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Yeah, I'm back in Ecuador.
Kind of had to write and blow off some steam.
This morning, I am at one of the Internet cafes checking to see if any of my cousins or friends are on the casualty lists for the Marines. Some woman, I think Aussie, sits at the computer nexts to me and reads her news and she says "Oh Sharon look! Marines injured in friendly fire incident." They both start laughing. Well, I restrained myself from smacking her in the damn head. But instead, I said, "Boy, hope it wasn't any of my cousins or friends." She looks at me and just turns stupid white. She says, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were an American." I said the only thing I could think of without letting my temper get the best of me, "shut up." They promptly left.
So, I am still a bit wound up about it, so I thought I would write about two hostals here in Quito. By the way, anyone else think the Galapagos Islands were closer to Australia? Never realized they were in Colombia and Ecuador's backyards.

Posada Del Maple: At first this was a cool hostel. Rooms were ok and there is a TV room and a couple of community area balconies. Your rent comes with breakfast which is actually pretty good, but they are a little greedy with the eggs. You get like one egg, maybe. They place is cleanand in a good neighborhood. Prices are reasonable. Something like $12.50 for a private room with bathroom. BUT............. Over  the last week I was there I observed a few things. One, I stopped getting towels. So, there you are butt nekkid on the third floor and you have no towel. The towels are on the first floor. That happened a number of times. (In December 2002, for the entire month I only got a towel 5 times)  When the cleaning people came into clean the room one time, Ihad my soap and Mach 3 razor in a plastic bag in the same area as my other hygiene gear. Yeah, they threw the bag away with my soap and razor. So,I tell the manager at the time and she was like, "oh well." Then I had a problem with the guy who stays over night and manages the place once or twice a week. I'm watching TV.The guy comes in and motions for the remote control. He proceeds to turn down the TV, then just plain turns it off. I am like, "What the Hell?" He just looks at me in shrugs. Not word of explanation, nothing. This is somewhere around 2pm, so noise was not an issue. I once again inform the manager and she is like "oh well." There's more to the story about this guy, but I will leave it that he is a bit abrasive towards the customers, not just me, and that does not cut it when you are in the people and customer service business. Now the next day, Idecide I am going to go find another hostel to stay at. But, the owner came back and she is a really nice lady. I talked to her and she said she wanted to talk to all her staff and she was going to put an end to it, because she has had the same complaints before.  But, she would like me stay at their other hostel, Alcala. I agree and we go over the couple of blocks to the next hostel. I think this place is better built. No wooden floors so you can hear everyone walking around.  This started to be a better choice, right up until I had to take a shower. No hot water. Apparently the pilot light went out or something on the hot water heater and there was no hot water. No big deal, but it's 4 pm and you would like to get a shower after you've helped your friend move and you want to go out and get something to eat. UGH! Ok, well things happen. About 10 pm that night, there was enough hot water for a shower. The same time I am staying there, there are about 5 Mexican students staying there. They were constantly being loud and just being pains in the butt. For example, you are in the TV room watching tv and they all come in and just talking loud and laughing and jumping up and down to make their point in their conversation, etc. You know, day time is day time, but when this crap is going on at 3 AM, well that's just rude. So,I complain to the manager there. I get,"Ah yeah." No more. Next morning, Idecide to go somewhere else, I get up to take a shower, get out of the shower, of course there is no towel. Well, that's what bed sheets are for, emergency towels. I don't think I would have been as peeved as I was, but the owner told them to make sure all the customers get towels eveytime they clean the rooms.
The point I make about Posada Del Maple and Alcala is they are nice places to stay and the staff, basically, are nice folks, but they tend to forget that the customer is how they get paid. The services are good when you get them, but you did not get them all the time and it appeared, and not just by me, that you do not get what you pay for, even though it's advertised that way. For example, they still list internet service, but they haven't had it in 5 months. They list having water and soda for sell, but haven't had either for 3 months. People can smile and say "good morning" every five seconds, but if you are not getting what you pay for, what's the point?
Jardin Del Sol:
I am now staying at Jardin Del Sol. A bit more pricey at $20 a night, but they have a bigger breakfast, if not better, but you won't starve. They have cable tv in the rooms. Private bathroom and telephone. They also have free internet service too. It's clean and the staff is nice, as well.
But.......................The noise. Every morning around 5:30AM they lift the security gates over the windows downstairs. Oh that's a lovely sound. Then you get to hear the cleaning staff around 6AM pulling their cleaning supplies up stairs. Kthunk, Kthunk, Kthunk up the stairs they go. Then, every morning so far, someone with some kind of wooden sole shoe runs upstairs. Clok, clok, clok! Then I think it is the acoustics of the building or something, you can easily hear the TV downstairs. So, when you have the front door bell, the phone, and the TV all going at the same time it gets annoyingwhen you are trying to sleep early in the AM. So, you have been out and you are sleeping in till around 8AM, it's always good to hear the sheep dog puppy barking downstairs to let you know he's awake.
The only other probelm I have with this place is I like to check my emails and well, since they have free internet service...... There is sign that reads Internet 7:30AM to 10PM. Well, usually I am up at 7AM anyway, courtesy of the dog, staff and TV, I eat breakfast and then want to check my emails. Well, the sign should read, Internet: When Monica shows up with the password to 10PM. Monica does not show up until 9:30 AM to 10 AM. After two days of waiting for Monica, I didn't even bother to ask today, I just ate breakfast then left for an internet cafe.
Which brings us back to where I started with the big mouth Aussie chick. I have stayed in a number of hostels here and they all haveratehr nice staffs and services for a day or two, then they seem to forget you are a paying customer and the shine starts to wear off. Just something you might look out for if you guys ever make it down this way.
If you read this, thanks for listening to my rants. (If some of my words ran together, I am using a 1972 keyboard)
Take it easy.
K...............................

