01-04 Nov – Same old.  Except rather more sedate.  Not much point in doing daily updates – as each day has consisted of sleeping in as much as possible, eating, and then going to good old Finn McCools for some pool and chatting with people.  Only breaks in the routine have been:

- my credit card is gone.  Which means I’m stuck here until a replacement arrives.  Not too upset about that really – as I was finding it difficult to find motivation to leave.  Now I have an excuse to stay without feeling guilty.  And when I do get a replacement – it will definitely be time to move on.  But – how my credit card is gone.  I used it as a bond while I borrowed two wine glasses from a nearby cafe/bar.  When I returned the glasses, they told me the card was gone.  Have cancelled it of course – and it doesn’t look like anybody managed to do anything dodgy with it.

- the other extraordinary happening, Finn’s was closed last night!  It really was a devastating thing.  I couldn’t believe it.  Apparently there were people wandering listlessly all over the nearby streets – asking each other if they knew what was going on.  Not sure if it’s a bad reflection on ourselves – or a good reflection on how much of a homely place the pub has become.  And it was supposed to be the day when I’d have a go at working behind the bar.  Ursula wants me to work behind the bar.  Lee wants to hire me as a bouncer.  Or wants me to get by until my credit card arrives by hustling pool.  Me – I’m trying to eat as much as possible at the hostel so that the cost goes on my account.  And have moved into a private room, seeing as I’m here for a while longer.

Pen – don’t worry, I’m not going to settle down here and become a fulltime barman in Ecuador.  Will really get moving as soon as possible.

21 Oct-31 Oct - Yeah, I know it’s been a long time.  Sorry.  And about having to write it all in one update.  Problem is – I haven’t actually achieved anything other than drinking lots, sleeping little, and eating little.  Spent one night after pub closing with the owners.  And then the husband/boyfriend left.  So just me and Ursula.  Chatting away – and when we first realised what the time was, it was 2pm the next day.  Lee (manfriend) not particularly happy.  Have also spent a couple of other nights awake all night chatting to people.  Two of these times happened consecutively – so I decided to test the theory I’d heard a long long time ago – that after 72 hours without sleep, one starts to hallucinate.  Turns out it’s true.  Cool little hallucinations.  One other guy did the experiment with me.  I took him to bed as an unintelligable animal.  Checked on him later, and he was whimpering in his sleep.  Poor chap – broke him.

Have been referred to by lots of people as the King Of The Hostel.  But hoping to leave very soon.  Have spent yesterday and today catching up on sleep.  Next day or two will be spent building up the health more.  And then I can leave.  And that’s about all that’s happened over the last ten days.  I think.