Noticed a billboard in Quito advertising the city´s half marathon on the 19th of November. Entertained myself with the idea of training hard for the next three weeks and then having a go at getting a p.b. Balanced up the idea against the fact of having spent four weeks on a boat drinking beer, and having any walking movement restricted by the boats length of 75 feet. Ten minutes later I had filled in the application form, paid a $10 entrance fee and my fate was sealed. All in the name of adventure. Splendid.

Took a bus north to Otavalo, a three hour journey, paid one pound, my kinda country. The bus filled up gradually as we wound our way through the Andes. One family sat in front of our feet holding a cute puppy. The little girl spent the whole journey asking to hold the puppy from the little boy, when she finally got the puppy it peed all over her and she handed it back, very entertaining.

Searching for spanish schools this week. It´s a miracle we have made it this far based on the fact the follwing three sentances are our entire spanish repertoire;

1. Donde esta cerveza - Where that beer Always gets a laugh from the locals. Usually at me.
2. Una habetatheeyone con cama de matremoneeyole - A room with a bed for marriage. We always get shown to a double bed. If it´s not broken why fix it.
3. No entiendo - I don´t understand Our most common phrase.

Anyhow this time next week, after an intensive 1 week Spanish course, these two Gringos will be magicaly transformed into Amigos.

Cooper Out

Love Dan & Kat