Ciao Ecuador!

I finally left Ecaudor on an overnight bus from Loja on October 4th. My first border crossing! So exciting!!

Adios Ecuador!
Hola Peru!

So here is a little summary of the things I loved and hated about Ecuador:

Bring it to America!!

1. Making Garbage Fun!- most of the public garbage cans in ecuador are clowns or cartoon characters! And the garbage trucks drive around playing ice cream truck music. I love it!!

2. Food Vendors on Buses- One can´t ALWAYS remember to bring enough snacks on a long bus ride. Or maybe an unanticipated bout of hunger sneaks up on you during your trip. Chiiiiiifles anyone?! (common snack of fried plantain chips for those of you not in the know)

3. Soups-really cheap set lunches (almuerzos) and dinners (meriendas) that always start with a delicious soup!

4. The Mojitos from Quito

5. Votaccion- making voting the law. Say what you will...I like it.

Leave it in Ecuador!!

1. Low pressure sewage systems- Sigh. I just want to throw my toilet paper in the toilet. I never really appreciated the convenience of this before I wasn´t allowed to do it.

2. Electric Showers- First of all, they usually don´t even really make the water hot. Secondly, I have shocked myself on more than one occasion by accidentally touching the shower head. Boo!

3. Platform Tax- So, I go the bus station and pay for my bus ticket. I stroll around the terminal a little. Oh, look, it´s time to catch my bus. Now I have to go digging around my purse with big back pack in tow for 10 cents so that I can pay the fee to go through the door to get on my bus. This makes no sense. Just up my bus ticket 10 cents and we´ll call it a day.

4. Votaccion- Being required to travel to the city you were born in to vote.

5. Lea Seca- Drinking and sale of alcohol is illegal for a period of time before voting. Ummm. No. I will never go back to prohibition NEVER!!!!!! NEVER!!!