Last day of vacation and fly home.

We had a farewell dinner at a restaurant / museum. First was a tour of the antiquities, then we we ushered into the gift shop. No one bought a thing. We were hungry and tired. We then had dinner in a room with snake skins on the wall.
The next day our group left for the US at four different times. Jack and I flew at 7:30 PM We hired a guide with one other couple for a day tour. First we started our at a museum of a famous Ecuadorian artist, Guayasamin. Very strange art. Deformed bodies and ugly people. We went to a spot at the top of the city to look at the view. Then was a tour of a garden. The guide suggested a wonderful place for lunch. She took us back to the hotel at 3:00. We checked out at 4:00. Waited for the bus to take us to the airport at 4:45. The flight left on time and that is the end of one fantastic vacation.

Overlooking Quito.


Guide at garden. She talk and talked telling us everything about all the plants.















Jack was very happy with our guide today.


40% of the people own cars. They prefer Chevy and Kia which are both made in Ecuador. Because there are so many cars on the road, certain days you can not drive your car according to the number on your license plate. Our guide could not drive on Thursday.
She sends the children to private school as do most of the people. The public schools are bad. Many private schools are not too costly. In the country there are only public schools. School hours are 7:00--1:00. The kids go to her Mother's house until she gets home from work. A big lunch will be at 1:30. Lunch is the main meal. Soup, rice and meat. They eat very little for dinner. Often a cup of coffee and a banana! So the next time I invite you for dinner, it will be coffee, fruit and a cracker. No wonder I did not see any obese people here.
I was surprised at how different the people from Peru and Ecuador look. The standard of living in Ecuador is nice. Peru is very poor. I will have to get used to not caring toilet paper in my pocket. And drinking water from anywhere. In Peru we were nervous about the food. Sometimes my stomach would churn and I would wonder if I'm getting food poisoning. But we all stayed pretty well. There was no problem with food in Ecuador. We could eat the fruit and vegetables. I am looking forward to a good cup of coffee, decaf.

Location:Quito, Ecaudo

Day 15, good bye Galapos and Back to Quito

January 23 Monday
We traveled 14 hours around Isabella island and back to Baltra where the airport is located.
In the dinghy at 6:00 for a walking tour of Bacas Beach to see a turtle nesting area and we certainly saw it!

Sun rise on the island.






Farewell to the Galapos. I just washed and dried my hair. Before it turns to frizz. Picture just before we depart the boat.



This is a wet landing. When we land and get our feet wet.





Path of sea turtle going to nesting area.


Hole when the sea turtle delivers the eggs. She makes a hole and puts the eggs around the sides covered up. She will lay about 60 eggs. Come back in about one month and lay more. In all she may lay about 200 eggs. Only about 5% will survive. Feral cats, birds, etc will eat them as they hatch and try to get to the ocean.


Three turtle nesting holes.


Mother turtle headed back to the ocean after delivering the eggs in the nest. A large group were watching and cheering her along. We had to leave and get on the dinghy right before she reached the water. I also ran out of space on the memory card. So as I was watching the turtle I was deleting photos.


Also at water. She could hardly move, she was so tired. See how close she was.


Iguana steps and line in the tail in the sand.



These photos do not look real.





Sally light foot crab


Candelabra cactus





Oyster catcher


Juvenile yellow crown heron



We arrived at the small airport at 8:30 and began the wait. Bad weather and all the planes are not not in Baltra. The plane left at 1:00.
We were cool. Bought some Oreos cookies for a snack.
Arrived in Quito at 4:00 but with time change it is 5:00. Get to hotel at 6:15. So an entire day of travel.

There is only one gas station for boats in ALL of the Galopos and it is here. They have to go for many miles to fill up the boats. There are gas stations for cars in the little towns.

I have a correction. There are 72 boats that tour around the islands. 6 of them are larger, 100 passenger boats. The others boats are 18 passenger. There will never be more than that, to protect the environment. You can only go a few places as a private boat. You will pay $500 per person, per day to tour the Galapos in a private boat.

