Crossing the Line

After a bit of confusion at the border (the collectivo dumped us at the Ecuadorian post directly instead of the Colombian post first to get an exit stamp), we finally made it across to Ecuador!

Throughout our trip through the border vicinity, we were repeatedly harassed by policemen from both countries to show them our passports and disembark for luggage checks (presumably for narcotics.) 6 times in a span of 4 hours. We had to put up with them trying to pry open our external hard disk (!!), rap on our laptops and sniff at Dan's gout medication. At one point, they even asked how much money we were carrying - which is really none of their bluddy business. If that was their way of demanding some form of payment, we were too blur to take the hint and they let us go back up the bus.

To add salt to the wound, we got dumped along the highway on the outskirts of Otavalo and asked to flag a taxi (US$1) into town. Gee, what a warm welcome to Ecuador indeed - first, to be treated like prime suspects for drug trafficking, and then get abandoned along the road!

At the halfway mark - First step done: out of Colombia. Next step: get into Ecuador

Gorgeous green mountains en route from the Tulcan (the Ecuadorian border town) to Otavalo

Enjoying steamed sweet white corn with salt and a chunk of cool cheese on the bus

All in all, we made it to Otavalo! Stay tuned for more stories of our adventures in Ecuador!