On my way to Peru

I was a few days behind, and had to catch up. I debated long and hard as to which way to cross into Peru. During my stay in Banos I read a lot, looked on line often and talked to many people about the border crossing. There were two options really via Macara or Machala and I had to decide which route I was to take. I had heard bad, bad things about the Machala (to Tumbes, Peru) option. Many people were saying on line that it was the worst border they had ever crossed, and it was one of the most likely places in South America to get fleeced, robbed, hassled or swindled. But, it was quicker, and it led to where I wanted to go in Peru. So eventually, I chose that way.

It was still a few days bus ride away though. Well for me anyway. Some people are taking crazy 1-3 day bus journeys in south America. It is also very common to take night buses. Not me though. I travel by day (only one night bus), and can only do a max of 8 hours at a time. Maybe I'm not a "real" traveler because of it, or maybe I have more sense. I like to be able to see the scenery and I think it is safer to travel by day. And 48 hours straight of bus travel, not for me thanks.

So my two nights en-route to the border where Cuenca and Machala. I probably could have made it with only one night, but I decided to make the border crossing in the morning as opposed to the afternoon so I holed up in Machala for half a day. Something I had read said there were fewer hustlers at the border in the morning, and I don't like to arrive at my final destination after dark. Cuenca was a very nice city, Machala was not. The former a charming old colonial city reminding me of Merida, Mexico and Machala a border town and city of industry reminding me of Los Mochis, Mexico.

I would actually have liked to spend a little more time in Cuenca, and a little less in Machala, but you never know the first time. In Cuenca I went to the movies, and saw Blood Diamonds. I love going to the movies when I travel. I love the feeling of being in a dark room, movie distracting me, and for two hours I could be anywhere in the world. When I exit, the feeling of, "oh yeah I'm in such and such city, some country" is always strong with me. Also nightlife is not always an attractive option when traveling alone, so movies come in handy. In Machala I had cable TV in my room, which I paid an amazingly high (for me) 13 USD for. I did go out for a little bit, and came home 18 USD richer from the casino on the main square. But after two days of more or less just moving, little site seeing, it was time to gear up for the morning, that would bring the "scary" border between Ecuador and Peru.