Galapagos 2014--Overview

I have wanted to go to the Galapagos Islands for as long as I can remember. I recently found a travel brochure that I have been saving since 2002 about planning a trip. The Musician and I realized that for several years, OK, most of our almost 15-year marriage, we haven't really taken "vacations." We've been places, but mostly the same old thing, and for several years, not really much beyond visiting family (and housesitting in Hawaii . . .different story). This year was a milestone for me with promotion and we decided to bite the bullet, and not cheap out on travel. We booked a week-long trip on a 16-person (plus crew) catamaran to the Galapagos. There are so many islands to see, that there is no way to see it all in a week, but we packed in a lot. We took almost 2,000 pictures, so there is no way to post everything and I'm planning to write a little post about each day separately over the coming week or so with more details of each day. So much was packed in that I have to write it all down now, or I will never remember it all.

But, a general overview . . .we booked through O.A.R.S. and they contract through R.O.A.M. We found out we were passengers 10-11 and the first 9 were from one family. We saw a group of 5 adults and 4 children (ages 12-17) in the Houston Airport and they seemed excited about a trip to the Galapagos, so we barged in and asked . . .sure enough, it was our group. Among them were 2 doctors and a professional photographer and some really cool people. They are now extended family to us. In Quito, we met a representative from O.A.R.S. who was going on a "familiarization" trip, another passenger (doctor #4), and a representative from R.O.A.M. who was learning the trip to be a tour leader in the future.

I was anxious about landing in Quito, but shouldn't be. The formerly 9th most dangerous airport in the world is now a city park and we landed at the new airport about 45 minutes out of the city. In the wee hours, the whole group was taken to our lodging. Casa de Hacienda "La Jimenita" is a former farmhouse that is being converted to a spa hotel with 20 rooms (currently 12). It was beautiful. The rooms are lovely.

 

The grounds were beautiful.  The beds were comfortable. The food was amazing. And . . .we were greeted by the resident English Bulldog, Faris Francois, who followed us to our room to make sure we felt comfortable.  The people also were so welcoming and wanted us to feel like it was our home . . .except ours is not as nice.

We had a day tour before leaving for the Islands. I was surprised that the Galapagos is 600 miles off the coast and was a 2 1/2 hour flight . . .with a time change. After meeting our park naturalist guide and crew, and settling into our cabin, we set sail on Nemo III...On the island, we met one more passenger...a cool, adventerous, 20-year-old finishing her 42 days in Ecuador and Galapagos on a Catamaran with us.



Over the next several days, we made stops on the Islands of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Santa Fe, Espanola, Floreana, and Bartolome. We didn't make it to the biggest Island Isabela. We learned a lot about how the islands were formed. Each location had different landscape and it felt like we were on different worlds at each location.

The plants were beautiful.  We saw lots of Blue Footed Boobies, Frigate Birds, Sea Lions (who played with us in the water), Giant Albatross, Hawks, varieties of Finches and Hummingbirds (including a vampire), Giant Land Tortoises, Sea Turtles, Land and Marine Iguanas, and so much more . . .We took videos and 1,871 pictures. The group is planning to upload the best photos so we can share. Can you imagine how many possible pictures there will be? But, still not enough to fully appreciate the beauty of the land.

I was sad to leave on the 8th day, but happy to see Faris back at the Hacienda.


We relaxed and admired the grounds before another day tour of old Quito and a red-eye home. I'm exhausted and need another vacation to recover. Back to work in the morning. But, I want to go back one day and see even more!!!!

Home again Home again Jiggety jig--June 16/17

After a good night's rest and a lovely breakfast. We scratched Feris on the head, took a deep breath and admired the views from the Hacienda and boarded a van for our day's tour of old Quito.  

Since 1978, Quito has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a living history of cultures and beautiful architechture.

But first, a stop at the center of the world. Wait? Weren't we there already. Nope. Center of the world really applies to equator and not necessarily zero latitude. Here, we got an interesting discussion of indian cultures, of which there are many in Ecuador. Based on the exhibits of Amazonian creatures, I will be nervous taking an Amazon river trip. The snakes and spiders and fish look (and sound) very scary.  Then, 5th grade science class about the equator. We watched water swirl in different directions (or not at all) depending on location across the equator. Balanced an egg on a nail (try that at home).

