So, where to begin...a lot has been occurring; adventures have been had! Sit down folks this could be a long story!
Saturday 4th April...
Me, Mum and Dad headed up to Quito and I showed them around the Mariscal and the old town. They really liked the old town, but we did get caught in the inevitable rain!
Sunday 5th April...
We went to Otavalo, however Dad was not interested in seeing 'another market', so we got straight into a taxi and headed for Cuicoccha lake. The taxi driver was fairly annoying so we decided not to have him wait for us.
We went on the boat ride on the lake which Mum and Dad loved and had a very good lunch! It was quite strange going back there having been in August when I first arrived...so much has happened since then!
Mum and Dad have now experienced the wonders of the Ecuadorian bus system - we got out as soon as we could in Quito and got a taxi!
Tuesday 7th April...
Our destination was Quito again, for a night in the Hotel Amazonas, before heading to the Galapagos in the morning.
We're weren't overly impressed at the 'welcome' meeting when we discovered we were all supposed to wear matching t-shirts for the flight! The group of people all seemed really nice - however there were no gorgeous men for me - ho hum!
In the evening we had dinner with Yvette and Lazaro which was really lovely. Unfortunately all the bars/restaurants in the Mariscal area have music blaring out, so it was pretty hard for Dad to hear anything. I think Mum has a bit of a crush on Lazaro - haha!
Wednesday 8th April...
Breakfast at 6am before heading off to the airport at 7am!
The flight was uneventful, with a brief stop in Guayaquil on route.
Stepping off the plans on Baltra island, the heat rose up to meet you. I made my way towards the queue for national tourists as I have residency and therefore don't have to pay the full entrance fee of $100.
A kind gentleman in the queue pointed to the international queue. 'Yo tengo residencia,' I told him - he was most apologetic. I was surprised by how nervous I felt. I knew that I had the right to be in that line but also thought that my residency might be questioned or I might be asked complicated questions in Spanish.
By the time I reached the desk I was shaking like a leaf - I can't remember the last time I shook like that (which is a good thing!). It was all fine - I needn't have worried. I paid $6 to get into the Galapagos National Park.
We were whisked off on a bus, a boat and another bus to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. The journey was mostly silent as we all took in the beauty of our surroundings - the greeness of trees; hills in the distance; the wonder of being in the Galapagos.*
After lunch on the boat, we headed to the Darwin Station to meet Lonesome George. We bumped into my friend Jen on the way which was really lovely. I like going to obscure places and knowing someone there!
Mum was chuffed to pieces to see so many tortoises - although we did agree it was a bit like a tortoise zoo and that maybe Lonesome George would be a lot happier back on his own island. However it is good that they are breeding more tortoises to release into the wild.
Our guide imparted information to our group, including the fact that I apparently live in the most expensive part of Ecuador!
Afterwards we met Jen for a drink, then back to the boat for dinner.
An early night was had by all - in my case in an attempt to ignore the rocking motion of the boat.
A word about the trip:
It was more organised than a school residential! T-shirt, rules, kit list, appropriate amount of spending money!
Thursday 9th April...
I awoke at 3.45am as the anchor was lowered and sleep was fitful after that. My alarm went off at 5.30am. Not realising, I got up and saw the sunrise - beautiful.
The next hour or so was fairly rocky - trying my best not to be sick!
After breakfast we headed on to South Plazas (or Plaza Isla Sur) where we were greeted by a very territorial male sealion. We also saw: land iguanas, blue footed boobys, lizards, more sealions, and swallowtailed gulls.
Our guide, Willo, informed me that he was happy for me to correct his English, but not in the hearing of anyone else!
Back on the boat for lunch and to set sail for Santa Fe. I also had a couple of much needed siestas, both before and after lunch!
At Santa Fe, we went snorkelling. I never enjoyed this as a child - but decided to give it a go. At first I had the same panicky feeling that I remembered from childhood and thought I wouldn't be able to do it - I almost gave up. Then Dad pointed out a shoal of fish and after several attempts I found I had control of my breathing.
At the second snorkelling site I swam with sealions which was amazing! Some were quite playful and some were really shy.
At the third site we saw sea turtles - fantastic!
After a reasonable respite we went walking on Santa Fe and met lots of sealions - the babies were particularly cute.
The evening brought an orange moon and beautiful sunset. Time to relax and recharge.
