Galapagos II

Tuesday, January 14. Beautiful, clear, temperate with a warm breeze.

You must get tired of hearing how well we sleep. It is worthy of
reporting because it is really needed as the pace that we lead is a bit of an endurance thing. It seems that from wake-up until bedtime it is go, go, go.

OK now, we had a really good sleep in spite of us being on the bottom deck of a ship made in Bremen, Germany in 1964. Breakfast was next in a well stocked buffet, hot and cold, with eggs and omelettes made to order.

Back to our cabins and get ready to load into the zodiacs that hold 14 souls, for the run to the beach where we have a walking tour. We are led by a government guide who speaks that cute English I mentioned.

There are no big animals on the islands so our first sighting was a sand lizard about six inches long. The first of many Kodak Moments today. We graduated to iguanas and other lizards, sea lions, turtles, numerous birds and gorgeous scenery.

It is just like the Hawaiian Islands here, exactly. I was expecting some foreign landscape unlike any we have seen before. Not so. These islands have only been protected for about 50 years. The deserted island we were on today was occupied and there was a salt mine here and residents. The first thing they did after it became a national park was shoot the 100 odd goats grazing here and took down any structures.

Walking on the tour was like walking along the beach-front in Kihei and Wailea, really. At the end of the tour those who had snorkel gear went in and paddled, of course Fellette was among those. I went in and floated, boy was it refreshing.

When we came on board for lunch we were hosed off, even between our toes so no sand could be taken home. Absolutely nothing is to be taken away from the islands and nothing left on the islands. No toilet even.

Lunch went down well then I had a nap, the first in days!!! Fellette read and then it was 3.00 and time for the snorkelers to venture out, I bid a fond adieu to my much younger wife. I did the blog, cleaned the cameras, did my journal and generally had a very relaxing afternoon.

Fellette returned unscathed from the snorkel trip but said that we have been spoiled by the snorkelling in Maui.

Shortly we again left for the zodiac run to shore some 15 minutes away. On the way we snuggled up to some penguins on rocks near shore. Also some blue footed boobies and pelicans. The interesting thing is that we can get so close to them the photography is outstanding.

We then got ashore and went for a spectacular hike up the volcano. It was only about 1200 feet up, all on boardwalk but the stairs were real killers. Great view and I was amazed at the people that persisted and made it to the top.

Black on the. Ship a quick beer, or two, a shower and to the briefing on tomorrow's routine. We then went to a BBQ on deck with the stars and a mild breeze blowing, it was a very nice way to end a very brief visit to the islands.

Galapagos I

Monday, January 13. clear, hot , 86 with a sea breeze to cool it down.

That 3.30 am wake up call was not needed as I awoke from a solid four hour sleep at 2.30. Fellette was up not long after me and we were ready and out of the room in a heart beat.

The day was a blur with an early am juice and banana breakfast in the lobby, a
45 minute bus ride and a 5.30 am check in for a 7.00 flight with one stop before we got to the Islands around 11.00. We were on the ship, the Galapagos Legend, capacity 100 passengers, by 11.15 and to our cabins.

The flight was a good flight mostly over the sea and I was surprised at the vastness of the group of islands. From the sky and on on land the vegetation is almost non existent near the water but does get greener as we get a bit of elevation.

There was a short bus ride to a launching pad for zodiacs that took us for the 20 minute run to the ship, 12 passengers each boat. By now our 3.00 am wake up was long forgotten. On the ship it is very casual with an attempt at luxury. All good mind you. The staff is all good looking virile young Ecuadorians who are attractive, male or female. They speak cute broken English and all very, very polite.

The cabin we chose is about the size of our closet on the Amsterdam and the porthole is the size of a toilet seat. All this is good stuff as we are inclined to live in this dream world of do what we want and have what we want when we want it. Nice to get a dose of reality.

After a bit of adjusting to our cabin size it was lunch and then shortly it seemed to the briefing and zodiacs where we were dispatched from the ship with almost military precision. Off to see the giant tortoises about 30 K away, by bus after a challenging ride in the zodiacs for about 20 minutes.

The tortoises are located on a farm and they are everywhere and have free reign. We were all shutter happy for some time but after a while all the tortoises look the same.