... in response to Ecuador Stuff, posted by Traveller on Mar 27, 2003

Glad you told 'em. World opinion should count for nothing. It's clear that those who hate America always will regardless of what we do or don't do, including those within our borders. But listen to them cry when we cut off their $$ aid.

Mi Peruana is blown away by all the Anti-Americanism. She says she'll never understand how anyone can run down this place. To her, it's the Promised Land.

... in response to Re: Ecuador Stuff, posted by Red Clay on Mar 28, 2003

...those who aren't here wish they could be, or at least have something similar....

....and those here who are protesting have either never been outside of the US, or just to a European or Club Med type vacation.....

I've been through some pretty poor neighborhoods in Manila and Jakarta....I don't think most Americans (US) have a clue how the rest of the world lives on a day-to-day basis.....if they did, you wouldn't hear the b*tching that goes on...

Take care,

Mark

... in response to It's simple..., posted by markxport on Mar 28, 2003

And the other part of it is people in other countries,particularly the Muslim countries,who have no idea what the truth is.Hopefully when all of the stories of Saddams brutality are told by the freed Iraqi's they will start to get some idea about it.Makes you want to do what
American soldiers did at the end of WW2.Round up the townspeople and give them a tour of the death camps.Here of course the Iraqi townspeople know full well what is going on.The rest of the Arab world,at least the Arab street,seems in denial.
Were those 2 european ladies Traveler overheard?
Don't they realise they would be living in Natzi controlled governments(and not triping to South America,probably working forced labor) if it wasn't for US soldiers who died for them?
Makes you want to say,anybody want these fools?Just like some South Koreans.But the world is too small for us to ignore it.

Pete

... in response to Ecuador Stuff, posted by Traveller on Mar 27, 2003

Actually,
Most of the chicas whom I chat with in S.A. also share a similar view as is held in the majority in the world.  War = Bad.  Laughing about people dying is asinine however; but in actuality, this war might affect some of us that are on the hunt.  For instance, several of the chicas that I correspond with have "scolded" me about Bush and the war.
Anyone else had this problem?