Location:Quito, Ecuador

Sea Lions and iguanas. Part 2

Jan 22
We took a two hour walk this afternoon on Espinoza point. The three boats are traveling as a trio. There were sea,lions and iguanas everywhere.
Approach to island. No steep, wet steps.





Mother and baby sea lion with iguanas all around.






Male sea lion protecting his area. He will squeal continually. He kicked some male teen aged sea lion out of his territory.



Nap time


Baby nursing. A mother will get pregnant one month after giving birth and will continue to nurse until the next baby is born. They have one baby at a time. the milk is mostly fat. The babies play together all the time but as adults live apart.






Sand is a mix of lava rock and smells.


Lizard


Iguana on a stick.


Sally light foot crab






Pelican


Nap time





Back to the boat. They always have a juice drink and sometimes a snack when we arrive.


Around 6:00 we crossed the equator. The staff on the boat had a ceremony. They dressed as pirates. We received certificates saying we crossed. There was a whale in the water and the sun was setting. We were served pizza and a special drink. A very special time.
Our captain.


Queen Claire crowning us.


Equator crossing certificate.


On the upper deck.


Our small state room. Remember this is a small ship and certainly not fancy.



Dinner was creamed spinach soup ( no popcorn), lazana made with soy meat, vegetables, sliced cabbage with coconut, garlic bread and a flan for dessert. Checked the stars tonight and it was not a clear night. We went to pack our suitcase as we have an early start tomorrow. Every night we are asleep very early, But we also begin the day before the sun has risen!

Location:Espinoza Point, Ferandina Island

Last day of touring in the Galapos - part 1

Breakfast at 6:30. Plantains made like potato pancakes. Eggs any way, toast, fruits.
On the dinghy at 7:15 to do a 2 1/2 hour walk around the rim of an volcano crater.
Getting on the dinghy. The drivers likes to takes us under the catamarans and we all have to lay down. This was our welcome to the boat and they have repeated it a few times since.


Our fearless guide, Roberto.


Off the dinghy and climbing on wet slippery rock to get to the path.






This is the white post we could not find yesterday during our walk. Tells you where the trail is.


Top of a volcano in the back.


Graffiti on the rocks. It has been stopped now. You can only travel in these areas with a naturalist guide and an approved boat. There were only three boats in our area the last three days. Look in picture above of boats in water.


Male land iguana


Female land iguana


This is the volcano crater that is now filled with 1/2 ocean water and 1/2 rain water.


Flowers


People carving names and date in rocks.

1846 year


1836 year





Our group of travers
Tom and Linda, from all over. Live in CO now.






Connie and Clair






Karen and Cindy. Karen has one hip and two knee replacements. She did all but the walk up the mountain in MP. She was a real trooper on the trip.


Ian, British but has lived in the US for years. Wife did not travel with him.


Bob and Joan. They vacation in HHI all the time. He cut his toe on lava while snorkeling. And that slowed him up.


Judy. From NYC , from the same tribe as us.


John and Marcie, bought the average age of the group down.


Ruth and Jack


The boat. Archipell II. Sleeps 16 with a crew of 9.



In the morning we had our last snorkeling. Not much to see. I put my legs into water. Still too cold for me. Jack went in all, three days.
Lunch was bean soup, fish , French fries, pickles, olives, tomatoes and fresh fruit. It was Jack's least favorite meal.
1:30. We have cruised to a new island, Fernando, and are taking a 2 hour hike, Punta Espinoza.
We will have sailed all the way around Island Isabela.
Visit to the kitchen.



Jimmy, our boat guide





The chef cuts a fancy potato for me.


Center piece the chef made for the table. Made of lettuce, watermelon, grapes, java, cumber, coconut, brown sugar.



Staff bunks next to kitchen. It was very small and HOT down there.


Visit with the Captain.



When the top numbers are at 0/0 for position we will be crossing over the equator later today.


Map of area. The boat is the X in the middle. Around it are the islands in color.

Location:Tagus cove, Isabel island