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!