... in response to Aussie Chix, posted by Andean Condor on Mar 27, 2003

I wonder if those chicas you chat with have considered that many places in SA would be safer if they dealt with terrorism the way that we are now, instead of cowering from it?

... in response to Aussie Chix, posted by Andean Condor on Mar 27, 2003

[This message has been edited by Red Clay]

This message was deleted

... in response to Ecuador Stuff, posted by Traveller on Mar 27, 2003

Hi K.,Have you had madoodle yet(sp)?My novia fixed it for me a few times a few different ways.Loved it.Buck

... in response to Re: Ecuador Stuff, posted by Buck on Mar 27, 2003

LOL! what a name. No, haven't had that yet. I have had llapingachos though. I like that. I found a half way decent Mexican restaurant though and I am eating that until I get sick of it. Haven't had Mexican food in almost 2 years. TikiTako and tacos and Tortillas in Cali don't cut it.
What is madoodle, anyway?

... in response to Re: Re: Ecuador Stuff, posted by Traveller on Mar 28, 2003

Hi K.Madoodle is cooked plantains(type of Bannanas).My novia says the best come from Ecuador.I like them best fried in oil.But she has fixed them by boiling and with cheese.She is from the border area with Ecuador and I believe she said madoodle is an Ecuadorian dish.Also try "Ceviche".It is almost the national dish of Peru.But only try it at a place where you trust the food as it has marinated fish,not cooked.It is delicious but the only time I felt bad in Peru was after some ceviche in a restaraunt.Have fun.Buck

... in response to Ecuador Stuff, posted by Traveller on Mar 27, 2003

Dont know how you can stay at one of those type places, going by your own reports, much rather stay in a hotel, with privacy etc,

... in response to Re: Ecuador Stuff, posted by outwest77 on Mar 27, 2003

Actually,if you put the pluses of all the hostels together, they would be really great. Just from what I have seen from the places I have stayed, no one has gotten it quite right yet. Hostels are aimed at the Backpacker crowd. Those on a budget. I stay there because I stay for a month or two and it resonably cheap lodging.
Apaprently, there is a hostel in Cali. I think it's called Calidad House. I met some backpackers who said they stayed there. Anyone know anything about that?

... in response to Re: Re: Ecuador Stuff, posted by Traveller on Mar 27, 2003

The only one I know of in Cali is in Barrio Versaille, generally a good part of town and close to Av. 6a.  Aside from that I couldn't tell you much else as I've never stayed there.

Good Luck.

... in response to Re: Re: Ecuador Stuff, posted by Traveller on Mar 27, 2003

Yes it's called Calidad House. I viseted but didn't stay there. Looked nice though.It's run by a young Brit named Dave. Dorm $4 and private room $6. It's in barrio Granada, Av9 Calle 17. Another in Cali is Cali Hostel same general area, Av4 Calle 23 facing Parque Versalles. Dorm $18.000. They have a private room for long stays.

... in response to Re: Ecuador Stuff, posted by outwest77 on Mar 27, 2003

Some can be really fun to stay at like the one I mention below. Also they are affordable for the people (and there are lots of us) who don't have the big bucks.

... in response to Ecuador Stuff, posted by Traveller on Mar 27, 2003

[This message has been edited by Cali vet]

The only hostel I know well is the Platypus in Bogota. It was a great experience, met lots of interesting plus some wierd people. Herman the owner can help you with just about any trip you want to make in Colombia from a beach vacation to mountaneering in Cocuy. About $4 for dorm room, $7 for private bring your own towels though. Check it out next time you make a trip to Bogota.

... in response to Hostels, posted by Cali vet on Mar 27, 2003

Your experiences sound pretty mild.
Hostels are not the Ritz-Carlton.