Our Journey to Ecuador: another notch in ye old travel belt

It was a rough road to get to Ecuador but two weeks in and we love it here. We are staying in the small spa town of  Baños de Cuenca, outside of Ecuador's third largest city, Cuenca. Leaving Costa Rica to get to Ecuador was no easy task. Because we were living remotely in Zancudo, Costa Rica, we rented a car to drive eight hours to get to the airport in San Jose. It took almost two hours just to drive the unpaved roads from Zancudo to the highway! 

waiting for horses to cross as we make the trek back to civilization from remoteness, Costa Rica

Just when we made it to the glorious luxury of paved roads, we were selected to be stopped at a police check-point. The officer kept glancing at our back seat, piled high with luggage, and proceeded to ask us questions in Spanish. Most of it we understood but we then reached a halt in our communications. He was asking something about the luggage yet we had no idea exactly what he was asking. He finally gave up and told us to just go as he smirked and gave us the "you gringas are too dumb to be up to something" look. We couldn't stop laughing as we drove off into the winding rain-filled two lane Costa Rican highway.  

We stayed the night in the San Jose area and took three flights the next day. One of those flights we missed due to our inaccurate planning for getting through customs. Buying two tickets at the airport for an additional $300. was no fiesta but it allowed us to arrive at our destination that night. Another lesson learned. The silver lining appeared as we entered our lovely apartment, equipped and decorated nicely and with a cozy bed, hot shower, fireplace and fresh flowers, fruit and water left for us from our host. We woke up the next day, surrounded by the Andes, sunshine streaming in the windows, cows mooing in the backyard, and a live band playing festive music in the street. 

Because the town we are staying in is at an altitude of 8,500 feet, we had a bit of an adjustment period. We needed extra sleep and rest to shake off our headaches and tiredness. Then, on our second Sunday night here, about Midnight, I had to go to the Emergency Room from the internal havoc of my sensitive stomach and dehydration all resulting from something I ate. No bueno. Luckily we had made some special friends that day and they helped us with transportation to the hospital and translation (as medical Spanish is a whole other genre!) 
So, have I mentioned travelling is not for wussies? 

the quality of healthcare in the Emergency Room was excellent yet Emergency Room security was a bit too relaxed

Naturally, getting healthy and staying healthy is our top priority now and it seems easy to do here. We walk a lot and have access to an abundance of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. GMOs are illegal in Ecuador, the food prices are low and the country's food source is muy rico! Here is what $11. USD buys us from the farmer's market:

chard, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, bananas, plantains, green onions, avocados, green pepper, carrots, purple onions, lentils, pasta, three kinds of potatoes, uvillas, sugar cane, eggs for $11 bucks! 

So, even with the few bumps we've had in the last couple of weeks, our first impressions of Ecuador are very good. The people are kind, the culture is thick, the weather is cool, the energy is good and there are many, many adventures to be had!
Ciao! 
~Deb

the life of travel: one moment I'm buying crocheted goods at a craft market, the next I'm in the Emergency Room!