http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Mindy/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Mindy en-us Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:19:46 +0000 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:19:46 +0000 Well today was fun....I had booked identical flights tofrom Miami down to the same seat numbers. Flight today was supposed to leave Miami at 1056 but at around 1015 I noticed that the plane still hadn't arrived in Miami. Well it was finally announced that the plane was delayed due to President Obama's presence in Miami and was circling. A bit later they announced that the plane had been http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Brooklyn/blog-448797.html So the mystery of the weird flight connections is solved. We got on the plane in Guyaquil got off it in Quito for 12 hour and got back on the same plane but in different seats for the flight to Miami. I still think it's weird and even weirder that it had 2 different flight numbers but since I'm here now I'm not going to complain. The flight from Guyaquil to Quito is only 30 minutes so i http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Miami/blog-448431.html One of the mysteries of this trip was why Globus booked our flight home the way they did. Instead of flying from Baltra to Quito and staying there overnight and just catching a flight to Miami instead we flew from Baltra to Guayaquil. And tomorrow morning we have a ridiculously early flight to Quito to change planes for Miami. I really think its silly But I have faith it will work out and http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/West/Guayaquil/blog-448172.html Well day was a long hike. Actually I shouldn't call it a hike since that implies a long walk over very level ground with some rocks or something. This was a climb. Three hundred and sixty seven steps supposedly I didn't count. Early start 645 am to trek to the ferry across to Puerta Ayora then 45 minute boat ride to where the yacht had docked last night. A little over an hour and a ha http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-447942.html Another long day today. Left the hotel at 745 treked to the pier then panga to the yacht. Hour and a half cruise to South Plaza Island. Sea was a bit calmer today but it was cloudy all day. South Plaza Island is covered with this red plant that put me in mind of the red weed from H.G. WellsWar of the Worlds. It is also home to a colony of sealions right on the pier and when we were comin http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/Galapagos/Santa-Cruz-Island/blog-447625.html Today we visited Santa Fe Island. Left the hotel at 745 for the walk to the pier. Small boat called panga from the pier to the Sea Finch Yacht. Very nice yacht 2 levels. The main level has cushioned seats and tables. The top is open to the air in the back and covered in the front and also has cushioned seats. On the bow of the yacht is a nice long cushioned bench and some chaise lounge l http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/Galapagos/Santa-Fe-Island/blog-447358.html Greetings from the Galapagos Islands. We started our day early. Up at 5 am to leave for the airport at 6 am. 740 flight to Baltra via Guyaquil. Flight was good had a great view of the mountains around Quito as we left. I was sitting next to a nice couple from Toronto who are on their honeymoon. They are staying at a different hotel and plan on doing a lot of scuba diving. Landed on Baltra http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-447067.html Last night I went out to dinner with the Nishimuras and the Descours. We took two cabs to a restaurant our local guide Edison had recommended. It was a seafood place called Mare Nostrum. Dinner for the 5 of us including wine and desserts was 111 dollars. The good thing in Ecuador is that they use the US dollar as their currency so it's easy to pay for things. I had grilled salmon and it w http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Mitad-del-Mundo/blog-446772.html Well yesterday was a bit of a trial. Our flight from Juliaca to Quito via Arequipa was supposed to be at 325 pm. We got to the airport really early so early that the LAN reps weren't even at the counters yet after stopping at an Indian village and the ruins at Suillistani on our way from Puno. Well after waiting for a long time to check in we went through the security gates. And then http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Quito/blog-446470.html Today was spent on the lake.We left at 8 and walked down to the private pier by the hotel. And I do mean down it was loads of stairs Fifteen minute boat ride took us to the Uros Islands aka the Floating Islands. They are inhabited by the Uros Indians. In preIncan times they were forced off the land and started living on reed house boats in the southern part of the lake. In the late 1930s http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Puno/Lake-Titicaca-/Taquile-Island/blog-445867.html Greetings from the shore of Lake Titicaca. Up this morning at 7 am with a massive headache. My sinuses are completely blocked and my head was pounding. Had a quick breakfast and then we went right across the street to the monastery of Santo Domingo. It was actually kind of interesting its built on top of an Incan temple complex and there are a few nice stones and arches. After that we walke http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Puno/Lake-Titicaca-/blog-445596.html This morning we had free time. Some people went back to Machu Picchu some went hiking and some went shopping. I slept in. I haven't gotten a full 8 hours on this trip and it's not making me happy. After breakfast I went walking along the river across from our hotel and took a bunch of pictures of the pretty flowers there. The group met up for lunch which was a cream of vegetable soup and s http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/Cusco/blog-445359.html This is just going to be a short note since I only have 12 hour before we leave for dinner and I havent been to my room yet. Actually I have no clue where my room is this hotel is really confusing Train ride back up from Machu Picchu was nice we actually got a fashion show by the train crew. Tonight we go to a restaurant where we can watch some folk dancing. Ill have some free time tom http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/Cusco/blog-445314.html Greetings from Aquas Calientes. Technical that means hot waters but its also slang for fire water aka booze....One set back this morning. We had a pair of sisters traveling with us and one of them did not adjust well to the altitude change so they have left us and gone back to Lima. Odd thing about our hotel. There were no clocks in the room. It just seems strange to me I guess Ive got http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Aguas-Calientes/blog-445048.html First half of the day was getting to Cusco also spelled Cuzco. Up at 530 on the bus for trip to the airport at 700. Check in went pretty smoothly Mauricio was able to print out most of our boarding passes and security was fine. One thing about this trip that I've forgotten to mention that is a bit annoying is that we have to hand our passports in at every hotel. So Mauricio has had my p http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Urubamba/blog-444794.html Well my brain seems not to be working this trip but more on that later...After I logged off last night I went for a walk on the beach with some of the other ladies on the tour. Watched the sunset behind the cliffs of the bay and watched the hotel men take a couple of sailboats out of the water. Dinner was a buffet for the appetizers and dessert but we had to pick our entree. Well it was a http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/Lima/Miraflores/blog-444487.html Happy Sunday.One thing I always find hard to remember when traveling is what day of the week it is. But today is Sunday and that was probably why there was not that much traffic on the PanAmerican Highway. Dinner last night was a set menu appetizer was called la causa which if you know Spanish means the cause. It is called that because it was an easy dish to serve to the soldiers during the http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Ica/Paracas/blog-444169.html I apologize if I stop capitalizing things but the shift key on this keyboard is in an odd spot and I may get lazy.in addition the at symbol is a bit finicky so im posting my email here so i can reaccess it if i need to....mindysr4hotmail.comNow on to the fun stuff. Driving around a city is always disorienting for me since i have no point of reference to figure out were we are. But appar http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/Lima/Miraflores/blog-443881.html HiI only have a few minutes before we leave on the city tour but I wanted to stop in and let everyone know I made it okay. Flight was good even if I did get stuck in a middle seat. And both people on my sides slept through a lot of the flight. We had a long wait at the airport waiting for the final passengers and one persons luggage didnt make it. We are 31 in this group a bit bigger t http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/Lima/Miraflores/blog-443855.html So this morning I decide to charge my iPod before the long day at the airport and guess what I have my cable but forgot the adapter.... sigh..... Hopefully I'll be able to pick up another at the airport today. Double checked everything else and that seems to be the only major thing I forgot so if that's the biggest hiccup of the trip I think I'll be happy. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Miami/blog-443515.html