After another early departure from the hotel, we had a 2 hour boat ride to Isabella Island. The ride was smooth as the delegation left in two boats.
Upon our arrival on Isabella Island, we went to the Volcano Hotel, put our luggage into our rooms and quickly departed for a walk to the “Wall of Tears” which is a historic site. “Between 1946 – 1959 Isabella was a penal colony for Ecuadorian prisoners. The men built a wall of HUGE blocks of lava as punishment for their crimes. The wall still stands and is100 meters long, 7 meters high and is 3 ½ meters wide.
After lunch we went on small boats to Puerto Villamil where we had the opportunity to go snorkeling in the most amazing location. There were seals and penguins swimming among us —- this was truly the highlight of our journey throughout Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands!
Near where we went snorkeling was an area called, ”Las Tinteraras – which is a rocky outcrop of volcanic rock. As we walked among the rocky area we saw a colony of white-tipped sharks.
While returning to the “main Island”, we went by an area that had many bluefoot bookies. The ydo have the most amazing feet.
We then went to a tortoise breeding center, where we were able to observe the development and growth of tortoises,
Finally it was time to come home to showers, dinner, walks on the beach and looking at the few shops on the main street
Everyone’s alarm clocks rang at 6:00 a.m. – as we had to have breakfast and be out of the door by 7:30. However, Sharon and my alarm clock rang at 5:45, as we wanted to be ready before the students – and yes indeed – we were.
We took a 2-hour boat ride to Floreana Island, which has only 100 inhabitants! Gifts were given to students in the one and only elementary school, which has 25 students from grades k – 8! The school is divided into two classrooms K – 3 and 4 – 8. After going to our rooms were went swimming on a “black beach” where the sand was “black” from volcanic rocks that surround the Island. The water was wonderful – small waves, not to hot and not too cold – just right!
After lunch we went on a hike to the top of a mountain where there is a tortoise sanctuary. We were able to get “real close and personal” with some ENORMOUS tortoises. Ask your child how people can figure out the age of each tortoise….. I am sure they will know the answer. We saw caves where pirates stayed and stashed their treasures….. in the early 1900’s people found a hoard of MARMELADE that the pirates were hiding – as marmalade was a tremendous treat. – personally I would prefer gold! We also saw large rock carving of a head – it was an amazing site to see.
After going back to the hotel everyone quickly gathered up their scuba equipment and walked to another wonderful swimming “hole.” The students were able to swim with the seals… now that’s something to write home about!
After dinner the students were able to spend some time reflecting upon their day, walking on the beach, listening to music, chatting and playing a “good game of hearts.”
Another fabulous day – on the enchanting day of Floreana.
Tomorrow we are off to Isabela Island where more adventure await us.
Took an early morning flight to Baltra Islands – Galapagos.
Had a boxed breakfast.
Small airport – walked onto the tarmack from the airplane.
Went through Customs and took a bus to the ferry – saw another PTP group coming back from the Galapagos Islands. They were enthusiastic about their 4 days on the islands.
Went from the north to the south of the island and crossed 4 climate zones – from the desert to the tropical jungle.
We ate lunch at “La Chocolate” -
We went to the Hhotel – the Red Booby – has great towels!!! The Red Booby is a wonderful “boutique hotel” that was “just the right size” – not too big and not to small.
Divided up the school supplies that will be used in 2 schools.
We walked 2-2 miles to the most amazing beach.
It was truly paradise – amazing soft sand, beautiful blue sky and almost no one else was there.
We actually went swimming in a lagoon – and it as a BLUE lagoon!!!!
Most of the students went swimming, several played with the Frisbee, one student had even brought her painting supplies and was sketching on the beach and then was water-coloring her artistic creation. Others were observing nature and counting the iguanas.
We picked up our scuba equipment and then had a pizza party for dinner! After wandering through the town on the way to the hotel – everyone had the opportunity to see the knick-knacks that the people sold – carved Galapagos animals, t-shirts of all shapes and designs and hats to fit every head!
After a great day everyone was ready to sink into their beds as we needed to get up at 6:00!
The students are great – helpful and kind! YAHOO!!!!!
