When the world turns against you...

I am now in Ecuador.

Yes, sunny Ecuador. The only place in the world, as far as I am aware, to be named after an imaginary line.

But you know, something tells me that Ecuador is none to happy too have me bustling about the place. Yes, indeed I get the distinct feeling that I am far from welcome.

Perhaps it was the fact that I have had my passport checked more than 7 times in the duration of my stay here. (24 hours and counting). Or perhaps it was the charming fist fight that I was privy to on the bus ride up to Quito from the border with Peru
(and I tell you, those women knew how to throw a punch!). Or it could be the near torrential thunder storm that suceeded in scaring the living daylights out of me as we careened across the less than wonderful roads. (At least it destabilised the women enough to make them stop fighting)

No... it was none of these things, instead the height of rudeness, the deepest depth to which this small country has descended to ensure that I am aware of my less than welcome status was to organise to have a major volcanic eruption as soon as, and I mean as soon as, I crossed the border into the country.

Good old Tungurahua. It has been building up to an eruption for a good year now, but apparently this is the best time of year to pull out all the stops. I was going to head down to Baños, one of three places I intended to visit in this rather unexciting nation (personal opinion only people... do not let me discourage you... and apparently the Galapolos are stupendous). However this is now in the process of being covered with a rather large amount of ash.

None of this however will stop me from my goal. I will spend a good five minutes jumping from one side of the equator to the other ranting ´Northern Hemisphere... Southern Hemisphere... Northern Hemisphere... Southern Hemisphere...

An addendum: I am of course aware of the fact that this volcanic eruption is causing immeasurate suffering for a large number of people. And I sincerely hope that any damage to life, limb or property can be limited as much as possible.

But I did so want that thermal bath...

Rock and Roll.

Paddy.