The High Life
So, here I am in an internet cafe in Quito, which is probably one of the most exciting places in the city. Flights, travel went OK, but top tip: don´t fly Iberian if you can help it. Tight seats - falling to bits, crap food, and no breaky served on the flight out to Madrid. Cheapskates.
Had a very old school flying moment as we landed in Quito: everyone started clapping. Last heard this about 1975 on a very old Comet airliner. Actually no, tell a lie, we all clapped when the plane got down in Houston flying through the tail end of a hurricane a few years ago. After the clapping a rousing chorus of "Viva Equador" filled the plane. Ah yes, this was indeed South America, and the smell of revolution was in the air. Or rather it may have been, but it was more than overpowered by the smell of my clothes after 24 hours travelling or so.
Quito itself seems quite second world. Not too much hassle from the natives trying to sell us gringos stuff, but there really is not a lot to see or do. Strolled around the old town yesterday, climbing up the hill behind the basillica. At nearly 10,000 feet altitude, this took it out of me more than somewhat and I had to quickly repair to a cafe for a beer or two for lunch. And that´s pretty much Quito! The hills around do look rather spectacular though.
Tomorrow I´m off with the group to the Amazon to swim with^h^h^h^h fish for pirhanas and stuff like that. Which is nice. Fill you all in on that and how everyone in the group is getting on next time.
Had a very old school flying moment as we landed in Quito: everyone started clapping. Last heard this about 1975 on a very old Comet airliner. Actually no, tell a lie, we all clapped when the plane got down in Houston flying through the tail end of a hurricane a few years ago. After the clapping a rousing chorus of "Viva Equador" filled the plane. Ah yes, this was indeed South America, and the smell of revolution was in the air. Or rather it may have been, but it was more than overpowered by the smell of my clothes after 24 hours travelling or so.
Quito itself seems quite second world. Not too much hassle from the natives trying to sell us gringos stuff, but there really is not a lot to see or do. Strolled around the old town yesterday, climbing up the hill behind the basillica. At nearly 10,000 feet altitude, this took it out of me more than somewhat and I had to quickly repair to a cafe for a beer or two for lunch. And that´s pretty much Quito! The hills around do look rather spectacular though.
Tomorrow I´m off with the group to the Amazon to swim with^h^h^h^h fish for pirhanas and stuff like that. Which is nice. Fill you all in on that and how everyone in the group is getting on next time.
posted by Johnnie at Saturday, September 17, 2005
3 Comments:
Johnnie,
Having just read your first blog and gazed whistfully at the empty desk next to mine, I can’t help but feel a little sad… and a lot jealous. A few people have moaned at your absence, myself included. From one Goldmine to another (considerably more profitable, but with less social responsibility no doubt), roll on the old school moments and frequent beer stops.
Did you catch any pirhanas? I hope you weren’t swimming in the same water. An “Amazonian explorer” once gave a talk at our school and his creepy crawly slides made my friend Jenny sick... she was a bit weak stomached though. I’m sure the flimsy cotton sleeping bag will be an adequate defence against the poisonous frogs and what-have-you.
Just in case you were wondering, absolutely nothing has changed here in Leicester since you left. I’ll leave you with a Vivian Fuchs quote in response to blog number 1 (Never again?): “The rewards of the journey far outweigh the risk of leaving the harbor”… I bet you change your mind!
Sarah
... re piranhas - the thing to do with them is eat the buggers!! They make a very tasty stew as I found out one time in Brasil.
alternatively, you could learn how to spell them!!!
pip pip
Yeah, my outlook has somewhat changed! And yes, I know my spelling is crap.
Post a Comment
<< Home