Spring time in Ecuador

Greetings from Guayaquil Ecuador. I`ve been here about 5 days and so far I like it. This is the first I have been out of the mountains in a long time. I have been at altitude for so long that when I got here the first time I went out it felt like someone took off 10 pound ankle weights from each leg. I had so much energy I couldn`t believe it. Another advantage to spending a long time at altitude is when you get used to drinking there when you get back to sea level you can drink forever before you start to get drunk. I used to have the same experience when I lived in the mountains in Colorado. (remember that Peter) at any rate this is also the first time I have sweat since I left Santa Marta. The first night I got here I actually experienced a warm wind at night. Boy did that feel good. Moving right along as I seldom do (copyright Dick Damron) here are some impressions of Guayaquil.

Shopping centers.

OK in the states and in Mexico we have supermarkets and they are fine, here they have a HIPERMARKET, it is HUGE!!!!!!!!! according to one person it is 36000 square meters or about 375,000 square ft. This sucker is incredible. Imagine a Sam`s club or Costco combined with a Home Depot in one building and you are starting to get the idea of the magnitude of this place. Just think hsuband and wife could go shopping together and when they meet at the cash register later they are only $1000 poorer. Fascinating place, I love it.

The Malecon

OK in Mazatlan we have a Malecon and it is a nice wide sidewalk that follows the ocean and it is very nice. You ain`t never seen anything like this. This malecon is huge. Large parts of it are 30-40 yards wide. They one section that has a beautiful garden. Another part has an IMAX theater and an anthropology museum on another part is a food court. One part is 2 levels and on the bottom part is a commercial area with lots different stores and such and it goes on for a few hundred yards. There is a sailing ship next to the malecon where you can go on a 1 hour river cruise up and down the river. There is a sports bar on it. At the other end are Mercados Artesanias. There are bronze statues of famous people on it. There are fully equipped play grounds for children. There are fountains. Also there are usually a fair number of good looking people walking around. This is fabulous.

Otras Cosas

All you folks eat your heart out but regular unleaded gas down here is 1.50/gallon. The taxis are cheap and the people are friendly. I am enjoying the warm weather here and am in no rush to return to the mountains. Although this will be a necessity when I go to Machu Pichu. I am debating on whether or not to go to Bolivia and do the death ride. (Sounds pretty stupid doesn`t it? ("Gee should I do the death ride? I wonder) Right now with Morales there seems to be a fair amount of anti-american sentiment there. Also I have been told that a visa for americans is $100.00 Right now I am leading away from it. I think I will stay on the coast and the warm weather. Well that`s all for now.
The road goes on forebver and the party never ends
hasta la vista baby
Charlie