Monday, June 30th, 2003- Day 132
I set the alarm at 6.05am. It was a pretty early start but I wanted to arrive in Huaquillas early as to have some choices as to where to go next. The cost for four nights accommodation in a private room was 18 US (Hotel Pichincha, Torres 8-82). It was a nice quiet spot but I had to put the mattress on the floor for the last two nights as the springs were literally shocking. No windows though. Anyway I was out of the room by 6.30am and hailed a taxi to the bus station (1.50US). I was the only one waiting for the bus (I had bought the ticket yesterday for 5 US). Anyway it was meant to go at 7.00am and by 7.20am, no none else had arrived so we left. The bus was full by Malhala by picking up people. Scenery was nice but I was too sleepy to take much notice. We arrived at the immigration control (to get stamped out) at 12.30am. The bus driver told all the touts to f&(% off and leave me alone. I knew what I was doing (Ihad passed here on the way in to Ecuador) and got stamped out. The bus was good to wait for me as I was the only passenger taking stamped out. He waited 5 minutes. We got to Huaquillas (the bus company was one block off the main street) and I walked the 10 minutes to “Friendship Bridge”.
I ignored the touts offering free Advice (later charging/extorting 20 US) and the money changers with their rigged calculators. I must have ignored about twenty of them before coming to the actual boarder and getting a moto (Motos are not on the Ecuadorian side). I paid the driver 2 Soles to take me to the Peru immigration control 4km outside town. It only took 2 minutes to get stamped in again and get my tourist card valid for 90 days. The control is in the middle of a 4 lane highway so exit the way you come in and not out the other side (unless you want to go back to Ecuador). Mini buses drive by every three or four minutes collecting people for Tumbres. I got in (bags on top) and paid ONE sole for the 35 minute drive to Tumbres. I arrived just off the main street at 1.35 pm. Where to next – Lima! Not yet, Decided to head to Trujillo. It is a 10-12 hour bus journey so to save myself arriving in the middle of the night and a nights accommodation cost (cheap bastard), I booked with “El Dorado” bus company to go at 9.00pm tonight. The cost was 30 Soles.
Tumbres is a nice quiet place. The new pedertinised street is excellent with beautiful mosaic sculptures and the Plaza de Armas has a great one. I caught up with email (1.50-2.00 Soles an hour). I had a nice dinner and a few drinks. I forgot how sticky, hot and humid the weather is here by the coast.
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Click on the picture to see it in it?´s original size
Tumbes – Peru (30-06-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in it?´s original size
Tumbes – Peru (30-06-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in it?´s original size
Tumbes – Peru (30-06-2003)