Well, where to begin. Ahh... the Hostal again really cool place although my toes are half an inch shorter from all of the times I have stubbed them walking into my bathroom. The floor in the bathroom is elevated about an inch or so and well I just cant seem to figure that out on my own. When I do my toes will thank me. The location of this place is great you can easily walk to everything you need or want. Such as the most important of all places such as: bars, liquor stores and a really big church. For confession, if you might need such services after hanging out with me for an hour or more.
Of course I found Mc Donalds, KFC, Texas Chicken and a few other american chains. The coolest store here (the name I forget) would put Wal-Mart to shame. This store had it all. As I walked by the window I saw a number of musical instruments, tent, lawn mower and a natural gas fireplace insert. Of course, that just really stood out as odd because most stores here are very specialized and small. So for you shopping fanatics, I bit the bullet and went window shopping for you. Wow, the things you could buy and the prices were cheap. Like fire sale and blue light special cheap. It was like I walked into an appliance, bike, hardware, music, liquor, tool, electronics, sporting goods, motorcycle and car dealership all in one. Heck I could even buy a pair of roller blades with a weed whacker motor strapped on back of them. I was afraid to ask how fast they went, because the odds of me walking out with them on my feet would have gone through the roof.
The local cuisine in Quito is pretty good and really cheap. Walking down the streets you of course have the local vendors out with their carts. Also there are a bunch of shops every where. Granted they are all very small and very numerous. For a idea about the food you can go to any number of places and buy a coke for 15 cent and a sandwich for 50 cents. Or as some of you would prefer pizza and beer for a buck. For dinner I even found a chinese restaurant that makes really good charsu bou. The owner really flipped when I left him a 4 dollar tip for a 6 dollar meal (there were lots of leftovers). But when the foods that good and that cheap what the heck. In the US that meal would have cost me 25 bucks plus tip. Let's see what next.... Shall I start with the really cool people sharing the hostal with me or the dark seedy underworld I always manage to find the door to. Well let's leave the seedy underworld to your imagination. I will say I didn't have to travel too far to find mischief with a few fellow yanks and a few locals holding the door wide open. We will let it be said I didn't stay long. I have better things to do with my time. Like, world domination. Oh yes, it's still on my list. As to my fellow guests, well, there is a hodgepodge here. There are visitors from Chile, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Mexico, Spain, and a few from the US. One of the guys drove here in his Isuzu Rodeo from San Diego, California. Now that's a road trip... Every one here has been super nice and life moves at a slower pace. Except the taxis. They haul ass no matter what country your in. For me, I really enjoy getting to meet new people and swapping stories of our grand adventures. I think I am probably the least traveled here in the group. Well maybe not if you consider my travels within the US. Some of the people here are on volunteer vacations and some are here for temporary teaching jobs at the local university. While others like myself well is just a matter of getting away. Really. No really the cops are after me. Just kidding...
