Okay, not got much time so I{ll be quick. In Tena now, a little jungle town and about to set off. The address to send me any letters / red cross parcels is
Global Vision International
Casilla Postal 17-07-8832
Quito Ecuador
Cheers!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Hello All
I arrived in Quito last night at about 8 local time. I successfully collared a cabbie and about 20 minutes later I arrived at the hostel. GVI had given us details of how to make a reservation etc but I figured that was a bit over cautious of them... so I didn't bother. Turns out I should have really. The guy who owns the hostel reckons I'll be fine for 4 nights but then it might get a bit sticky. No problem as there's plenty of other gaffs to stay in around here.
Looking back on what I've just written you may think Mario and I sat down and had a good old chin wag about the pros and cons of reserving a bed. Unfortunately it wasn't quite like that. Despite my best efforts with those CDs before I left, actually listening and understanding a native speaker is nigh on impossible. As is making myself understood. My chat with Mario left me feeling woefully stupid and there's only so much grinning and nodding you can get away with. In addition everyone else at the hostel appears to be Swiss or Spanish. Having checked the notice board I've discovered that a lady will kindly come to the hostel and give intensive one on one lessons for the bargain rate of $5 an hour. I just hope she's not busy, but even if she is then there's plenty of other Spanish schools in Quito that I can investigate.
I arrived in Quito last night at about 8 local time. I successfully collared a cabbie and about 20 minutes later I arrived at the hostel. GVI had given us details of how to make a reservation etc but I figured that was a bit over cautious of them... so I didn't bother. Turns out I should have really. The guy who owns the hostel reckons I'll be fine for 4 nights but then it might get a bit sticky. No problem as there's plenty of other gaffs to stay in around here.
Looking back on what I've just written you may think Mario and I sat down and had a good old chin wag about the pros and cons of reserving a bed. Unfortunately it wasn't quite like that. Despite my best efforts with those CDs before I left, actually listening and understanding a native speaker is nigh on impossible. As is making myself understood. My chat with Mario left me feeling woefully stupid and there's only so much grinning and nodding you can get away with. In addition everyone else at the hostel appears to be Swiss or Spanish. Having checked the notice board I've discovered that a lady will kindly come to the hostel and give intensive one on one lessons for the bargain rate of $5 an hour. I just hope she's not busy, but even if she is then there's plenty of other Spanish schools in Quito that I can investigate.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Our man in... Miami
Ow do. It's my second day in Miami now and I have to say that jet lag is a pain in the arse. True to form though (harkening back to the Atlanta escapade) I've done my best to beat it. I just spent a bit of time working it out and yesterday I was up for 29 hours straight. Brilliant. The flight was delayed by an hour or so and but wnet smoothly apart from that. Got to the hotel alright and then got changed and went out to find some food. The old travel habit of talking to complete strangers kicked in and I got chatting to this bloke called Karl. He'd just finished a tour in Belize with the army and is trained in all things jungle so got a few tips off him. The night progressed and we got talking to some German ladies (for some reason Miami is awash with our European friends) and before we new it it was 5 am. They like to stay up late here. Up at 9.30 this morning and now I'm so tired I can hardly type. It's been a nice day though. Just ligging by the pool, the odd swim in the sea. I met up with the German contingent again for a couple of beers but I've had to head home now to put the jet lag to bed. I've been invited to a night on a casino boat tomorrow so we'll see how that pans out. Should be good.
I'm off to bed... I'm shatt e r e dzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Ow do. It's my second day in Miami now and I have to say that jet lag is a pain in the arse. True to form though (harkening back to the Atlanta escapade) I've done my best to beat it. I just spent a bit of time working it out and yesterday I was up for 29 hours straight. Brilliant. The flight was delayed by an hour or so and but wnet smoothly apart from that. Got to the hotel alright and then got changed and went out to find some food. The old travel habit of talking to complete strangers kicked in and I got chatting to this bloke called Karl. He'd just finished a tour in Belize with the army and is trained in all things jungle so got a few tips off him. The night progressed and we got talking to some German ladies (for some reason Miami is awash with our European friends) and before we new it it was 5 am. They like to stay up late here. Up at 9.30 this morning and now I'm so tired I can hardly type. It's been a nice day though. Just ligging by the pool, the odd swim in the sea. I met up with the German contingent again for a couple of beers but I've had to head home now to put the jet lag to bed. I've been invited to a night on a casino boat tomorrow so we'll see how that pans out. Should be good.
I'm off to bed... I'm shatt e r e dzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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