Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Quito 2 - last day of trip
Goodbye to Robt & Tom imitating Indian boy racing Machu Picchu bus downhill. Went to beautiful old town, independence square-“statue of liberty” depicts defeated Spanish lion & church(a cross)-shows victorious condor(S America)–plaque honors heroes of 1809 war vs Spain. Went to Monasterio de San Franciso,still used by Franciscans-Visited “most beautiful church in S America”-interior covered w/gold leaf-recently restored after earthquake.Bussed to Equator monument (200 m off according to GPS’s. Claim: excavations show indigenous ancients knew exact line!! Lunch at La Ronda. Mike’s washing-machined passport questioned at airport. Mike mimed washing & got through-scary, bcz Tomás had left. Roger tarried behind-taken by police-random search & released.We worried about takeoff bcz of 9000’ altitude, thin air.Takeoffs & landings only in morning/evening, when air is denser. Great LAN dinner.Got to Miami at 11:45, slept 2 hours, rescheduled earlier flight to LA via DC. Long flight home-surrounded by noisy Japanese tourists. It was good to get home.
Quito 1
Rode bus on Pan American Hwy on way to Otalvo- Tomas told us about worldwide rose industry which ships all over world-bought Panama hats-bought dresses for granddaughters at Otalvo market-old lady followed us around, begging so we couldn't shop comfortably-followed group to bus and banged on windows-Marilyn swamped by women selling things-armed guards at bank - lunch at 300yr-old Hacienda visited by Bolivar-sparkling-violet-eared hummingbird at window-exterior chapel wall mosaic of Don Quixote or of conquistadors subjecting natives (not sure which)-saw janitor with broom made of sticks, reeds -huge fireplaces-Then to Cotacachi leather town:bought wallets, fanny back-went to Calderon: a town of figurine artists in dough-bought xmas ornaments, parrot. Dinner in old town Quito at luxurious, if somewhat ostentatious, Teatro restuarant.
Galapagos 5
Galapagos 5
Woke up in Puerto Ayora harbor on SE shore of Santa Cruz-many boats, cruiz ships there-said goodbye to Carlos-boated to island-met Julian who had apparently celebrated the previous night-funky stores near dock-bussed to Darwin Station research facility-Ayora is a very quaint town-some spanish influence-Saw Opuntia (Prickly Pear Cactus tree), many tame tortoises which had been pets (tortoise-don't swim; turtles swim-terrapins do both) -Julian caused them to raise their heads for cihin scratching-he used to ride them as a kid-bought some souveniers, maps, gifts for grandkids-bus ride the length of Santa Cruz to ferry and then to Balta Airport-saw first wild tortoises-hectic Baltra airport scence-got flight changed so it was non-stop to Quito vs thru Guayaquil-bought "i love boobies" shirt for Todd-said goodbye to Julian-landed inQuito-quiet dinner w/Nancy & Jim at Marriot-rest of gang went across the street for sumptious, cheap dinner w/gluttonous-size-servings.
Galapagos 4
Panga ride to scenic and volcanic Bartolome Island and climbed 300 stair steps to the observation area near the summit. The bay and harbor below was a backdrop for the fiilm "Master and Commander." The Island is quite dry, being in the rain shadow of Santiago. A circular inlet at the base of the stairs, just barely breaking the surf, is the residual of an old crater. The plants on the island were widely separated by poisons they exude against competitive plants. Mary Lynn and part of the group snorkeled in the bay after the hike. In the afternoon we had a panga ride through Black Turtle cove and its mangrove forest where we saw white-tipped sharks,young Lava Herons and many green sea turtles some of which were engaging in a four hour copulation (the men in the party thought that was much too long)while other males swam frantically around apparently awaiting their turn. We floated through some narrow entanglements, one of which the boat pilot resisted, but Julian insisted. Rocky, long boat ride to Puerto Ayora before dinner. We celebrated Lenore's birthday, though I doubt her condition made the cake, which Tomas made, appetizing.
