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HOME » Travel Journals » Quito and Galapagos
Quito and Galapagos
By : Jim and Sue Perkins
Trip Begins September 22, 2008
Trip Ends October 3, 2008
Imagine ... swimming with Green Sea Turtles or Sea Lions or Galapagos Penguins (that's right swimming),or having a baby waved albatrosses in the middle of your walkway. That and more is what we saw and did in 8 days on 11 islands.
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September 22, 2008
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Katy, Texas to Quito
Katy Texas
We started out from Houston on a late night flight. As we were coming into Quito the lights are beautiful it's as if they formed a landing pattern for the planes. They are different colors of white, blue, and an orange color. At the Quito airport our guide for the next two days welcomed us. At Swissotel, our home for the next two days, we were welcomed with warm towels and hot wine, what a way to start a trip of a lifetime.
September 23, 2008
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A day in Quito
Quito, Ecuador
Our guide picked us up the next morning and we spent hours seeing the city. We couldn't wait until the next day for our day at Cotopaxi.
September 24, 2008
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Cotopaxi and Rose Farm
Quito, Ecuador
We spent the next day at Cotopaxi and a near-by rose farm. Our guide said that he hadn't see this clear a day since the beginning of July. Cotopaxi was really amazing and coming from Texas is was a wonderful surprise to see Bluebonnets (the State Flower of Texas) growing at the base of the mountain. We didn't know Ecuador was the Rose Captial of the World but after seeing a farm with four huge tents of about 1.5 million perfect roses a tent we could understand why they are called that.
September 25, 2008
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The Adventure Begins
San Cristobal, Galapagos
When we got to the airport at San Cristobal we met our new family. That is what we became. There were to be only 15 of us on the trip. There was another couple from Texas, one from England, from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, a young lady from California and two guys from Australia. We met our guide who then took us to the Millennium. After our first lunch on board we left and went back to town to go see our first tortoise and our first finches.
September 26, 2008
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Albatrosses, blue-footed bobbies and more
Espanola, Galapagos
Can you imagine seeing Blue-Footed bobbies doing their mating dance or baby waved albatrosses still having their down in the middle of your walk-way or the Galapagos Hawk with a chick (rare sighting)and marine iguanas everywhere, masked bobbies, Galapagos gulls, sea lions, doves, mockingbirds, finches. That is what we saw on our first full day plus our first snorkeling trip.
September 27, 2008
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Post Office and Pink Flamingos
Floreana, Galapagos
Went to the famous post office barrell and pick up some post cards to mail from home. Saw the pink flamingos which are more coral colored than pink and snorkeling again. Starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and penguins swimming by. What will the next snorkeling trips bring?
September 28, 2008
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Tortoises,Tortoises and Woodpecker Finch
Santa Cruz, Galapagos
We started the day by seeing one of the things I wanted to see, a Woodpecker Finch. We were all so excited to see this little bird peck a little hole in the tree branch and then dig something out of the hole. We then went to the tortoise reserve were the tortoises were mating (what a sight), then some of our group decided they wanted to be a tortoise and crawled into the shell at the reserve, what fun. Then to the Darwin Center to see Lonesome George who was also mating which is means hope for him as he forms a new subspecies.
September 29, 2008
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South Plaza and Santa Fe
Santa Fe, Galapagos
On Santa Fe we had trouble getting on the island, sea lions laying everywhere. Huge hundred year old cacti, land iguana and a galapagos snake, at least he was going the other way. More snorkeling. South Plaza sea lions and marine iguana everywhere. Going back to the landing site, there were two male land iguanas were fighting for territory and then in the bush was a bigger male just waiting for the winner.
September 30, 2008
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Rabida Island/James Bay and Santiago
Rabida, Galapagos
Rabida, wow red sand,snorkeling with beautiful fish and starfish, sea lions and ghost crabs on the beach. James Bay and more snorkeling sea turtles everywhere, blue footed boobies diving for food, going up and heading straight down into the water. Leaving the Bay there were three penguins sitting on a rock just waiting for us to go by (see picture). Santiago was sea lions, fur sea lions, more marine iguanas and a beautiful sunset.
October 1, 2008
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Bartolome and North Seymore
Bartolome, Galapagos
See picture in album of gang before we started our 360 steps up to the top of Pinnacle Rock. They tell you it's 360 steps to the top, but that is actual stair steps not including the other walking you do to get there, but it is worth getting to the top. Blue-footed boobies are diving again, you wonder do they have a headache when they get through. North Seymore brings the magnificent frigatebirds and the male's red necks that he puffs up to impress the ladies. The afternoon bought our last snorkeling trip but oh what a trip. We swam with sea turtles and penguins and sea lions and so much more underwater life. Getting back on the zodiac was fun since one of the sea lions had gotten on board and wanted a ride. The last night was fun as it was Jim's 60th birthday and the crew was there to help celebrate with a birthday cake and wine. It also was a sad night as we all knew this was our last night together.
October 2, 2008
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Lobo Island and leaving the Islands
Lobos, Galapagos
Lobo Island was full of sea lions and several bulls were fighting for territory. The waves were breaking and guide said that the season was getting ready to change. Just before we got on the zodiac we witnessed a baby sea lion being born what an experience. When we got back to the boat it was time to head for the airport and the adventure was ending. Most of the gang were going back to Quito and then either on to home the next day or headed to additional stops before heading home.
October 3, 2008
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The Trip home
Quito, Ecuador
The trip started at the crack of dawn as our flight was at 6:30 am. The night before when we got to the Swissotel they had upgraded us to a suite and had a birthday cake for Jim. How great unfortunately we really wouldn't be at the hotel long enough to enjoy. As our plane took off we were so sad to be leaving but we had had a TRIP OF A LIFETIME.
My Photo Album: Quito and Galapagos
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