Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Stuck in Ibarra
I am stranded here in Ibarra a few hundred Ks from the Colombia border and getting closer to Equator and Quito. I have been only stopped once after the border and this was for a police check (they made me remove the window tint from the doors)
and drug check. Yes, I had a dog go through my car.
The drive down from Colombia was a strange mix here of very fertile valleys at 1500 meters to almost high desert passes at 3500 meters. I noticed the difference in altitude between 3000 and 2500 meters but my car really does know what height it is at as I have had to adjust the diesel fuel rate to compensate. Got tired of the black smoke and hard starts.
From what I am told and see on the TV the Indians do not want the government here to agree to a free trade agreement in the Americas. (I just want to know what Simone Bolivar would say?) There also seems to be a big divide between the Indians and Ecuadorians, though no one will say much. It is just the way things are said. Seeing the news today, it is clear that the police are tired of the situation and are beginning too take down the road blocks that have been up now for a week or so. I guess that they feel that they have made their point and this is enough.
