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Published: December 15th 2007
I´m currently at the internet cafe in warm Ayora Harbour (Santa Cruz island - Galapagos). Got so much sun on me yesterday when hiking around the volcano on Isla Isabela that I can stay out of it for a while today...
Highlights of the trip:
- Swimming with the sea lions on Sante Fe Island
- Wildlife on Española Island
- The beach at the port ¨town¨of Isabela Island
We were 11 persons on the boat with 5 crew members and 1 guide. I shared a cabin with Juliette from France (who didn´t speak much English so we spoke Spanish instead.... not a lot of conversation in other words). The rest of them where three Swiss-Germans, two Austrians, an English couple, one guy from New York and a woman from the Netherlands (so I could mix my languages !). We had a pretty relaxing 5 days together with stops on 5 different islands (with 3 overnight sailings). The second night was when we all realised we shouldn´t give up our current profession and become sailors.... the Pacific Ocean wind was blowing from the south and we headed east. None of us slept really well with the boat rocking all
night.
It is funny how used you can get to being greeted by the sealions, it is a novelty on the first island but at the end you don´t really pay attention anymore. Isla Española is the one with most different types of animals and that was the nicest one to walk around because of it. They have marked the walkway for tourists, you are not allowed to walk in other places which is good. They also spread out the groups from different boats so you see more animals than other people. Always a plus 😊
Some areas for snorkeling was a bit dark (cloudy that day) or sandy, but the 4th day our luck was there. The young sealions were in the water and they liked to play and swim around us. Fantastic !!!! I had bought an underwater camera in Quito and I used up all photos, hope some turn out good.
Another tourist attraction is the ¨Post Office Bay¨ where the tradition is you leave a postcard in the ¨mailbox¨, and pick one if you find one in the pile which is for your city (or country.... but you should really deliver by hand).
I didn´t have a card to leave behind and even if I did I don´t know any addresses by heart - so that would have only been one for myself ! Didn´t find any for Amsterdam either to bring back with me (big boat full of Swedes had apparently been there a few days before us, but none for Stockholm either).
The 5th day I went off the boat, while some others either staid on for another 3 days or went straight to the airport. I wanted to go to Isabela Island and that is not part of the regular cruise. So I found the place selling tickets for the 2 o´clock motorboat heading that way. I arrived and I was walking towards the small town and a man with his daughter drove by in their 4x4 offering accomodation. I got in to get the ride and after the main road of the center, when you thought there was nothing left, their hostel was just around the corner. You wouldn´t have found this on your own... They served the most delicious fish in the evening and the room was comfortable. Met a couple in the hostel the first night
and went for some drinks (and a bit of salsa) in the evening at the beach. Such a relaxed place (not many people around though) !!! Could have staid longer (heard there are hammerhead sharks for diving in the area).
Yesterday I went up to the Sierra Negra crater with the owner of the hostel and one other woman from Quito. More Spanish practice for me ! We drove up towards the vocano and then hiked around at the top for a good 4.5 hours. Interesting place for sure, the last eruption (small one) was about 10 years ago but the lava then staid inside the crater.
Tomorrow I head back to Quito but leave Monday morning again for the Jungle. You can really see all kind of nature in this country in a short space of time !
Hope you are all taking care of yourselves and are looking forward to Christmas.
Lots of love,
Marie
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Cecilia
non-member comment
Hi sweetiepie! This sure is a "seven-trips-in-one", isn´t it? Great photographs: "Hanging out with the locals" - what a bunch of beach-bums! : )))) And prehistoric iguanas too - awww, I´m green with envy. Even though it is freezing cold over here in Sweden, minus 10 Celsius, there´s no snow - looks like there won´t be a "White Christmas" after all. Basel was great, lots of top notch architecture and art, going on a cruise to Riga on Tuesday - not expecting to be swimming with sea-lions though! And I´m sure the seals in the Baltic Sea are celebrating their holidays in warmer climates, just like you! Big hug! Cecilia