We heard the Colombia/Ecuador border could get pretty crowded so we left Pasto around 6:30am to cover the 80k and arrive early. Well, we arrived around 8 and the Colombia side was already packed. First we had to delete the import docs at the DIAN window and although there were only a few people ahead of us in line it took over 30 minutes to get to the window. Once there it was just handing the agent our import paperwork and he stamped it out - maybe 20 seconds. Not sure what the deal was with the ones in front of us and why it took so long. So then it was to immigration where we found the line to be hundreds deep. There were two lines in front of the gate to get into the building with no signs on either so we chose the right side one - which turned out to be the wrong one. Once to the gate the agent asked for my documents and after seeing my US passport stated we were in the Colombian only line and turned us around to get to the back of the left side line - crap! The Colombia side had taken us 2.5 hours! On to getting checked into Ecuador. We rode the short distance through no mans land to find the lines on the Ecuador side to be even longer. By the time we got stamped in through immigration and imported the bikes through customs it was 1:30pm - 5 hours for the whole process. Oh well, on to Quito!
We got into Quito around 5pm into full on Friday rush hour. By now we are pros at aggressively splitting lanes, using sidewalks, etc - anything to keep moving. We got to the Hotel Finlandia that Marybeth had pre-booked - super nice and by far the best hotel of the trip. Ken jumped in a cab to meet Marybeth at the airport and I found a Japanese restaurant for a bowl of Ramen and a beer. Ken and Marybeth got back to the hotel around 9pm and we then all went out for sushi - a new flavor Ken and I haven't experienced for some time.
Saturday morning we dropped off the motorcycles at Freedom Bike Rental just down the street from our hotel. Marybeth is renting a motorcycle from them for when we return from the Galapagos and they agreed to store our bikes for us and do a bit of much needed maintenance. We have all day Saturday to kill in Quito before our Sunday morning flight and the boat cruize - looking so forward to it! This may be the last post until next w/e as I'm unsure what we will have internet wise in the Galapagos Islands.
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| Line up at the Colombian border to stamp out. |
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| Southern Colombia. |
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| Freedom Bike Rental. |
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