It's twelve hours before leaving Costa Rica for Ecuador and I'm sure I'm not the first to feel the proverbial butterflies about this new adventure.  Didn't sleep last night and I'm not optimistic about tonight.  It's not like I could use a good night's sleep before the trip.

I said my goodbyes with lots of hugs and good wishes and now it's just a matter of passing the time.  Ten o'clock departure with a nine pm arrival and then an hour and a half to Cotacachi and the b and b.  My layover is in Bogata, Columbia.  I don't expect any delays at customs, it's not the US after all.  I also got a haircut from Joyce today and she made me look harmless.  My next entry will be from the middle of the world...

Cruised right on through Bogata and then Quito airports only to have the ride of my life in a taxi.  Traffic laws are nonexistant for taxi drivers in Ecuador also.  Possibly even worse than Costa Rica.  Passing on double yellow lines on curves, racing through redlights and who knows what else went on while I had my eyes shut.  Then again, safe and sound at the
b and b right on time.

Today, Saturday, I have walked a few of the streets of Cotacachi, first to find a coffee and breakfast.  Now that I know nothing opens before 8 am I won't be heading out again at 6 am like I did today.  It is so quiet in town.  Hardly a car and but for an occasional bus, nothing. 

Eventually the kids headed for school, the locals, many dressed in traditional garb, started turning the streets into a busy morning of people going to work.  What beautiful clothing these folk wear. 

Things I learned the first couple of days:
- Avianca gives good flight service
- Avianca's in flight food sucks
- Avianca's movies are free and I finally watched "Gravity" on a teeny  weeny screen.
- There are a lot of very beautiful women in the Bogota, Columbia airport.
- My room is a bit noisy at night (I was greeted at 5:30 this morning by the Costa Rican national anthem being played.  For those not in the know, that's a car alarm playing for an ungodly amount of time.)

- Rubbish trucks play music as they pick up their goods.
- Serendipity is the place for breakfast.

Gloria, the Ecuadorean waitress, is a sweetheart.  Maybe tomorrow I'll have the chocolate chip pancakes.
- Needed a jacket at 6 am and removed it at 8:30 because of a bright and warming sun overhead.
- The enclosed Mercado had outstanding choices of fruit and vegetables.  

 Didn't see any meats.  Don't know yet where that is sold. 
- There's a food court at the Mercado and an example of one of the booths, "La Parrilla", has dishes: hamburger with fries, $2.50, BBQ wings and fries, $2.25, chicken nuggets, $2.00.
- It is very strange using the American Dollar here.  What do I do with these pennies.  Hmmm, use em for tips...

Just had a downpour lasting about 30 minutes.  Sun is back out.  Time to start thinking about lunch.  Walking is tiring.  Solid Rock Cafe dished up a great waffle with bacon.  Yes, that was my lunch. 

Cotacachi as of 3/15   Overall my rating is 8 out of 10.