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Hola from Quito,
Well we finally made it, after a very tiring 3 days! But it was well worth it just for the descent in to Quito airport, truly amazing sight of the city and surrounding volcanoes.
After we had got over the sights and filed of the plane though, we were hit almost straight away with the altitude sickness, not so great. Feeling dizzy and headaches, a bit like a hangover with out the booze:0( Its taken us a few days to get over that, but now we seem acclimatised and feeling almost human again! (My throat swelled up fer a bit, Kim loved that, her headache cleared immediatly, and Kims tongue swelled up, which was nice - Rick)
Well Quito, where to start! Quito is a pretty chilled city, you wouldn´t think it had the highest concentrated population of all SA. We are currently staying in the new town which is quite modern, however the city is pretty poor with 70% of the population living in poverty.
It takes some getting use to seeing all the street children selling sweets and fruit, oh and almost robbing us of our menthol filters & cig papers whilst having a quiet beer - quite a novelty here!! We got them back though, good job really as we only have a few left!! Hello real cigs!
Apart from the obvious poor state of the city, the people are really friendly, although we can´t understand a word they are saying, we are getting by with our trusty phrase book though. I think we must know about 20 words now! ( yeah 1 to 20 in Spanish - Rick) and a few phrases enough to get by for now, but I´m sure we´ll pick up more as we go:0)
The most striking thing about the city though is the backdrop of the volcano that towers above the city which sits at the base, it really is something else, although by the afternoon you struggle to see to top as the cloud sets in.
As for us two we are doing great really settling in ok, oh and making an arse of ourselves or should I say Rick is. Yesterday he fell arse over tit over what we have now named a pygmy bollard much to the amusment of myself and the locals. LOL! Picture of bollard to follow. Rick is ok though, just his pride a bit dented.
Rick here. I´m ok no thanks to that little bollard and to cap it all I have sunburn straight across my forehead - you can never mistake a Brit abroad can you!!
For those of you aware of my turbulence problems you will be pleased to learn they have greatly subsided due to all the good food I have been eating, plus with the air pollution here you couldn´t tell if I had been bad or not ;)
Tomorrow we are setting off on our overland trip. Earlier today we met up with the rest of the people we are travelling with, and tomorrow afternoon we will be in the jungle!!
We are not sure when we will be back on line, but as soon as we get chance we will (plus hopefully have some photos uploaded!).
This means we will not be in the jungle for Christmas - aaawwww I hear you cry! I know it is sad but all is not lost - we´ll be on a glacier instead!!! Ye-ha! Then on Boxing day ice climbing - apologies to our families here but we probably won´t be able to contact you till after New Year, but be assured we will be thinking of you.
Thats all for now, but rest assured I will have my revenge on that tiny bollard!!
And remember guys please keep in touch, its great to hear from you, but makes us cry too.
Asta Luego amigos,
Lots of love to you all.
Senor Rick & Senora Kim xxxxxx
PS Hope you had a great birthday sis!
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