The Trip: Se va la luz...

• 16 December 2009 at 00:20
• Traveling

I'm currently in Peru, but before I tell you how it goes, let me tell you a few things about Ecuador...

First of all, Ecuador is a country with NOISE. All the time! You quickly get used to it though... In the streets, everyone is honking. In the restaurant, the TV screams. On the bus, salsa never stops. Here is the proof:

On buses, there are also travelling salesmen selling everything. Usually, food. They take the bus, they sell their products for a few minutes and get off to look for new customers...

The driver's assistants are here to help load the coach but also to get new passengers. They are always at the (open) door of the bus, screaming the destination.

In Ecuador, do you know how they serve coffee? Like this:

I know, it's shocking. An instant coffee you have to prepare yourself. Nestlé, moreover. Nevertheless, it's a good coffee! The ecuadorian breakfast is otherwise pretty close to the french one:

In Ecuador, there's poverty. But I've never seen homeless people. Maybe one or two but they mostly looked like ordinary men a bit drunk. I don't know how they do that, maybe it's solidarity. Nevertheless, there are many stray dogs, always looking for your affection. On the beaches of Puerto López, there are loads.

The country is going through a rather bad energy crisis. Everyday, in all the cities of the country, electricity is cut for several hours, at different times and durations. It's because of the drought that prevents power stations running.

It's nearly crazy when you think that it's a big oil producer. In Internet cafés, they warn that, at such time, se va la luz...

Ecuador is a magnificient country where you can find three kinds of landscapes: 1, the coast.

2, the mountain.

And 3, the jungle.

(And don't forget the Galapagos islands.) In a few hours you can cross the country and see completely different landscapes.

But the most important is the people, who are amazingly friendly. I remember, when we arrived in Malchingui, straight from the plane, when our fellow passengers helped us find our way, even getting the grandmother, it was great.

I have a very good memory of Ecuador and I highly recommend it.

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