My favorite Galapagos Island

Trying to determine which of the Galapagos Islands was my favorite is really difficult.  While there is a lot of similarity between the islands, they are also unique too. 

So, on our trip, we visited 6 islands:  Bartholomew, James Island, Fernandina, Isabella, North Seymour, and Santa Cruz.  We would visit one island in the morning and one island in the afternoon.  Our last day, we visited the islet, Mosquera.

Bartholomew, the first island that we visited, was probably the best view that we had where we climbed to the top of the island.  We saw few animals like lava lizards, iguanas, crabs, sea lions, and supposedly there was a dolphin sighting.  So, during our hike, our naturalist pointed out native plants and talked about the island formation.

Later that afternoon we visited James Island where we saw abandoned structures and the remnants of salt mining.  The island has much more vegetation than Bartholomew and we saw much more wildlife … sea lions, iguanas, crabs, a hawk, and several birds.

The next day we visited Fernandina Island.  This is the island of iguanas.  At our landing we had to carefully navigate through a multitude of iguanas, sunning on the rocks.  We actually got to see a dispute over territory (an iguana fight).  We also got a close view of flightless cormorants.  Sea lions and crabs are ubiquitous.  We also learn about lava flows, which are identical to the ones found in the Hawaiian island chain.  We also unexpectedly see a sea turtle.  The wildlife is active and varied here.

Isabella was our afternoon island where we took a dingy tour and did not actually land on the island.  I was a little concerned about the dingy tour and what we would see, but this tour was really interesting.  We even visited a cave.  We saw a multitude of blue-footed boobies perched on the cliff walls.  There were several sea turtles and stingray sightings and other birds.  Of course, there were sea lions, crabs, and iguanas.  It is amazing that sea lions are as adept at climbing as they are.

Our last full day in the Galapagos, we started the day by visiting North Seymour Island … one word incredible.  The main wildlife was birds:  blue- and teal/green-footed boobies and frigates who were mating and nesting.  There were active sea lions too.  The island also have quite colourful vegetation.

No visit to the Galapagos would be complete without a visit to Santa Cruz to visit the giant tortoises and the lava tunnel.  Pictures do not do these animals justice.  Depending on your perspective, we visited at the right time.  The tortoises were mating.  They are a little skittish, but you can get quite close like centimeters.

Our last day, we take a dingy tour to the islet Mosquera.  The highlight was a mating frigate and the geology of the islet.  Along the ride, we saw sea lions and crabs.

I suppose I would have to say North Seymour is my favorite because the birds were so active and plentiful and didn’t fly away when they saw us.

Otavalo Indian Market

Yesterday, we visited the Otavalo Indian Market and surrounding areas, which is definitely going to be a highlight of the trip to Ecuador.  This is where indigenous people sell and show their trade.  Part of the experience is to bargain and negotiate with the vendors.  I do not really like this part of the experience, because we have so much, they have so little, and because of this,  the negotiation is unequal … much like our experience in Zambia.

We had to take a private tour to the area, which is about 2 hours north of Quito, but it was totally worth it.

By the way, we did buy a lot.

Welcome to Quito, Ecuador

Well the countdown to Ecuador is over, we have arrived.

We flew through my favorite airport, Atlanta, actually that is my least favorite.   We were delayed one hour!  That’s a blog for another day.   As I said we are in Quito, enjoying our holiday.

Our first full day, we toured the city and visited the equator monument and the actually location of 0 degree lat and long.  There is a natural history and living science museum are the real equator site.  What a fun way to start our trip.

The monasteries and churches in the colonial part of the city is worth the visit, not to forget the history behind city.

Other than some light rain and cold weather, what a nice day.

Quito, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador … two days to go

This Wednesday we will be in Quito, the capitol of Ecuador.  Ecuador has never been on my radar … until I learned that the Galapagos Islands belong to the country, but there’s a lot to see and do in Ecuador too … at least that is what I have read. 

Like most of South America, and the rest of the world, Ecuador was colonized by the Europeans and has a lot of European influenced architecture, but the country also has a rich culture and history too.  Ecuador is in the Andes and the Amazon.

One of the tours we will be taking from Quito visits the equator monument where you can stand on both the northern and southern hemisphere.  We also will get to learn about the culture of Ecuador, influenced by Europeans and indigenous people.

While food is often a symbol and representative of culture and I am usually interested in how other people live … I am not trying the roasted guinea pig!

Quito, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador … countdown

One day before two days from today, we will be in Quito, Ecuador for our winter and Christmas holidays.  This will be our first trip to Ecuador and the continent of South America.  We will spend a couple of days in Quito before traveling to the Galapagos Islands for our cruise aboard the Explorer II, a 100 passenger ship.

While in Quito though, we will tour the city, travel to the Equator, and visit the famous Indian market … Otavalo.

A couple of surprises … Ecuador’s currency is the United States dollar, the Galapagos Islands are 600 miles west of the country, and Quito is 2850m (9350ft) above sea level [making the city one of the highest capitals in the world].

Until tomorrow …

Am I too old for G.A.P.?

I am a full-time employee and student at the University of Kentucky and the leading travel operator that our student travel agency (STA, a real company) uses is G.A.P. (Great Adventure People).  Okay, I am a believer in full disclosure and have to say that I have yet to take a G.A.P. tour, excuse me, I mean adventure … They sell adventures.

Now to be fair to G.A.P., if you look at their literature they tend to have a range of ages in their advertisement … mostly white people and fairly evenly split between men and women, but mostly young.  Their marketing pitch is “adventure” and they rate their adventures according to “culture shock” and “comfort”.  The comfort is primarily the reason why I have not taken one of their adventures. 

I came close to purchasing one of their adventures for our Quito, Ecuador and Galapagos Islands experience; however, I just could not see us cruising the Galapagos Islands in the yachts that they offered in their literature.  Yes, these yachts are probably cozy (limited to 16 passengers) and get closer to the islands than a cruise ship, but they looked small and uncomfortable and would provide limited services.  G.A.P.’s other marketing strategy is affordable.

One of these days I may give G.A.P. a chance.  Their Amazon adventure that starts in Peru looks very interesting … maybe next time.

When animals attack … no!

While on holiday in Cape Town, South Africa, we had a “when animals attack” experience … almost like the ones that you see on the television show, ”When animals attack.”  I have to confess that I have never seen the show except for the promotions, but in retrospect, I can laugh about our almost-animal-attack.

We were on a tour, or should I say adventure, around the Cape.  As citizens of the United States, we had never seen baboons in the wild.  Our first siting was on our way to the Cape of Good Hope. 
We thought, how cool.  Our tour operator, Hendrien, warned up that these “cute” animals are animals and can be quite vicious.  So, she gave up some tips about what to do if a baboon approaches up.

1. don’t run, stand still.
2. show the baboons your palm, not fist, or threatening.
3. don’t look the animal in the eye.
4. look slightly away.

  We learned that human expansion, much like what is occurring in parts of the United States, is encroaching upon their territory.  Frequently, these baboons are attracted to food and will fight for it.

So, as we are walking to the parking lot for the lighthouse, a baboon, seemingly from no where, starting running toward us.  Remembering Hendrien’s advice, I remain still, show my palms, and look away.  To my surprise the baboon stops! 

So, the moral of the story, animals attack when human encroach.