The selling out in Mancora

After a 7 hour coach ride finally arrived in Cuenca, the third largest city in Ecuador. Cobbled streets and historical architecture. Much friendlier than Quito but filled with eccentric elderly Americans... We visited cathedrals, saw a school parade and nearly tried ´´Cuy´´, but was put off by the price ($19!)

Had enough of city life and desperately wanted some sun and sea so we made it down into Peru. No border troubles, we made friends with the armed guard and slept but there were some quite disturbing crocodile/ python movies in the coach.

Nowwww, weve arrived in Mancora, Peru. A lovely little surf town on the north coast. On our journey down we decided that we'd stay in the 15 solas hostel instead of the AMAZING hostel (they call it a hostel but its practically a resort) but when we visited this amazing hostel we decided that it was worth the extra 10 solas in order to get away from our boring little hostel and get with the party at Loki, the resort!
So here we are, feeling slight like sell outs but nevertheless happy with our decision and looking forward to some surf, sun and sand!

Still deciding on our next stop, but we think we'll be enjoying this town for a little while...

Annnnnnd Gaby joins the gang!

Sup blog readers
So I've joined P and T in Banos, had to deal with some hanky panky from fellow dormmates when I was unable to be in P and T's room due to an evil american stealing my bed. Sad days. But Im back in there tonight so Im way haps.
Am loving a little return to normality by hanging with these two, though I don't think they'll let me have another cameo in their blog. :(

Gaby
xxx

Heading South

Sooo we´ve been in Banos for a few days. Weather is soo much hotter than Quito which was freezing and so rainy that our hostel had a powercut right in the middle of watching When Harry Met Sally...

Banos is so beautiful, the town is surrounded by a valley of volcanoes and there are waterfalls and mountains everywhere. Our hostel, Plantos y blancos is really nice. it has a roof top terrace where you can sunbathe and have breakfast outside.

On sunday we went canopying (zip lining). It was amaaazing. The guide showed us some quite crazy positions to fly across the valleys..... videos to follow. Then yesterday we went white water rafting and Tilly had a ´´near death experience´´ as she calls it, where she fell out of the raft and was bobbing up and down in the rapids. It was quite scary, but also quite funny at the same time. and nothing to worry about- shes fine I  promise.

In the evening we went to outside thermal springs heated from the volcano. Really hot and busy. Going to a morning spa in our hostel now so gotta go......

WE R OK

hello all,
just to stop all parents panicing. we are ok, just lazy. finished our spanish lessons today and seriously dont think ive learnt very much. but phoebe has apparently. tomorrow we go to Otavalo (a really big market), and on Sunday to Banos

this isnt our picture but we went here anyways.... we went all the way down (in the rain) and touched the water. its all bubbly and hot beacuse of all the volcanic gases. as Phoebe has been writting this so far  i bet she forgot to mention that we attempted to make PASTA SAUCE WITH KETCHUP AND ONIONS

QUITO

This weekend we took a 2hr bus journey to a place called Latacunga. There was a carnival on so the station was completely packed. And it was completely crazy... i mean kittens in handbags and chickens on leads. When people pushed in everyone shouted "cola" at them (which i think means queue) and whistled. lucky we are so sly and innocent looking....

In Latacunga we climbed a volcanic crater called Quilatoa. It was filled with a bright emerald lake. it was LITERALLY breathtaking. the altitude made it so hard to breath when we were trekking back up. it´s quite scary not being able to breath.

Its about 21 degrees here. Everyone wears jeans which makes it hard to get a tan, but on the coast it should be hotter!! It  rained the other day in Quito, and in Latacunga. Its like the rain in ´The day after tomorrow´- it comes from nowhere and suddenly it is belting it down. You get soaked within seconds.

In response to Ellie´s comment: the food. Its basically lots of rice, chicken stew, hot soups, banana semolina stuff, fried bananas and herbal teas. Quite boring and bland but alright... And for such a coffee growing rich continent..... the only coffee we´ve been offered so far is imported and instant!!

We start Spanish lessons tomorrow!!

Sorry for the lack of photos- we´ll try and upload some soon...

xx

LANDED

Finally arrived!! After hours and hours of travelling... The plane food was awful and there were lots of families and Dutch men with khaki waistcoats on the flight. Very jetlagged and exhausted, but we have to force ourselves to stay awake till at least 9. The altitude is also making us slightly light headed and dizzy.

Its also weird getting used to everyone looking at you like your from anopther planet!

We went to Quito Cathedral this afternoon and it was amazing! we climbed right to the top of the bell tower which overlooks the whole of Quito. the views are so beautiful and it only cost us a dollar to get in, compared to london prices its soooo cheap. Plus, there was no one else there which makes it so much more personal and spectacular.

Miss you all xxxxxxx

We miss you Cheyanna