*To see photos, go here!
Saturday 4th April...
Me, Mum and Dad headed up to Quito and I showed them around the Mariscal and the old town. They really liked the old town, but we did get caught in the inevitable rain!
Sunday 5th April...
We went to Otavalo, however Dad was not interested in seeing 'another market', so we got straight into a taxi and headed for Cuicoccha lake. The taxi driver was fairly annoying so we decided not to have him wait for us.
We went on the boat ride on the lake which Mum and Dad loved and had a very good lunch! It was quite strange going back there having been in August when I first arrived...so much has happened since then!
Mum and Dad have now experienced the wonders of the Ecuadorian bus system - we got out as soon as we could in Quito and got a taxi!
Tuesday 7th April...
Our destination was Quito again, for a night in the Hotel Amazonas, before heading to the Galapagos in the morning.
We're weren't overly impressed at the 'welcome' meeting when we discovered we were all supposed to wear matching t-shirts for the flight! The group of people all seemed really nice - however there were no gorgeous men for me - ho hum!
In the evening we had dinner with Yvette and Lazaro which was really lovely. Unfortunately all the bars/restaurants in the Mariscal area have music blaring out, so it was pretty hard for Dad to hear anything. I think Mum has a bit of a crush on Lazaro - haha!
Wednesday 8th April...
Breakfast at 6am before heading off to the airport at 7am!
The flight was uneventful, with a brief stop in Guayaquil on route.
Stepping off the plans on Baltra island, the heat rose up to meet you. I made my way towards the queue for national tourists as I have residency and therefore don't have to pay the full entrance fee of $100.
A kind gentleman in the queue pointed to the international queue. 'Yo tengo residencia,' I told him - he was most apologetic. I was surprised by how nervous I felt. I knew that I had the right to be in that line but also thought that my residency might be questioned or I might be asked complicated questions in Spanish.
By the time I reached the desk I was shaking like a leaf - I can't remember the last time I shook like that (which is a good thing!). It was all fine - I needn't have worried. I paid $6 to get into the Galapagos National Park.
We were whisked off on a bus, a boat and another bus to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. The journey was mostly silent as we all took in the beauty of our surroundings - the greeness of trees; hills in the distance; the wonder of being in the Galapagos.*
After lunch on the boat, we headed to the Darwin Station to meet Lonesome George. We bumped into my friend Jen on the way which was really lovely. I like going to obscure places and knowing someone there!
Mum was chuffed to pieces to see so many tortoises - although we did agree it was a bit like a tortoise zoo and that maybe Lonesome George would be a lot happier back on his own island. However it is good that they are breeding more tortoises to release into the wild.
Our guide imparted information to our group, including the fact that I apparently live in the most expensive part of Ecuador!
Afterwards we met Jen for a drink, then back to the boat for dinner.
An early night was had by all - in my case in an attempt to ignore the rocking motion of the boat.
A word about the trip:
It was more organised than a school residential! T-shirt, rules, kit list, appropriate amount of spending money!
Thursday 9th April...
I awoke at 3.45am as the anchor was lowered and sleep was fitful after that. My alarm went off at 5.30am. Not realising, I got up and saw the sunrise - beautiful.
The next hour or so was fairly rocky - trying my best not to be sick!
After breakfast we headed on to South Plazas (or Plaza Isla Sur) where we were greeted by a very territorial male sealion. We also saw: land iguanas, blue footed boobys, lizards, more sealions, and swallowtailed gulls.
Our guide, Willo, informed me that he was happy for me to correct his English, but not in the hearing of anyone else!
Back on the boat for lunch and to set sail for Santa Fe. I also had a couple of much needed siestas, both before and after lunch!
At Santa Fe, we went snorkelling. I never enjoyed this as a child - but decided to give it a go. At first I had the same panicky feeling that I remembered from childhood and thought I wouldn't be able to do it - I almost gave up. Then Dad pointed out a shoal of fish and after several attempts I found I had control of my breathing.
At the second snorkelling site I swam with sealions which was amazing! Some were quite playful and some were really shy.
At the third site we saw sea turtles - fantastic!
After a reasonable respite we went walking on Santa Fe and met lots of sealions - the babies were particularly cute.
The evening brought an orange moon and beautiful sunset. Time to relax and recharge.
*To see photos, go here!
