Getting to Guayaquil

After our bus rides to Cuenca and Loja, you'd think we'd be prepared for the one back to Guayaquil. But I guess a ten hr ride is a bit different from a four hour one. (if anyone can tell me how taking the same route as two four hour bus rides turns into ten hours, that'd be great. Oh wait, it's South America, no need to explain). We were on some of the windiest roads I have ever seen, complete with crazy people hopping on whenever we slowed down (which was pretty often) to sell random stuff. At one point, a man with no legs got on and crawled through the aisle begging for money. I still can't figure out how he got on in the first place, since we never officially stopped, but you better believe I gave him a dollar. We had one ten minute bathroom break, but other than that it was full speed (more like crawl, those roads were BUMPY) ahead.

Once we arrived at the bus depot in Guayaquil, we made our way to the taxi stand to get a cab to our hotel. Two problems though. First, we had read in the newspaper that two tourists were shot and robbed two nights before while riding in a cab, so I was slightly paranoid about making it to the hotel; and secondly, the cab drivers were selective about whether or not they would even take you where you wanted to go. They would slow down just enough to find out where you wanted to go, and then either pretend they didn't understand your request or just speed up and drive away.

At one point we were pretty sure we were going to spend the night at the bus terminal.

Luckily, we finally found a cab driver willing to take us to our hotel. When we eventually found it (after about 15 minutes of driving up and down the same street, what kind of hotel needs a sign out front, anyways), they explained that another guest had really, really liked their room so they decided to stay an extra night - which meant they had no room for us, even though we had pre-paid the reservation. How convenient.

After ten hours of sitting on a crazy bus, an hour trying to get a cab, and another 30 minutes of searching for the stupid hotel, our patience was gone. They claimed they were calling around for another hotel for us to stay at, but I was not about to risk being swept into the night to go to some sketchy motel in a 3rd world country. No way, Jose.

Taking matters into our own hands, we insisted on a refund and a ride to the Airport Sheraton. Shockingly, it worked! Next thing you know, we are walking into a QUIET, Air-conditioned, clean room. We were Wayyy too excited. And even better, the hotel was right across the street from a mall with a food court full of America. We were skipping across the street in excitement.

I told Patrick, while that may have not been my favorite part of the trip, it quite possibly was my happiest. So silly, the things we take for granted, but I'm telling you, after two weeks of "roughing it", nothing feels better than a belly full of KFC and a plush bed. Sheer happiness.

Not to mention, the breakfast buffet the next morning was awesome. Stale bread with margarine and jam gets old after about 2 days and we were on Day 13.

As excited as I was about heading to the Galapagos, I was tempted to just stay in that bed for the rest of our trip. We both agree it was the best $100 we've spent in a lonnnggg time.