1 – Arriving in Guayaquil

So how did I end up in Guayaquil, Ecuador? While visiting a friend of my mom’s (Hi Missy!) in Washington D.C. I met Dr. Greta Miño. Our visits to D.C. overlapped for one day, so I was lucky enough to get a chance to talk to her. Greta is one of the directors of a hospital in Guayaquil, and she invited me to come stay with her and volunteer in the hospital. I’m not one to pass up an opportunity, so here I am in the largest city of Ecuador just beginning my 8-month South American adventure.
My flight from LA to Miami was a piece of cake because I slept from takeoff to landing. My flight from Miami to Guayaquil… now that was exciting. The man next to me, who I soon learned to be of the name Sucre (Sugar for my gringo friends), was very nice and told me all about his beloved Guayaquil hometown. Sucre told me the best places to visit and the best foods to eat. We talked the entire flight all the while Sucre sat drinking his ginger ales and skyy vodkas. Three hours and six skyy vodkas after meeting Sucre his words were slurred and his body wavered, but his enthusiasm never waned. Regardless of his drinking habits Sucre gave me some very valuable advice: Take my time. Don’t rush from place to place. Relax. Enjoy it. Viva la vida. So here’s to Sucre, my first Guayaquileño amigo.