GUAYAQUIL



the McDonald's security guard highlights just dangerous a place Guayaquil is

WHERE: GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR

WHERE (less detailed): a port-town in South West Ecuador used as a launch pad for Galapagos trips

WHY: In Guayaquil to drop off Hoolie for her Galapagus Islands trip - too costly for our blood - and to allow Paul to make a 13hr round trip pilgrimage to Montecristi where the best Panama hats are made.

The man from Del Monte say Yes!

WEATHER IS: sunny again

FOOD IS: hard to say. After a brief 9hr overnight bus journey we arrived in Guayaquil to find out we had contracted Julies sickness and diahorrea bug. As a result eating was off the cards the next 48hrs

the mark of quality

PEOPLE ARE: our hosteliers were awesome. They allowed us to check in at 6am, have a powernap and then gave us breakfast.

(one of) Rhaani's worst nightmare

HIGHLIGHTS/LOWLIGHTS: as soon as he had breakfast paul was back to the bus station for an I'll-advised adventure. The hostel girl said it couldn't be done in a day, Rhaani just said it was stupid. But regardless after three buses and a taxi I was at JOSE CHAVEZ FRANCO's house where Panama Hats have been made for over 70-years. A few ill-fitting attempts later I could be mistaken for the man from Del Montes ... a few toilet trips and an alley-way vomit later and I was on the bus back to Guayaquil. By 10:30pm I was back at the hostel ...

Guayaquil church

...Meanwhile Rhaani, who hates Iguanas and pigeons visits the pigeon infested Iguana Park to really bring her nausea to the fore ... a visit to the promenade wasn't quite as exciting ...

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