It´s all fun and games until 25 eggs get stolen

We´re currently in Medellin, Colombia (made famous by Pablo Escobar) and are staying at a kick-ass hostel, but now I must rant.  At backpacker hostels many people buy food and prepare it in the communal kitchen so that they can save money. Dave and I decided to up the ante and buy LOTS of food, namely a carton of 30 eggs. Day 1 we ate 5 eggs. Day 2 the carton was gone! I mean shit! Who steals 25 som´bitchin eggs!? If they had taken anywhere from 5-10 we would still have plenty to go around. But whoever it didn't even have the decency to leave us 1??!! Dave is currently debating whether he should rage and eat all of the food in the kitchen. I´ll keep you updated.

So just a quick recap. We did go to Taco Bell in Ecuador, which was extremely gratifying to finally check that off the ol´itinerary. One interesting thing about Ecuador was the means people used for begging.  We boarded the city metro with all of our stuff (we were those guys) in order to save money and immediately a blind dude boarded and asked for some donation. He looked like he needed it so I gave him some change (I normally don´t) Then about 5 stops later another blind dude got on, but this guy had a little boom box around his neck and sang us some music. Very impressive that they can walk around a fast moving bus with out holding on to the railing.  Anyways he finished and prepared to get off and I kid you not, as he got off another blind guy with a little boom box got on. I mean they literally crossed paths.

We've met some interesting people. 2 che´s (Argentinians), a rapper from Britannica, some English guys, and last night a French magician.  Good times. Take care

Quito, Ecuador

Well, the joy of the bus ride was short lived as I woke up in the middle of the night with a searing pain in my chest. Right about where my heart would be. It was awful. So I called our doctor Suni Su who informed me that I was not in fact having a heart attack and that I should instead go to sleep.

On Friday, Feb 18. Dave, Jason Briggs, and I finished our Peace Corps Service. The staff had cake for us and sang us a goodbye song which was really nice. Then we went to some sweet ass bar in Pueblo Viejo that´s connected to a Quierolo distributor where they just give you a bottle of Pisco, limes, and pop (aka soda). It was pretty sweet to finally go to a bar like that.  On Sunday we said goodbye to our original host families from Lima which was really nice.

Dave then went to Cusco (see Dave for more details) and I had my despedida in Pacasmayo which was a good time, but really melancholy as well.

On Saturday the 27th we said goodbye to Chiclayo in an appropriate manner (see Mike for more details). Oh ya and Scott Bradford just happened to be in the neighborhood so he came by with a guy he´s backpacking with, James, who are both expert fruit ninjas.

Then on Sunday we finally started THE TRIP. Dave lost his wallet almost immediately, but that´s the way she goes.

We got to Guayaquil early Monday morning and stayed the night. Then Tuesday we went on a mother truckin´pirate ship called Henry Morgan. Thumbs up all the way around.

We are now in Quito and are going to see ¨La Mitad del Mundo¨monument and then tomorrow off to Cali, Columbia. World capital of plastic surgery