Viva la revolution

Quito, Ecuador

Was on the first plane into Quito once they reopened the airport. Street protests had escalated into riots, tear gas and revolution. Cool! fortunately the military did not step in and backed the protesters and the president fled. It is all quite now, but an exciting start to my journey.

Had no problems with immigration, was given a 90 day renewable visa without a hitch, proving Continental no nothing.

Took a bit of a flyer with the accommodation, as I was hoping to call a few places when I landed except bizarrely there were no phones in arrivals and this was 11 at night. Just had to hope that the hostel had read the email I sent them.

Later moved to a friendly hostel in Mariscal, Central del Mundo. Gives out free a cauldron of rum and coke, three times a week, drinks served up with a huge ladle. I think its the altitude at 2500m, as in the morning my head is a little cloudy.

Quito is a really soft landing, plenty of gringos, excellent cheap international restaurants, easy living and relatively cheap. I have signed up for Spanish lessons, four hours a day at Vida Verde school and in the afternoons I take salsa lessons. As an aside they are looking to pay men to take salsa lessons in June as part of an advertising campaign. Salsa is really coool and very sexy, except I get distracted and fall over my own feet.

Sorry not much to say, trying to be sensible and not get into any mischief.

New York

Bit apprehensive about this journey. I have higher expectations, also it wont be a gradual build up like the last journey. Nothing ventured as they say.

Had a bad start to my trip. Did not even get to the check in desk without being hassled by Continental Airlines security. They could not get their (small) heads around the fact I was traveling for a year without working. Kept asking daft questions and when they saw the Arabic writing in my passport I knew I was in trouble. You have been to Sudan! Why? he said in a rising voice and scuttled off to get his American superior. Who repeated all same pointless questions. I really had to bite my tongue, but I stuck my ground, especially when they came out with kinds of nonsense about visas. Held me for half an hour. Put me in a bad frame of mind for should have been a pleasant journey. This was a really bad ad for the US, but ironically the US immigration was as nice as pie.

Weird thing with the sandwiches on the plane. The filling was perched directly on top of the finger roll, not even slightly inside. So as you unpeeled the cling film it all dropped into your lap, leaving you with a completely empty bread roll, odd.

I had forgotten how good New York was. I had been twice before and its got a lot better. It is a lot smarter, cleaner, nothing even vaguely sketchy.

Emersed my self into the art galleries and did a few touristy things. Took a boat trip round the island. Sun bathed in central park, cherry blossom floating down, base balls being wacked through the air. One of the most romantic places is to watch the sun drop over Manhattan from the Empire State building (ESB), gorgeous.

At the top of the ESB there is a dedicated kiosk to sell authentic pieces of stone from the building, except my heart went out to the lone sales girl was bored witless having not sold anything in two days. Hope she was not on commission. Go visit her and make her day.

Stayed in a funky hostel in East Village, some great bars, kooky shops. The night before I was due to catch my plane I should have had an early night, except I ended going to this Moroccan club, serving up a strange mixture of rap, pop and Buzuki. Which prompted one of the Turkish girls I was with to do some impromptu table top belly dancing. Left at 4 with the streets buzzing. Lots of restaurants and bars were still open along with convenience stores, not a sign of security grills or bouncers. No trouble as we mingled with the many party goes as we stumbled home. Not bad for a Wednesday night.

Leaving New York my New Jersey train broke down, sat in a tunnel with no light for half an hour,which made time a bit tight at the airport, especially as my time keeping is not great. Also could have not done a repeat exercise with Continental Airlines security, talking utter rubbish about the duration of the trip and needing special visas to visit South America. Probably the most ignorant people in America.