Friday 23 March 2012

Visiting the nearby mercado central, I bought a batido (milkshake) of de mora y fresas (blackberry and strawberries) as well as a pound of frescas for lunch. Then, it was off to sightsee around the famous Malecon 2000 of Guyaquil, this time with the camera.

First off, I went to the Parque del Centanario where I finished breakfast off with a packet of "Cheetos" (basically, a packet of Wotsits). I was minding my own business when a guy, Juan Carlo, sat on the same bench and then started chatting to me a few minutes later, wanting to "be my friend" and show me the Malecon 2000.

I thought I knew where this would end but didn't want to prejudge, although I actually wanted to sightsee on my own. However, I didn't want to be closed off from new experiences and meeting people, and said I had already visited part of it yesterday, and he pointed out that it was a long area. I ummed and aahed for a bit regarding him accompanying me (I wanted to put a time limit on it, without being rude, as I didn´t particularly want him around all day as I could see it could get awkward later) but he seemed to take it as a yes, so I let him accompany me to the Malecon and thought I'd see how that worked out.

Well, we made it to the Malecon I'd already seen yesterday and it basically went the way I had half expected it to: after I refused to tell him what hotel I was staying at, how much I earned in the UK, and refused to hold hands with him when we got to the Malecon, he sulked (hello?!@*). I let him sulk for a few seconds, watching him and wondering how I could get rid of him (really, what was he expecting?). After a bit, he then asked me if I wanted him to go, so I simply shrugged and said Si, so it was ciao all round!

This is on top of him telling me something about papers, 3 months (you need a visa if you stay longer than 3 months) and something else about going to China/Chinese when we were talking in the park - I didn't get it all, but I wonder if he was trying to tell me that he could get me paperwork to stay here/let him go to China with me(?): I don't think he believed that I was from England. Plus, he had already asked me if I was married... It reminded me of when I travelled around Australia: one guy I met at a New Year bash offered to marry me if I wanted residency (as if I was looking, although there were plenty of others wanting to stay): needless to say, I never enquired what the catch in that offer was…

Having thankfully shed my unwanted companion (quite amusing really, still makes me laugh), I carried on wandering to the top (north) of the Malecon through the beautifully cool botanical gardens, but skipped walking up Las Penas which apparently offers a great view of the city, as it was a hot day, nearly midday, and I stupidly decided to wear jeans. I must say the Malecon is pretty impressive: a lot of money has been spent, and is being spent on maintaining it, from the people I saw painting, cleaning and re-grouting the walkway. I especially liked the botanical gardens part of it: it made a nice oasis and sanctuary from the rest of the bustling city.

After a short rest from the heat, I then headed back south to the La Rotunda, the clock tower and through the Centro Commercial Malecon, a series of small malls (air conditioned, thankfully!) along the waterfront, and then south to the very small number of shops at the Mercado Artesenal.

On the way back to the hotel, I went along my hotel street to the Parque Seminario which has resident iguanas, passing by Palacio de la Gobernacion, Palacio Municipal and dropping by the cathedral, with its surprisingly wide-spaced pews (and wall-mounted fans).