Eagle pose is NOT easy on the equator line

Learned how difficult it is to maintain balance on the equator as the poles pull you in opposite directions. And a demonstration about weighing up to 2Kg lighter on the equator (I want that scale). 

Close . . .even on opposite
sides of the world

Not even the forces of the
earth can pull us apart

200 meters away is the Equator monument. Whoops, the French explorers were a wee bit off in their calculations of the equator line. The bigger tour buses stopped here and the tourists were told this was "THE" equator. I don't think they were told it was really 200m away in the family owned center.

360 degree view

We also went to El Panecillo, it's a 200m hill overlooking the city. There is a very cool monument of the Madonna made of 7,000 pieces of aluminum. The views are stunning from here. The city is surrounded by 7 volcanoes and the view is spectacular from a high point.

Before we toured the "old city" we had lunch at the Grand Plaza Hotel at the city square. The highlight was the special way dessert was served. . .if you order ice cream. A gong is rung several times and monks arrive in purple. Ice cream is served over dry ice so it "steams" and pops. And, then the Ecuadorian liberty song (very upbeat) is played over the speakers. It's fun.

We got some history of the central square, learned details about the meanings of various aspects of the liberty statue and peaked into the presidential palace. It is easy to see why Quito is a World Heritage Site. The architecture is absolutely stunning.

We walked through the streets to the wealthiest cathedral in the city with its gold leaf interior...Jesuit of course.

Then to San Francisco Plaza and church . . .the oldest in the city. Because of it's age, no pictures allowed.  

A short drive to the National Cathedral, which is very much like the National Cathedral in DC . . .both based off Notre Dame. The other cathedrals took hundreds of years to complete. This one is still in progress as the newest. ..started in 1883. I find it very interesting that instead of gargoyles, the statues on the outside of the neo-gothic structure are animals from the Galapagos.

It was an exhausting day and we went back to the Hacienda for a light dinner and relaxing by the fireplace before heading to the airport for the red-eye home.

 At our gate, Interpol called The Musician to a screening area and unpacked one of our suitcases in a routine, random check. They didn't find any contraband and we were on our way home. It was nice to be greeted by smiling faces who were more than happy to nap with us while we recovered. 

Back to the Mainland--June 15

 This morning was beautiful and sad all at the same time. We had the opportunity to step shore an sunrise for a final walk with sea lions.

 The sunrise was beautiful and I didn't want to regret missing a moment, so I was one of very few who took the dinghy to the beach. It really was magical. The sea lions were also waking up. Some played in the surf, but most were still drowsy. I really wished I could spend a lifetime in just these few moments.

 

Then, we had a short sail back to Baltra where we waited for the plane to take us back to Quito. A sea lion sat on the bench to bid us farewell. As did a local dog. I was relieved as we pulled away in the shuttle to see the dog walking away with a local. I knew he was taken care of.

Upon arrival in Quito, most of the group left us at the airport and took a half-day tour of the city. They are leaving tonight. We have another day for a full-day tour tomorrow. We got back to the Casa de Hacienda La Jimenita and were greeted by Feris and taken to our rooms. This time we were in the "new" section. I love the construction because they have done such an amazing job blending it to look like it has been there for a hundred years. The bed was sooooo comfortable.  And I enjoyed a LOOOONNNGGG HOT shower!!!

We spent the afternoon wandering around the property. I was more adventurous than The Musician. After we found a newly discovered tunnel (which now has electric lighting) and followed it to the bottom, I decided I wanted to take a walk to find the bottom exit from the outside. 

The views were spectacular. Found an old aqueduct system and heard rushing water at the bottom of a gorge, but I couldn't see the water it was so deep.

The flowers were beautiful. 

 

 The structures were fantastic.

We even had an amazing clear view of the Cotapaxie volcano that is always covered in snow.

The group reconvened for one final dinner, and our specially prepared vegan mushroom stroganoff was the best meal of the trip. We stayed up to bid farewell and then to the very soft, very comfortable, very cozy bed to dream of where we've been and what we've seen.