Arrive in Guayaquil day 3

About 4:30am got to Guayaquil and then went through customs. The air port is huge and took me a while to find my way around. Walked outside and had several taxi drivers approach me to be hired to drive me anywhere I wanted to go. Then there were airport security people who spoke English helping me negotiate with taxi drivers and also recommended that I use a driver who was airport approved. Some of the other drivers offered to take me to Salinas for $100 and when I said no thanks, then they said they would do it for 30. Well after a while and just trying to take it all in finally got a driver to take to a room in a okay hotel for $55 I am sure it was gringo rate. It was still early in the day and was hungry so asked the hotel manager if there was a place to eat. He told me that there was a mall close by and would get me a cab. So this is the first time without my back pack and decided to walk. It was only about 10 blocks away. Unfortunately didn't take a camera to show what it is like there, but can say that on each block there were about 3 or 4 places that guys were working on cars. Just guys doing everything without any real equipment, laying under unsupported cars.... just crazy like a huge group of "shade tree mechanics" on steroids.
The mall was huge with a guard at the entry with an assault weapon so I wondered around and it took me about a half hour just to find the food court.
The next day went to the Guayaquil bus station. Wow another huge mall. Found out that the bus doesn't go to Salinas but to Santa Elena and then a transfer or cab to Salinas. When in line for the ticket the clerk could see that I was a lost gringo and mentioned to a lady there to guide me, and she showed me the way to the bus and off we went. When we arrived at the bus station in Santa Elena she guided me to a taxi that we shared. She got off somewhere prior to Salinas at her home and the driver went on to take me to a hotel. Just a bit nervous about that 20 minute ride but it was all fine. As you can see in the  photos Salinas is a beautiful place and the food is great too!