So we ended up somewhere that didn't look so great, we backtracked and pulled into the Kia dealership in the hopes that someone would know how to get to the airport. Interesting how the guard had a weapon, at the ready. Alrightly then....even my teenage son made a comment about the 'readiness' of this guard. Hmmm, shall we open our windows, as it is close to 100 degrees (or so it seemed)...while we patiently waited for my husband to come back holding perfect directions to the airport? Where we had hoped to turn in our rental vehicle, and hop into a taxi that would take us to this nice Malecon 2000 we kept hearing about?
Fast forward one hour. Hubs, all happy, albeit a tad 'worn' emerged from the dealership, with a google-map to the airport. Because the people there didn't know how to get to the airport. Funny thing is, we are used to the 'directions' thing here, and our "we are in Latin America instinct" kicks in. What does THAT mean? Hehehehe.....
We follow the directions the lovely gentleman gave us (that really was so sweet of him to give us directions, not scribbled, but printed out!) - however, we knew that we might need to make some last minute, um, er, adjustments. Whatever do you mean Tami? Hehehehe. Sure enough, in the middle of downtown, traffic snarled everywhere, where we were supposed to turn left, it was a one way street. Right only. Ha! I thought ahead and we plowed on through a few streets ahead, left turn allowed....but then....omg, how do we get over to where we were SUPPOSED to be, when there is an overpass, and, and...AUGH! Good news however. We kept on driving while I studied that map (really hard), and we MADE IT TO THE AIRPORT. In one piece. Car still intact. We deserve a medal.
Unfortunately, by the time we checked in the car, stored our bags in several lockers, and visited the, um, facilties, we didn't have much time to check out the Malecon. BUT I WILL NOT BE DETERRED!
We hop into a taxi (approved of course by the airport??) and head straight to the Malecon.
The few pics we got - first, rugrats are having a blast on this track - giggles galore:
Check out the haircut scene, on stage in front of everyone - yikes, that takes some balls!
Pics of the Malecon:
Do you know what this dog is doing? Thought the kid was going to have a laugh attack, me, um, I looked away (hubs took this pic, ewwww):
We crossed this street. And even if there was a traffic light, do you think anyone paid attention?
The correct answer is NO:
We emerge from the indigenous market to see that it is somewhat, um, DARK. Not totally dark, but definitely in the dusk....
So we walk a bit fast, to get to the Malecon. All the warnings about taxis in Guayaquil have me a bit tense, so we look for a restaurant or even a hotel to call us a taxi. No such luck, but then again we are just trying to stay out of the way of the gazillion cars and taxis and lord mercy those damn buses!
We find someone who ends up talking to a transit police guy - and after about 5 minutes of various taxis passing by, the transit guy pulls over a taxi (his ID # matched on windshield, side and even rear window, whoo hoo!) and we get in. Me in the middle.
Now, I am not this fearful jittery kind of gal, but my kid is with me, and momma instinct is in full force. We are a tad quiet in the back seat, the taxi driver isn't speaking, but he has this cool music, and we start bee-bopping, loving the rhythm, the sound gets a bit louder, and....we are moving to the groove all the way back to the airport....watching where we are of course....and all 3 of us are smiling from ear to ear when we pull in to the airport.
Did you know you can drink in the airport terminal? You don't have to hide in a restaurant or bar? I took FULL ADVANTAGE. What a day!
Cheers,
Tami
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