Manta (Ecuador)

Had a chance to visit Ecuador today - first time! Flew (with Greg S.) from Fort Worth to a place called Manta, a coastal city in the north of the country.  It was a six hour flight but we had good weather and saw lots of the Yucatan and Panama. Didn't get to stay on the ground too long, but I had time to scout out some opportunities for the next visit. The difficult thing about Ecuador is that they don't have a good radar for flight following - this means you are mostly on your own! Still, made it out of there OK before the sun set. The return flight was pretty dull (clouds had rolled in) except for the beautiful night view of Cancun and Cozumel.  We arrived in New Orleans (Belle Chase) at around 2130L. Had some trouble getting the aircraft "put to bed" but eventually drove to our hotel, the Crowne Plaza located on Canal Street (in the French Quarter). It has been nearly 10 years since the last time I was here - and even longer since I walked down Bourbon Street. It has really changed and not for the better, unfortunately. I walked most of the street and only recognized a few places from the mid-1990s - I guess the rest closed up... Still found a place that made a good Hurricane... Went to bed relatively early - exhausted.