Our first non-touristy city

Trip Start Jan 26, 2011

Trip End Mar 30, 2011

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Where I stayed

Hotel Ejecutivo

Flag of Ecuador Machala, El Oro, Ecuador
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

On our way to the border to Peru, we had to spend a night in Machala. This is not a city for the gringo. Karlton was feeling uneasy, with many, many long stares. Yvonne was gong to get some pineapple for 25 cents, but the man's wife insisted on charging her a dollar. We walked away in disgust (without the fruit).

We had been advised that, in order to avoid hassles, extortion, etc, we should buy a ticket "directo" through the border crossing. This did not work out as planned, however, since our scheduled bus would not be departing til the next day. We ended up changing buses several times and waiting through long lines on both sides of the border, after which we were dropped off at a station on the Peruvian side without any instruction on how to process from the filthy border town of Tumbes. Luckily, we met another couple from Argentina who were headed to Mancora to sell their jewelry and artwork. Both of us couples headed off on mototaxis to attempt to exchange dollars for soles and continue on ti Mancora. Somehow, we got separated from the other couple and hustled onto a collectivo. These are tiny nissan vans with racks on top and seating for 18!!! After 2+ hours of sweating and stopping and sweating and stopping, we finally arrived in the lovely beach town of Mancora!

Here we will stay for the next five nights. Karlton intends to learn to surf for his 40th birthday. Our next post will document that event, should he be successful.

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"Machala" not a place for gringos	Not the best view	PERU!	Mode of transport
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Comments

Trish on

You need to document the surfing, regardless of whether it is successful!! LOL. Keep having fun!

Jesse on

Can't wait to hear how the surfing goes. Make sure you start stretching those shoulders out. Good luck my friend. Glad to here you stuck to your guns on the pineapple. Good for u

Flock-o-Hobels on

"Hot and Sweaty"?? What happened to "Nut and Honey"? Absolutely rock on with the surfing idea, and I wish we were all there to help celebrate!

DD on

Hola amigos! Finally catching up on your posts... the border crossing sounded interesting. Can't wait to see some pics of Mancora!

Happy b-day K-man! I'm sure you wouldn't trade it for your trip (and I don't blame you!), but I'm still missing skiing with you this year... Alta: 38" in the past 48. I'll make some turns for you, but tear it up on the board. Yvonne? You learning to surf, too, or do you already know how??

DD

Chanelle on

No wonder Jesse came home with a pineapple the other night. I'm glad you made it through safe and sound!