Back to the ship after a 30 minute bus ride and a 20 minute zodiac ride where we all lost our dignity and got soaked and laughed ourselves silly. A Hot short shower and off to dinner where we had a wonderful time with a French Canadian couple from Quebec City.

After dinner there was a short welcome drink from the captain and we met the crew. It was interesting, this was the first captains party we have been to where the captain did not speak. All Ecuadorians do not speak English obviously.

Great day, very long but what the heck, we are here for a good time, not a long time. The ship moves at night and after a good sleep the adventure will start all over again in the morning.

Galapagos Islands

We are in Galápagos Islands Monday and Tuesday.

I have not got the foggiest idea if I will be able to do a blog or not.

We return to the ship on Wednesday night. I will certainly do something if I am not exhausted!!!

The time now is 3.30 am Monday morning. Check in time is 5:30. The distance is 840 miles approx and the weather there is scheduled for a high of 84F.

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A very busy day...

Sunday, January 12. Cool, rain in afternoon, then clear again.

An early breakfast and then off to the equator. There are two official equator monuments in Quito: one built by the french some many years ago and one that was positioned by GPS. We were at the official site; GPS. They are about 200 yards apart, oops, poor job by the French methinks.

There were not masses of people there but it was busy enough. The usual feats of magic were demonstrated such as which way the water turns draining from a sink below and above, and on, the equator. Also one can balance a raw egg at the equator. Try balancing a raw egg some time. They say it is all due to the forces acting in the northern and opposite forces in the southern hemisphere. That is why cyclones, tornadoes, hurricanes etc turn in different directions dependant upon the hemisphere they are operating in. Interesting morning.

We then zipped up the gondola to the top of the extinct volcano towering over the city to around 15,000 plus feet. A bit of an effort to climb stairs at that height. A great view of Quito that extends for some many, many, many miles up the valley.

I still haven't changed my mind on Ecuador being a reasonably developed country. The roads are good, it is well policed, but there is an appalling unemployment rate but things are cheap. Gasoline is 1.50/gallon, diesel 1.05. [US dollar is the currency.]

After a spectacular lunch in a traditional restaurant in Old Quito we got rained out. Most people left the restaurant and went back to the hotel. About seven stayed, us included and finished the tour on foot. A quaint colonial city nestled in a modern sprawling big Latin American city.

I accomplished one of my goals and purchased a Panama Hat, Panama Hats are made by hand in Ecuador!

Four of us took a cab ride back to the hotel, about a 15 minute run. The fare, $1.53, we gave two dollars!

We have a dinner tonight and a 3.30 wake-up call, 4.30 on the bus for the airport for a flight to the Galapagos. One adventure finishes and another starts!

Yann at CTI got my iPad fixed up in one email so the iPad almost takes the place of the computer regarding mail efforts.Thanks Yann,

Fellette bought an Alpaca sweater this afternoon for $39,00. Legitimate one. Her colours too of course.

Great day.


Pics: some at least that require explanation...

Fellette and I at the equator obviously and at the top of the volcano; Old Quito Town; and just a couple of interesting shots of a Llama, and some flowering cactus.

Quito, Ecuador

Saturday, January 11. Pleasant 20C at 9000 feet

Most of the day was spent travelling, and waiting. However it was very restful and interesting. It is always interesting to enter a new country for the first time as this was to us. One immediately and sub-consciously starts to compare with similar countries one has been to.

Ecuador is by no means a backward country. They seem to be doing very well but that is just my snap opinion. We can usually tell a poor country right off the bat, even at the airport. I did not get tha bad feeling at the airport, or on the plane, or on the roads or bus. The hotel is over the top so that doesn't count.

I cannot figure out how this city of about 2,000,000 people thrives at 9000 feet. People get headaches at lower altitudes than this.

We went across the street to a restaurant where we 26 and a few other visitors were served an Ecuadoran dinner and all that goes with it, juices, wine and dessert, very sweet desserts. They then put on a one hour folkloric show that was outstanding, about 20 performers that was absolutely spectacular. Back at the hotel by 9.30, put some pictures of the night's show on the blog and hit the sack.

Great day!

Our day in pictures...

internet the next five days...

We are travelling on land and in small boats the next several days.

The internet may be iffy but stay tuned.



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