South America second trip

[ErikGustav2]

I was prepared for 35 degrees. With water and all ventilation open.

But I felt bit could after one hour.
A check of the termometer said 17 degress. The GPS said 2 300 m.
Not what I expected in the jungle.

Coffe break in the mountains:

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The place close to the Laguna

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The Laguna:

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But is soon went downhilll and temperature went up. To 36 degrees in the afternoon.

[ErikGustav2]

But before that I passed a bridge.
I took my time to park the bike and walk over the bridge.
And take some photos.
When the travel is the goal. Not the destination.

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I do not know how high the bridge was over the river.
But it was a lot.

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It was 54 meter long

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[ErikGustav2]

Plans were changed. There was a proposal from the president of Ecuador to introduce new requirement when entering from Peru and Colombia. Requirement is to have a certificate that you are not a criminal. In case it would apply to all nationalities that traveled in that way. Or only Colombians and Peruvians is not clear. So instead of taking it easy in Peru and letting Ecuador calm down. I made a quick push to enter into Ecuador, before new regulations come into effect. So I drove straight to the border and have crossed into Ecuador. It was a nervous day. What should I do if I was refused entry? Now I have Visa and permit for MC in Ecuador. I can relax.

At the boarder crossing, I met the first foreign traveler, since I entered Peru. He was from Estonia. Doing Alaska-Ushuaia.

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I asked the lady at migration. It is very rare to see foreigners pass the border at this point.

Bye Peru. The river is the border.

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It seems that none of the unrest is happening in the eastern part of the country. It is apparently concentrated in the 3 largest cities. It's quiet here.

[johnnyboy]

great to see you up and about again, more fantastic pictures and stories,

[ErikGustav2]

Evertything is normal here in this remote area.
People spend the evening playing Volley Ball.
The Police is calm and helpful.
Nothing can be seen from the war against narcotic terrorism that is onoing in Guatyaquil, Quito and Cuenca

==
Compare the buidlings with the church. Where did the Spanish put there stolen resources ?

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Another church

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[ErikGustav2]

Stop at a restaurant in Vilcabamba for a fish soup.
Next to me : two old people are speaking english.
One told me his story,´
He was from England.
He had lived for a long time in Canada
Moved to Ecuador/Quito rather long time ago.
And now he lives in Vilcabamba.
Living an easy and happy life.
In nice climat/weather.

And I learned that he was not the only one. 1 600 foreigners lives in this town.
A little concetration of retired persons from the west world. !?
Even a couple of Swedes
=
What you can learn from a lunch in such a remote place.

I thougt that moving to Portugal was a great step. But moving to Vilcamaba. Wow !

Atatched are some photos from the town.

https://www-loja-gob-ec.translate.goog/ ... _tr_pto=sc

[Tonibe63]

Thanks for the update again Erik, you are inspirational in opening our minds to the possibilities .

[ErikGustav2]

Before that I update with the latest. I will write about two things that happened in normal days.

Police

When I came to Zumba, I was confused about finding a hotel. I saw two policemen. And I know that they have good knowledge. So I asked them. They described the way I should ride to find the best alternative. It was close. I rode as they had told me. But the house that I found was not a hotel. So I returned to the starting place. And took up my phone to try to use Google maps. The police saw me and asked me if I did not find the hotel. I confirmed. Come here he said. Look down there. There is a orange house. In that house, there is a small store. Go into that store and ask about the hotel. It are the same people running the hotel and the store. And that is the only hotel in town with their own parking.
I followed his instructions. And I got a good and cheap hotel room. With the bike parked behind the hotel. I even stayed there two nights. To get one day to recover more. Eating and drinking water. And it was raining the second day.

Policemen: Are they not suppose to stop you, harass you and try to get bribes ?
Not help you like that. But there is the difference between reality and rumors.
Maybe also the attitude and expectations help.

Money changer

I had “a lot” of Peruvian Peso in reserve, since I did not know what would happen. And I traveled in the jungle. Without banks and ATMs. I changed same at the border. To get some dollars (that is used in Ecuador).
In the evening in Zumba I took my MasterCard to get some cash. I went to the two banks that existed. But they accepted only local cards. I asked if the could change soles into dollars. No. But a man heard me asking. And told me that there might be a possibility at the plaza: But no. But those women told me to go a few blocks away to find a store for shoes. The owner of that store should change money. So I went there and asked him, The answer was yes. So changed the few soles that I had in my pocket. Later in the evening, I took all my soles and went back to that store. But only his wife was there. And she did not do this thing. But maybe the man should be back later. Or when the open 8 or 8:30 tomorrow.

I went there next day. Closed. Sunday. I talked to someone outside. He said that the store next could also change. I asked that woman. But the amount was far to much for her. But she said that she would call that man, Since it was a rather large sum, He might open the business He said OK, but wanted me to come to his apartment. Two blocks away. A man volunteered to show me where the money changer lived. So he walked with me two blocks. And the bank man was on his balcony. Opened the door remote. And I could enter his apartment. His business was serious. He even had a machine that counted bills. So we made the exchange at the agreed rate.

I got ride of my soles that I could not use. And got a good amount of dollars. And his doughtier would use the Pesos for shopping in Peru.

All these people the help me achieve this. 1. Man that took me to the plaza. 2. The woman that called. 3. The man that walked with me to the money changer. 4. The money changer.
Are people not supposed to rob you and....
I meet only friendly and helpful people.
On the other side. I walk around in T-shirt and sneakers. In small towns at daytime.
I am never in big cities. At bars and getting drunk in the middle of the night. And charring valuable things.

And everything is not intenet, ATM, creditcards.
Interaction with people is still very valuable,
And cash is still the king

[ErikGustav2]

RIding north from Zamura towards Sucau.

It was a ranub day, Hard rain some times.
I passed some nice towns with wondeful plazas and churches.
But the camera stayed in the pannier. And the phone in the pocket under the waterproofs.
So no more plaza pictures.

The bike got a natural wash:

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The road was tarmac, and not much affected by the rain.
But some land slide had pushed some clay/mud down on few places.

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So everything got dirty again.

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[ErikGustav2]

Around half an hour before my planned stop in Sucua, I spotted a nice hosteri.
U-turn and back again.
Very nice place. Good price and service.

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I stayed there for 2 nights. To avoid another day of heavy rain.
It was very nice and relaxing.
I could both rest, plan and do some admin work.

The man cooking suggest that I should follw a river along the border with Peru.
Into the jungle. But it was one day south of where I was.
I decided to not turn back