

Mike: Don't worry pa, we'll be there soon to take the pressure off!

In the last three days we have been outside the apartment exactly one time and that was a five minute walk to the pharmacy to buy aspirin as Mike has not been feeling too well. I didn't get up for yoga this morning even; Mike did set the alarm but when we woke up it was raining a lot so we decided to stay in bed. We have basically sat around, watched tv and eaten, while Sarah and Angelita came in once a day and cleaned around us. I did get one suitcase packed today and thankfully we don't seem to have as much stuff to take home with us as I thought we did; hopefully we'll be able to get everything in three heavy suitcases.

Mike:I think we have plenty to take!

It's been another fairly quiet week this week, same old same old; we got some things taken care off but mostly we just did the usual, oh and we ate a lot (or is that the usual?).
We were walking around the market today and saw a man with a bunch of goats. He 'parks' them on the side of the road and if anyone wants milk he just milks them right there. I had read that this happens but these were the first goats I've seen since we've been here.



I finally bought a panama hat this week; I've been looking for one for ages but couldn't find one that was just right. I must have tried on about 300 since we've been here and still didn't really like any of them. I found a really nice blue one but when I was trying it on my hands turned the same colour as the hat. I didn't think it would be a good idea to get that one as I didn't really want a blue line around my forehead. I like the one I have, and I didn't have to buy as big a size as I thought I would; all the hats I've tried on have been 60 or 61 (which is muy grande) but mine is a nice petite 59.

Mike: Right, I'm a nice petite 58!

I also now know my blood type, I'm 'A' Positivo. We had to go to the Cruz Rojo to have it typed, we walked up to a little window, the lady there stuck me with a big metal object and took several drops of my blood - it was just that simple. The hard part was Mike's as the lady had questions to fill out on her register and she asked them all in Spanish. He managed to answer them all correctly - well she let us leave so at least I think he did!
On the way home this afternoon we stopped at the store for Mike to buy a bottle of Zhumir (local alcohol) but when we got to the checkout the guy there told us we couldn't buy it. In fact, there were no alcohol sales yesterday until next Monday as there is a referendum (election) being held tomorrow and the sale of alcohol has been prohibited. Pretty strange I think, would they try that in the States?
Today is a year since I finished work and we left San Diego - time certainly does fly. I'm really glad we did it as we have had a great 12 months and I've been to places that I never thought I'd get to see. I still miss everyone from work and I'm glad that I still get to talk to them; I can't wait to see them all later this year. First though we have to go to Wales as I miss my gorgeous girl and off course the rest of my gorgeous family (Mike can't wait to see everyone either!)

Mike: I miss everyone too, especially my little Tal-y!