Greetings All! Yes, we've been left alone without a guide and some pretty dodgy Spanish, yet we have managed to get where we want and do what we want.......so far. So at this moment in time we're on the pacific coast of Ecuador in a surfer's hangout called Montanita.....walking around I'm pretty tempted to put my hair in dreads, say narly quite a bit and get a hemp tattoo....but Ruth isn't too keen on the idea....she prefers my clean cut, boy next door image.......

Well, we're gutted, England are going home.......... not quite sure how to cheer Ed up so thought I'd hide in the internet cafe whilst he has a quiet lunchtime beer. I spent the morning wandering around the largest local market I've ever seen. 7.30am we started - at the animal market and to avoid a frisky bull sticking his horns in my side, I've been followed round by a bad smell on the bottom of my shoe since. Still I should get plenty of room on the bus journey...

Well we've made it to civilisation in the beautiful Andean hill town of Banos after another truly amazing week after having left Quito. Firstly we cycled down Cotopaxi Volcano, which is the highest active volcano in the world! We then met up with the rest of our group and guide and then took a public bus to some hot springs where we got to chill out for a night before heading to the Amazon. Ruth managed to fit in a hydro massage at the complex as she wanted to wa...

We've arrived after the longest journey yet, it lasted 23 hr's but we got here in 6???????????????? (crossed dateline) Still acclimatising with the help of 4 beers at 11am due to the footy. Not sure whether now drowsy due to beer, excitement of game (unlikely), jetlag or altitude! Woken up at 8am by beeping horns and shouting due to start of Ecuador vs Costa Rica the party is still raging down the streets (including caracas and drums) what spirit!!! It's incredib...