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Jon and Joan's Excellent Adventure in Ecuador

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by: Joan Curti
Each day I found myself amazed, excited, inspired, humbled, filled with a sense of wonder, or all of these! A fantastic vacation to Old City Quito, Sacha Lodge in the Amazon, Otovalo area, and the Galápagos onboard the Millenium.

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Jon and Joan's Excellent Adventure in Ecuador

Want to go? Wildlife Odyssey

I went to: Ecuador, Quito, Hotel Eugenia, Amazonas - Ecuador, Sacha Lodge, Otavalo, Hacienda Pinsaqui, Galapagos, San Cristobal, Espanola, Floreana, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Fe, Rabida, Bartolome, Lobos
Celebrating our 29th anniversary with a tortoiseBasilica of the National OathIn the BasilicaGargoyles at the BasilicaJon at the door of the Presidential PalaceIce Cream for saleThe great scarf saleslady makes a sale (to me)I loved this enterprising familyMotorcycle PoliceBarbershop under the Presidential PalaceAbove the Basilica ceilingClimbing up from the Basilica ceilingLast ladder to the top, it is a long way up there!Basilica, view from the stairwayRinging the bells in the BasilicaA broken stained glass window gave us a great viewOld city Quito, from the BasilicaBasilica gargoylesMagical first view of Sacha LodgeBirdwatching from the canopy walkThe bridge, can you believe we are above the canopy?!View from the bottom of the towerJust off the path at Sacha LodgeLight rain on Anaconda CreekJon catches a piranhaThose are BIG teeth!River traffic on the NapoOur Sacha Lodge group on the way to Yasuni Nacional ParkParrot at Yasuni Nacional Park - taken through a scopeParakeets at the clay lick, Yasuni Nacional ParkThat is a big leech!Night walk tree frogNight walk poison dart frogThe Great Kapok TreeOrchid seen from a canoe ride through LagartocochaSocial spiders - there were hundreds!A bright moon seen from the swampBreakfast at Hacienda PinsaquiCascade de Paguche street scene, Coke is everywhereSpinning yarn from alpaca in Cascade de PagucheOtovalo MarketAt Cotacachi Volcano National ParkHome on the way to Cotacachi National ParkElementary school in the Otovalo areaCuy (guinea pig) - I wish it did not come with the headWiring only an electrician can appreciate29th anniversary roses (48 for $2.50!!!)Double passing lanesSay Yes to a New Constitution political signBathroom air freshener for trying to dry smelly clothesPelicans in San CristobalIn the harbor at San CristobalGalapagos - first night sunsetWaking up on our first morning in the GalapagosLava LizardSea lion with scar around neck from human garbageMockingbirdSea turtle path to spot to lay eggsBlue-footed boobieJon trying out a tortoise shell, it was heavyA Darwins finch picking seeds out of Turtle dungOystercatcherRed-billed tropicbird coming in for a landingOur second Millenium FamilyGreat frigatebirdFrigatebird after a tiring courtshipYellow WarblerMarine iguanaJon checking out the sea lions viewGalapagos penguinSnorkeling buddySea turtleHiding fish - a little spooky lookingFishing penguin while snorkelingManta RayLand iguanaSnorkelingSea starsWaved albatross and babyA waved albatross coupleClever idea for an extra seat for a bike passengerYour friendly orthodontist in Santa CruzLooking out into the harbor in Santa CruzBird guano baked onto rocks, it looked like marble, SantiagoI cannot even begin to countDo animals on Rabida claim there are paparazzi? Baby pelicanEveryday the towels were arranged in a different wayVolcanic formations on SantiagoSurvival of the fittestCheck out these fins and lipsWe wondered what left that track in the sandHappy fishLoading up the pangasA game of Galapagos poker on the MilleniumY= richness, B =sky & sea, R =blood spilled for independence