Man, I was sweating bullets in the Ecuadorian Migration line, but I made it. I got the friendly lady who was smiling at me while I was waiting, thank you Jesus! That morning I went to an internet cafe to print off a backup itinerary, a flight back home from Quito to Newark to show my proof of return trip. I thought I´d learn the second time around from the slight mishap in Atlantic City Airport. I freaked out on the collectivo ride over, since the false trip I had printed off still went over the 90 day tourist visa. Whoops. Good thing they didn´t ask for that. I left my hostal in Ipiales, (my Couchsurfing with the English teacher fell through), got on a blue collectivo that left me about 50 ft from the bridge and began my journey. I spoke with some fellow Colombians (from Popoyan about 6 hours north of the border) who were visiting family. They got the same feeling that I did- maybe it´s because the air is chillier up here in the Andes mountains, but the people are definitely not as warm and friendly as I had become accustomed to in Colombia. When I asked someone for directions, the mother whispered to her daughter, ¨Tell her we´re not from here¨. Geez. At least in NY, I respect the lack of eye contact, I´m gonna keep walking, screw you, I don´t have time to give directions attitude, but here I was shocked. Maybe this is teaching me something about myself. Hmmm... Anyway, the family took a picture with me at the border crossing, I got my Colombian exit stamp, walked over the bridge, got my Ecuadorian entry stamp and voila, must leave the country by Nov 28 2012. We will see how this renewal visa process works...
In Ipiales my hostel people were pretty nice, they walked me to the corner and pointed out all the places where I could find my salchipapa (french fries-sausage mix) or fast food. I opted for some elote, good old grill roasted corn on the cob. I doused mine with aji preparado (they don´t do much spicy sauce here, but this one was spice with peanut butter, lots of mani up in the mountains). I chatted up the lady and she even gave me a complimentary papa (potato). Score one for the nina. That night I buried myself under all the covers that were in the bedroom and left my two sweatshirts on. The guy on the plane leaving Florida laughed at me when I had my scarf on, but I´m so grateful for all my layers now.
Once I made it acros, caught another minibus to Tulcan terminal, from the terminal another supposedly 3 hour bus to Octavalo, which was more like 4.5 hours (lots of checkpoints where they search bags below bus). Phew. Adios Colombia, it´s been real, but I´m ready to stop living out of my backpack now.
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