http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Eryn/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Eryn en-us Sun, 03 Jan 2010 10:05:45 +0000 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 10:05:45 +0000 On Sunday morning we left our boat for the last time. On San Cristbal Island we went to the Galapagos Islands Interpretation Center which had a lot of information about the islands their history their animals resources and people. Then we went to the airport and flew back to Quito. The end of our Galapagos tourGalapagos Highlights The best days and islands of the Galapagos... Everything wa http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/Galapagos/San-Cristobal-Island/blog-408251.html Our last wildlife day. Sad Espaola Island first in the morning. Masked boobies sea lions marine iguanas red instead of just black lava lizards bigger swallowtail gulls the ones that are everywhere here Galapagos mockingbirds Galapagos hawks 2 of them and it's rare to even see one and albatross. The albatross are pretty big and walk really awkwardly We saw their big eggs too.On http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/Galapagos/Espanola-Island/blog-406070.html Floreana in the morning. First we went to Punta Cormorant for a walk to see flamingos For a couple days now our guide had been saying that there was a possibility of seeing flamingos and today we finally did First just far away but then we went to another spot and saw them really close. We even saw a young one that was still completely white Then we went snorkeling at Devil's Crown a pretty co http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/Galapagos/Floreana-Island/blog-406062.html Our only day without snorkeling... All day on Puerto Ayora with giant tortoises In the morning we went up to the highlands to a farm to see the tortoises. They weren't in captivity and they could go in and out of the national park they're just more protected. We saw a couple within the farm and then also some in the national park in the actual wild. They are huge Just like in the pictures. M http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/Galapagos/Santa-Cruz-Island/blog-406041.html I'm finally going to finish my Galapagos blog after being home for 3 weeks... Here goesThis morning was our most intense hike. Which isn't really saying much. We walked up to a point about 115 meters high from which we could see the rest of the island Bartolome and some of the other islands. Beaches gorgeous water crazy rock formations... It is the most photographed view in the Galapagos. We http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/Galapagos/blog-406037.html North Seymour Island in the morning the best bird day of the trip. Our first bluefooted boobies and frigates We literally got off the dinghies and there were some there waiting for us on the shore I love their blue feet And they're pretty cool looking besides that. Plus they're the only bird in the Galapagos that dances. They have a mating dance that consists of raising their feet in high mar http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/blog-399808.html Alright so I'm already back from the Galapagos and leaving for AK tomorrow but I'm going to do this day by day... And by the way the Galapagos was freaking amazing We saw so many animals and swam with most of them We also saw a bunch that are unusual to see. Our guide kept telling us how rarely he sees them and how lucky we were. So it was a spectacular tripThe 9th I arrived back in Quito a http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/Galapagos/San-Cristobal-Island/blog-399802.html My last night in Ecuador I had dinner pizza with Sophie and then Brittney Sophie and I watched a movie before going home saying goodbye and thank you to my family and packing. Completely lost it when I was packing but it had to happen at some point I guess... Saturday morning I went to the market one last time then the sandwich shop then home to get my stuff and to taxi Lagos where I was s http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Panama/Los-Santos/blog-397518.html This week Janice my replacement was helping teach. It's nice when there's overlap so that the old teacher can tellshow the new one how everything works around the school. It's hard to turn my kids over to anyone because I've been here so long and feel responsible for them but I think Janice will do really well She has a lot of energy and ideasThis week was syllables a e i o u and http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Otavalo/blog-394771.html Elections this weekend Finally All the propoganda will finally end In Ecuador during elections there is the Ley Seca which basically means that no one is allowed to buy or sell alcohol from Friday to Monday. Voting is mandatory so they want to make sure that everyone makes a sober decision. Not many people go out anyway on Fridays in Otavalo Saturday is the big night but this Friday it was e http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Otavalo/blog-394143.html My creativity is definitely being put to the test Right now we're doing numbers 150 counting and learning to write them. We've been doing them all week and we have them next week as well because the kids are taking forever to learn. Ok so how many things can you do with 50 numbers You might be surprised. Lots of counting worksheets with all the numbers listed with some missing that they have http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Otavalo/blog-393352.html Some Ecuador observations for ya...In the states the icecream truck is the one with music. Here it's the garbage truck. People can't put out their garbage early because the dogs will just go for it so with the music they can tell when the truck is coming. It actually kinda makes sense but the garbage song is really annoying We know we've been here too long when we start humming the garbage song http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Otavalo/blog-391082.html Last Saturday 11th was mostly just hanging out in Otavalo. We were going to go to Peguche because some people still hadn't been there but it started pouring so we didn't go. Later on in the afternoon Carly Rosie and I went to the Cotocachi leather fair. We had heard there was something going on in Cotocachi 20 minutes away by bus so we decided to check it out. Turns out it was their annual http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Otavalo/blog-391081.html Thursday and Friday April 9 and 10 were vacations from school because of Semana Santa so Nicole Troy and I took advantage of the days off to climb Cotopaxi It is a volcano south of Quito the second highest in Ecuador at 5897 meters 19347 feet. Almost as high as Denali but definitely not as difficultWednesday evening we took a bus to Quito had some dinner a Thai restaurant and then http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/Centre/Cotopaxi/blog-390026.html Wednesday 8th at Larcacunga was fanesca day. Fanesca is the national dish for easter. It has 12 different kinds of beanscornchochoshavaspeanutsother types of that kind of stuff for the 12 apostles and then also cream fish fried plantains fried dough balls tomatoes onions cheese egg all kinds of good stuff. It's essentially a stew. Then theres also mashed cheesy potatoes on the sid http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Otavalo/blog-390020.html The kids have started bringing these massive ginormous bugs to school. I don't even know what kind they are but I am not a fan Of course I'm not scared of them because that would give them even more reason to put them on my head and down my shirt and I this way I gain some respect because all the other volunteers are scared. But I'm still not a fan. They're massive Like seriously as big as my fi http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Otavalo/blog-386863.html Troy Nicole and I climbed Imbabura on Sunday March 29 and it was definitely an adventure We had to leave at 5 am I think partially because they wanted to be back in time for the soccer game but it was good that we left that early because we needed ALL day. We started from 3400 meters and summited at 4600. Our hike up was for the most part good. We started having warning signs about our guid http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Imbabura-Volcano/blog-386865.html Today was the last day for Maya Susan and Courteney at Larcacunga which of course was sad. We're losing 3 of our Larcacunga family We all bought matching scarves last week to wear to our weekly Wednesday potluck because t Larcacunga we're a family... When everyone was saying goodbye all the kids of course started asking when all the rest of us are leaving. Only 5 weeks left That still so http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Otavalo/blog-385349.html Maya Aviv and I went to Atacames for the weekend since pretty much everyone else was in Mindo. It's on the north west coast of Ecuador and is basically just a beach party town. It's really far away from Otavalo 9 hours on bus but it was worth it. We took the bus Friday overnight so we were there by early Saturday morning. We took the bus to Quito arriving at 930 so that we could get tickets http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Atacames/blog-384174.html If there's one thing that this trip has made me realize its that I LOVE kids Especially all these Larcacunga ones Yes i often get frustrated with them but then at other times i just want to hug them to death I'm always so happy when we're up there. I definitely like just playing with them better than the actual teaching but both parts are good. And I think I like teaching here better than I http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Otavalo/blog-385061.html