It is really late and I MUST go to bed, however I want to give you a quick run-down on our day.
GREAT BREAKFAST – buffet – lots of choices – fresh fruit, fresh bread, cheese, meat, etc
TOUR – of Quito – Ecuadorian House of Culture, The Congress Building, La Compania Church (the most incredible gold leaf – inside and on the outside doors,) Santa Catalina de SIena convent (the squeakiest floors,) El Panecillo Hill (with a large monument of the winged Madonna on top)
MEALS – the MOST amazing lunch – beef, pork, fish, pasta, homemade sorbet (Ecuadorian style.) Great dinner – filet mignon, salad fries, a rice and bean dish for vegetarians, chocolate mousse for dessert.
Getting ready for our trip to the Galapagos Islands – 4:45 wake-up and leave at 5:00 a.m. for the plane.
We had a great beginning to our adventure! The “JFK” group made it to Miami and onto the plane with seconds to spare. The students that met in Miami were already on the plane, making sure that they didn’t leave without us! We then sat on the runway for approximately two hours. It was a great time for everyone to talk and get to know each other. By the time we arrived in Ecuador we were “old friends.”
We were met at the airport by Leo, our Delegation Manager. He is fabulous! He is caring and it is easy to tell that he LOVES his country, as he talks with great pride when he talks about Ecuador.
We had a great meal at Hotel Quito and then off to bed. It was a long, but amazing day.
Just before we headed off to our rooms, we took our first group photo in the lobby of the hotel. If you can see the flowers behind us – they are real roses with stems that are at least 3 – 4 feet long!
“Ecuador got its name from this line circling the earth and dividing it in the northern and southern hemisphere. Throughout the country you encounter it, sometimes conmemorated by monuments, other times only by a simple painted line or sign.” Vivienne Mackie
At the equator there are two sites and two museums.
“The first is the INTI-NAN SOLAR MUSEUM, which claims to be the “real” equator, as measured and established by GPS.”
“When the GPS measurements were being done, the scientists also found ruins of an Incan Sun Temple directly east from this point, and a Moon Temple directly west, both on the same line, which the Incas called the Sun Line.”
“In contrast, the other site, LA MITAD del MUNDO, was established in 1734.”
“The location of this museum is based on the calculations of the Geodesic Expedition: 10 French scientists, two Spanish scientists, and an Ecuadorian (named Moldonado), who did experiments for 10 years. This equator line’ is only 200-300 m from the other, so actually it was remarkably accurate for that time, and La Mitad still celebrates it as such.”
The best known site on this island is Post Office Bay where in the past sailors used to leave and receive their letters in a barrel to be delivered by other sailors coming or going to Europe and North America. The tradition continues – leave your postcard in the barrel and see how long it takes to be delivered – at the same time your guide will go through the postcards that are already in the barrel and if there is a postcard with an address close to your home, please take it with you and mail it when you finish your vacation!
The Charles Darwin Research Center was created in 1960 by an international committee in order to promote research, conservation, and education in the Galapagos Islands. The center is located on Isla Santa Cruz, a short walk away from Puerto Ayora. At the center, visitors can tour the Van Straelen Exhibition Center where staff members are available to answer questions about the islands and the ongoing restoration process. The center also runs slide shows (narrated in several languages) that describe the history of the islands and the current conservation efforts.
In addition to the exhibition center, the tortoise rearing house and the adult tortoise house, provide opportunities for visitors to observe the 11 subspecies of tortoises up close. In the rearing house, hatchlings and young tortoises are nurtured until they can be released, at about four years of age, to their home islands. Nearly 2000 young tortoises have been released so far!
Tortoises that cannot be released back into the wild find their home in the adult tortoise house, an area with several different enclosures for the education and protection of tortoises from each subspecies. Handling the tortoises is prohibited, but this is a great place to get close up photos of the tortoises feeding on cacti and snoozing by the artificial pond.
It is also the only place to see the last remaining member of the Isla Pinta subspecies, Lonesome George. He is estimated to be anywhere between 100 and 150 years old! Efforts are being made to encourage him to mate with a female of a related subspecies, but so far he has shown little interest.
