Hi All,
Just a short note to say hi from Guayaquil. This is my stopping point on the way
to the Galapagos. I couldn{t book straight thru, I think that is a planned thing
to get you to stay here an spend some dollars
Yes DOLLARS. The official currency is US Dollars. The coins are different but
the same denominations.
The city is MUCH different than the large Peruvian cities. Its a business and
agricultural center here. Very European feel. All the buildings are finished (
no rebar sticking up from the tops of the roofs!!) Nice highways, well marked
roads. But still very crazy driving. wow If you had to commute an hour a day
here, you'd be a wreck by the time you got to work. Weaving in and out, lots of
horns, like the old Magic Mountain ride at Disneyland.
Very high tech here. This hotel is full Wi-Fi. Lots of cell phones, here not
that evident in Cuzco. Where Bill Gates made a campaign to push the technology
worldwide or the people PULLED it to them, not sure..in any event its all over.
This year, you can get CD's made for downloading your camera memory card
everywhere. That was non-existant 2 years ago on my other trip. Technology
catches on fast all over the world. I get the feeling we (USA) are only one
player in all this, not the big high tech country we might feel we are. This is
truly a global community.
The people are very nice here and accomodating. One interesting thing is a lot
of the business women in the city wear uniforms! I think its all the city
employees, they all have the same (neat and attractive) uniforms! Will try to
get pictures. And hotels are first class. There aren't many small restaurants
or small hostels or hotels, since this is a very business city.
In 2000, they improved the river walkway, called the Malecon. It is a long, very wide all brick river walkway. With a large, garden in the center and an IMAX movie theatre and museum. A nice place to stroll.
Time is up have to go !
Will write from the Galapagos
yours in Travel
Bill
