Hmmm...

[cerridwynn]

So my parents are supposed to fly into Quito tomorrow, and from there to the Galapagos. But the airport is closed because the president was ousted and people are rioting. Should i be alarmed?

I mean, a canceled flight due to weather is one thing... ...but due to political upheaval?

(And yes, they are still planning on going, if they can find a way into the country!)


Ecuadoran Congress Ousts President
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5002-2005Apr20.html

Comments

[eeyorecol.livejournal.com]

1. At least the political upheaval happened before they left, so that they were not caught in the middle of it.

2. The Ecudorean congress should know enough that they should allow the tourists to still get to Galapagos. The tourist dollars are immense and important to the economy.

3. The cancelling of flights due to political upheaval is surprisingly common, especially in Africa. My boss had to go to Guinea-Bissau and they just came out of a civil war, so there are no hotels open there at all (and also no embassies or consulates). It was a lot of fun.

[cerridwynn.livejournal.com]

Yeah -- point 1. is what i told them last night. But that didn't make them feel that much better about it! I mean, if the trip goes and they can't get there they're out a lot of money. That said, i note point 2. They'll probably find a way there. But then that makes me worry again! (In a mostly amused way...)

Oh, and i know it happens all the time -- but it's way, way outside the realm of my sheltered american experience!

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Yah, relatively speaking, this is not so bad. I mean, there's some rioting, but the army isn't shooting at anyone, as far as I know, so I'd consider Ecuador okay.

Recently I was considering going to Nepal and then they closed the borders, the airport, and shut off all telephone--and thus, internet--service into and out of the country. Moreover, their army actually is shooting at people, and the Maoists are setting off the occasional bomb.

I didn't go.

[cerridwynn.livejournal.com]

Yikes. Yeah, that's a don't-go sort of situation. This is fine (and my folks are on the plane there now...) It's more that i am vaguely amused really -- the image of my parents amidst the south american protestors... or attempting to get to the galapagos by driving through the back roads of peru or something... kinda disturbingly funny...