I’ve tried to be very meticulous and make sure my blog is written in order without missing any sections out, but recent events have forced me to abandon these scruples and write this post.
Please await a post on Colombia’s coffee region and Cali, which incidentally I thought was going to be dangerous. That is until I found myself, just yesterday, in the middle of a political coup in Ecuador.
Paul Theroux felt guilty in Quito because he went to too many parties, I on the other hand felt like it was time to take a break from my indulgent travels and do some work, so I spent the week working with Medical Missions for Children, a US based charity that works in local hospitals and operates on lips and palates. It had been an eye-opening week for someone with no medical experience and a fantastic way to get chatting to people.
The team had a laser machine coming from the US which had some issues getting through customs, so much so that we learned the president himself, Rafael Correa, had to give the machine the go-ahead to get into the country.
By Thursday he had bigger problems than a simple laser. After opting to cut police benefits he faced an uprising which led to road blockades, the burning of tires in the street, an official state of emergency and being hospitalised after the police attacked him with tear gas. (See the BBC story here).
We made it back to our hotel after swerving a few burning tires to be faced with very surreal happenings. A letter had been left in my room advising me not to leave the hotel in the light of ‘today’s events’ but to instead enjoy ‘Oktoberfest.’
I soon found myself in the bar watching locals wearing lederhosen playing in an om pah band, while scenes on the tv showed riots and shooting just two streets away.
Things were getting far too surreal for my liking.
I now await news of the coup. But according to the locals this is a very regular occurrence and there is nothing to worry about.
“It’s just the robbers that are a problem, and the looters, as now we have no police to stop them.“ A patient told me.
Still I was pleased to have a little time to write-up my blog post on the dangers of being in Cali.
8 comments
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October 1, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Martin
Way you go Rachel, can’t believe we’re missing it! Throw a molotov for us. Now you’re getting the real South American experience.
October 1, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Hannah
Sounds a little scary but couldn’t help but smile reading about the lederhosen om pah band!!! Most definitely a “point and piddle myself laughing” hannah moment had i been there!
love and hugs xx
October 1, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Rhian
stay safe, Rach x
October 2, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Nick
Don’t comment on any details of events concerning the military on this site Rach!
October 4, 2010 at 6:49 pm
ajl
I completly agree with Nicks comment – under no circumstances this should be done, even not in the slightest way. Take care of this please.
Safe travels to you & I look forward seeing your future updates.
Best wishes.
October 4, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Sigi
Wow Rach, sounds like a similar thing I experienced in Nepal a few years ago.
And…how was the German beer Malcolm wants to know? :o)
x
October 14, 2010 at 12:05 am
rachel pook
The beer was somewhat dissapointing you can tell Malcolm! But any beer was going down well at that point as we could hear the gunshots two blocks from the hotel!
October 9, 2010 at 3:09 am
sally
not linking to the times… having said that – bet we didn’t cover it.. 🙂