8th Oct - Guayaquil to Riobamba

Landed in Guayaquil around 8 and first thought was that Ecuador is more of a real country. Clean, modern, lots of international fast food outlets - not necessarily a good thing, but certainly an indication that the country is much more first world than the other two I've been in. Also noticed a lot of people wearing the bright yellow soccer jersey of the national team. It had struck me in Peru that I'd seen absolutely no one wearing the national shirt - presumably Ecuatorians are more patriotic!

Got breakfast with my 2 new Aussies and we'd a look at hostels on the net then. Dreamkapture was the one I'd been advised about and in fairness it looked the best. So we headed there in a taxi. Guayaquil has 2 million people and my first impression was that I didn't really like it, don't really know why, just got a bad vibe about it. Very very spread out and the hostel was miles from city centre and I just didn't take to it.

Got a room no hassle in the hostel and the lads went to lie down. I had 2 tasks, find somewhere showing Ireland vs Russia and book a trip to the Galapagos islands leaving asap. 

Spent a couple of hours sorting out the Galapagos, eventually deciding to book a trip that leaves from Quito in ten days time, that way I can spend that time travelling from here in the south through the country to all the nice places I want to see and reach Quito in ten days and fly to Galapagos! Sounds like a good plan. I then had to pay for the trip which was just over $1,000. Went to local bank to withdraw from my English credit card (which I've been using since I left London) and it would only give me $500. Must be cos of my daily limit but no hassle the hostel said I can just withdraw the balance over the next few days and lodge into their account. All good. Well now that I'd everything sorted and didn't like Guayaquil, decided to go to a pub to watch the match then leave for Riobamba later today!

Unsurprisingly, couldn't find anywhere with the match but found a restaurant with wifi and delicious food so listened to it with Gabriel Egan on RTE radio there. Lost 2-3. Disaster.

Went to bus station, and caught the 5pm bus no hassle. Long twisty journey and arrived around 10, checked into a hotel from Lonely Planet, and went for a couple of quiet pints, it was Friday night after all!