I wanted to sum up what I thought about Ecuador (after being in a place for 2 weeks I'm an expert, ok?), and have decided to do so by using an allegory (more like a list of comparisons) from our experience crossing the border to Peru.
We knew from the get go that the bus ride that day was to be a long one. Vilcabamba, Ecuador to Piura, Peru was at least a 9 hour journey, but at least we knew that the bus going straight across the border, making the customs formalities and currency issues more simple.
Comparison: Seemingly simple and later becomes complex.
One bus change was needed in Loja, Ecuador and we were lucky because the one we wanted to Piura was leaving shortly after arrived. Our luck was a double edged sword of timeliness because the bus wasn't leaving from a terminal, but was instead waiting in a random street somewhere in what was probably a completely separate city. Rosa became our savior and her language abilities got us onto a speedy taxi that knew where we were going.
Comparison: A situation that is seemingly difficult and annoying is easily solved by an odd infrastructure and affordable transportation.
After securing our seats on the Piura bound bus we were confident in an early arrival. This sense of accomplishment, however, waned when we came to a dead stop 20 minutes before the Peruvian border town of Mancara. If you guessed landslide then you've been to Ecuador during the rainy season, or perhaps you´ve actually been reading this blog (either way I'm suspect of your motives and I´m watching you). It took hours and hours and more hours before they were able to get a bulldozer to come smash the thing up - no women in felt hats were going to be digging us out of this one. At least the hillside views kept us company.
Comparison: Landslides, long waits, and amazing beauty.
Well, it took soooooo very long to pass the impassible pass, that the bus driver decided that he was too tired and wanted to go home, instead of taking us to the destination our tickets claimed. He dropped us off in the vicinity of the border, a few hours after dark, and we were on our own from there. Luckily a series of events unfolded, involving various peoples and modes of transportation (I remember a llama or some other camelid playing an important role) we made it into Peru and into some teenager´s car. Our driver had apparently crossed the border in search of cheap gas, and was nice enough to drop us off in our hotel which was 2 hours away (driving near the sound barrier).
Comparison: Again the situation seemed difficult and annoying and was easily solved by an odd infrastructure and affordable transportation, but this time there were odd animals and driving really really really fast ta boot!
Can´t you just feel the Ecuadorianness in those comparisons? I know I could.
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