Ecuador, March 18-24, 1985
The rubber met the road in Ecuador! Although the first leg of our SA trip, Peru, had some hiccups, we later learned that the guides had covered nicely to ensure that we had a lovely vacation—all except George who seemed to have pocketed our pre-paid expense dollars. From the moment we arrived in Guayaquil, Ecuador it was as if we were invisible—no prepaid hotels, pickups, boats, you name it. But since we were there, local folks worked with us to put together our trip. We ended up on a fishing boat in the Galapagos, and the trip was one day short, but it was just our family and we had/made a great time!
Sunday, March 17 - Guayacil, Ecuador. We leave Lima very early and arrive at Guayacil to find no hotel reservations or signs of prepaid expenses. Spent most of the day trying to straighten things out - calls to Cusco, Quito & Lima to do so! In between calls, we spend some pleasant time lounging by the pool and walking around the town (LLH too upset to take photographs of the town!)
Monday, March 18 - Friday, March 22 - the Galapagos Islands. We arrive late morning at Baltra, an airbase built in WWII. No one meets us, although we are supposed to start sailing through the Galapagos the next day, Tueday. So, after a 2-hour wait, we decide we have to travel like natives to Santa Cruz: Truck - Ferry - Truck! Jack has Fritz lie in front of the last departing truck, and we take it to the channel ferry.
The channel ferry. The bus on the other side is full so we end up taking another truck which travels at 80kph for 1 1/2 hours through the hills to our destination. When we arrive we are so dusty that our hair is like concrete! Our humble double bungalow - a welcome respite (we are unexpected but the host finds rooms for us--we have to pay with our checks.) That night Fiddi and Judy Angermeyer, who had no idea we were coming, work hard to put together a trip for us.
Tuesday, March 19: we board the Orca and head for Floreana; Judy Angermeyer has worked hard to get us a boat and guide. Sunrise from our bungalow; We board a dingy & travel through the harbor to the Orca; Jack quietly relaxes in the upper 'Salon'. (We were supposed to have a sailboat, but since the Galapagos are in the Doldrums, a fishing boat is much better.)
Floreana Island; Turtle tracks. Our boat has a crew of 5 for us.
Macarena, our marine biologist traveling with us (required by Ecuador--wise) diagrams & explains animal habits and possible dangers:we are all Ears and Eyes! A reef begins to move: it's Mustard Rays.
Flamingos and other fauna. Ecuador limits number of people and boats, so we feel we have the place to ourselves, at least much of the time. Our small boat is a huge advantage since we are allowed in places larger ones aren't.
Sunset shots at Floreana & Devil's Crown. Devil's Crown: We take the ponga around & through this at sunset. The water is so clear and full of fish, it's like being in a glass bottomed boat; View through the Devil's Crown.
Wednesday, March 20; Española (Hood) Island. An iguana specie peculiar to Hood; And another Xmas iguana cum mohawk! Where the blue-footed booby lives: Rocky with relentless sun; Boobies & crabs; Mother & chicks.
Booby courtship & families. We loved imitating the booby dance!
We got up early in the morning to nature watch until about 9-ish; then so hot with scalding sun, we stayed inside the boat until about 4 when we could sight-see again. Lots of rest and reading.
Thursday, March 21: Santa Fe & South Plaza Islands. Oh, captain, our captain; Juan a capable mate. We are greeted at Santa Fe where a bull chases Kristen and won't let us swim there! Eduardo, the chef.
Santa Fe. A hot hike searching for a particular land iguana - all we found were lizards and cactus! We hike up this lava 'river' bed.
South Plaza Island. The water is very refreshing after a hot hike!
Our path is paved with sea lions.
Guardians of the sign whom we hear them barking all night long!
Friday, March 22: Turtle Cove. The view as we slowly motor into Turtle Cove; Mustard Rays glide; Blue Heron.
Frigate Bird; Into the brackish mangroves where the sea turtles come to rest; Two turtles mating (I'll never forget their labored sighs!). We fly back to Guayacil where we get our stored luggage
Saturday, March 23: Quito to the Otavalo Fair. We take a journey early Saturday morning to the Otavalo Fair, 50km North of Quito. We stop in this village to look at dough figures and buy a painted dough creche; Sweet roadside onlooker; More beautiful sights along the way.
The handicrafts part of the Fair; San Pablo Lake; Joyce Lynn, an actress who rode with us - a laugh a minute!
Fair scenes captured with a telephoto lens--courtesy of Fritz who cheerfully carries my camera bag wherever!
A priest buys & takes up a collection.
San Antonio de Ibarra.
Some of the sights we saw on our Friday eve tour. The very heavy Creche made by "the Picasso of the Andes" and purchased in a Cusco that we hand carried through our trip. Sunday, March 24 - Guayacil - Miami - Home. We fly back to Guayacil from Quito Saturday eve, play 'chicken' in the pool, have a delightful dinner, then leave for the airport early next AM. Air Panama is late so we take Eastern non-stop to Miami, arriving 2:20PM. Get luggage, clear customs. K. & LLH actually board a NW 2:45 plane, last non-stop to Twin Cities. Enough adventure for awhile!