Why are we blogging from Guayaquil I hear you ask when out last post stated we were leaving for Quito. Well, checking in at Caracas airport we were told there was a problemo with the flight and we´re not landing at quito but instead were off to Guayaguil, Ecuadors 2nd largest city, 200 miles south of quito, where we will change planes onto a domestic flight. In the waiting lounge we get talking to a couple from Sweden who can speak spanish and tell us the airline didn´t mention are Guayaquil to quito flight would leave the next morning and we would be staying in a hotel overnight. Excellent, we´re in no rush.

As out plane touches down in Guayaquil we are sitting at the back and are last to leave the plane. As we walk through business/first class there are around 20 Ecuadorians standing around. It´s raining outside and S.Americans often get buses to and from the plane to the airport terminal. Hence, we pressume, the bus was full and the 20 or so people left behind are waiting for another bus. We sit down at the back of business class and wait. It becomes apparent this 200 mile detour is not popular with some locals. One after the other they take out their frustations at the airline staff waiting at the front.

Of course we couldn´t understand a word of it but their body language was enough to get the picture. First up a couple of lads start mouthing off and hitting their fists into their palms. Next a business man stomps up and down the isle shouting. Then a smart looking lady takes over with a pointing finger and a big gob. Another women walks right up to the staff and slams her hand luggage down at their feet. She´s ranting away which would probably translate into I´m not leaving this bloody plane till we turn around and fly to quito tonight!! So this goes on for about 20 minutes and I start thinking Where is the bus gone´´? and This is very entertaining´.

We go over to one of the air hostess´s sitting at the back who can speak english.

"Whats going on?"

"They are very angry"

"Yes, I see, Urrm Where is the bus?"

"What bus"

"Urrrrr"

It appears we had un-intentionally joined a sort of rebel, renegade passenger gang who had decided to stay on-board, and fight for a connection flight that evening. We quickly decided to leave our commrades shouting away and walked to the front of the plane to find the plane was attached to a tunnel. There was never going to be a bus. We ran through passport control, customs and baggage reclaim and just made it on the bus leaving for the overnight hotel.

Things moved in our favor at the hotel. Last to load bags on the bus meant first to un-load at the hotel and first to the reception desk.

"bleugh be bleugh be ba be bleugh"

"Habla Inglais?"

"Sure, hows it going?"

"Yeah great thanks, our flight should have gone to quito but we have directed to Guayaquil tonight"

"OK, so do you want a double?"

"Please"

The guy turned around to face the pigeon holes where the room keys are kept. His hand lingured over the first floor row, rose to level 2, level 3, then 4 then 5. Finally he stretched up to the top level where they forget room numbers and give the suites names. His hand grasped the Quito suite key, like a little boy in a sweet shop, and handed it over. The porter took our bags inot the lift and as we went up I asked him if the room was nice. Best room in the hotel, super king size bed, 60 inch plasma screen tv, 5.1 surround souns system, jacuzzi, $180 a night. All for free. We love Santa Barbara airlines.

The next morning we are queing to get on the domestic flight, when the ´rebel´ passengers emerge from the shadows with their tails between their legs and joined the que.

Cooper Out

Love Dan & kat