After a long afternoon of bus riding, exiting our first bus just after the border about 3pm and then into another bus departing just after 4pm, we arrived in Cuenca about 9.30pm.

A Spanish speaking girl from our group took over our guides duties, negotiating prices for our cabs (the last few places we've been don't use meters), and getting us safely to our Pousada de Angel.

We ate a delicious Italian meal at the restaurant, a few vinos then bed.

I awoke with my cold quite bad again, but glad we had a free day ahead of us!

Our tour leader walked in while we were having breakfast, him and 2 of the girls arrived at 12.30am.  The girl whose bag was stolen had lost her passport (aswell as $500AUD, iPhone, iPod, camera and kindle!), so had to head back to the Australian embassy in Lima ... Hopefully she'll get it quickly and will catch us again further along!

It was 1 May so also a holiday in Cuenca.  I headed first to the chemist, where I was impressed to find I could by pseudoephedrine off the shelf!  I guess who wants that to make speed here when there's an abundance of coca leaves  for Cocaine here instead!

I then came across May Day parades of workers. I understood their signs enough to work out they were sick of their president who'd been elected 10 times running, and wanted a new president next election who listened to the workers! 

Went to an internet cafe next and got a virus on my SD card!!! I then went to another cafe to try and work out why my pics wouldn't upload and the virus scanner there alerted me to it ... I couldnt understand what actions it was asking me to take with the card but think I quarantined it ... The card now no longer shows any files when inserted in a PC but does show the pics on my camera ...

I'm praying one of my IT savvy friends can fix it for me  because that's all my favorite pics from Rio and Machu Pichu on one card ... As well as other pics I hadn't updated to Facebook with what I've done since Cusco :-(

I spent the afternoon googling surf & spa camps in Costa Rica & other travel plans ...

Dinner out with the group then home to bed.

Woke up feeling better and we left at 7am for the bus station. A 2 bus day to Banos arriving 6.30pm ... Good news is at least they have toilets!  A

ah it's the simple things that make me happy these days!!!