We have had a busy few days since we last emailed. just before we left Quito for the jungle max was robbed, well actually pickpocketed. we were on a busy bus and his trousers were slashed with a knife and his wallet was stolen, very annoying but at least we only lost 70 dollars and a bank card, have heard lots of other stories since about quito so think we were actually lucky.

But on a happier note we went into the jungle for a few days. It was a long journey, an 8 hour overnight bus journey, a 2 hour 4 wheel drive trip to the entrance to the national reserve, then 2 hours in a dug out canoe to our jungle lodges. The word lodge makes it sound very luxarious, which it wasn´t, it was basic huts but thankfully had mosquito nets to prevent us from all the bugs, including a tarantula which was nesting in the roof ot our hut. Had a great time and saw lots of wildlife including, poisinous frogs, anacondas, pink dolphnis, tucans and cayman. We saw a black caymen, which is basically like a crocodile and the one we seen was very close to our canoe and it was over 2 meters long!!! I was slightly anxious at this point.

We have made it back to quito safely , after encountering army and police checkpoints where you have to get off the bus with all your bags and show your passport and have your bags searched, makes along journey even longer. Went up the top of the Telefonica tower today which is at a height of 4100 meters which is very high indeed, very difficult to breath. We were slightly stupid and forgot to take warm clothes so it was bloody freezing, basically double the height of ben nevis and i was wearing shorts and a tshirt.

were leaving quito tomorrow to head south.

keep in touch

xxx