So it’s been so long since my last blog, I’m not quite sure where to begin...so I'll start with my favorite subject:
Sports, Recreation and Fame:
On November 22, I participated in the first ever (official) Triathlon in Galapagos. I entered as the swimmer with a team. We had a training day the week before the competition, and I was told my time was about 22”, only double that of my friend, Marta’s, and about 3” faster than that of the 7 month pregnant woman. The day of the event, I completed the 660m Itabaca Channel swim in a mere 12’24” (ok, so that was nearly 3” more than Marta, and the current was favorable, but I’m guessing one of my times was wrong, as a 10” differential is quite extreme, current or no current). While the currents were kind, the heat was not so much for the bikers, who had the toughest challenge with a 7km solid uphill climb at one stage. Pobres! Pablo did the horrific bike leg, and my dear friend Sebastien waited around forever to run the final leg. Did I mention that my team was left behind, as we were kicked off the bus because it was too full? What is that about, in a place where a family of 4 would ride on a scooter, the BUS was to crowded? In the end, it all worked out of course, but I’m not sure what “place” we ended up in, but suffice it to say, we weren’t first, nor last. It was quite the event, you’ll see that the media was everywhere, as well as the loyal supporters!
(Team 108, Chris, Karina & Marta)
(Team 102...in a taxi after getting left by the bus down by the malecon)
(Oh, the fame...)
(my studly pose)
(Me, Marta and Karina prepping for the big start)
(the boys, Steve, Diego, Stuart & Gustavo, also prepping for the big day--all 3 did the individual full triathlon!)
(this is Pablo on the bike leg, the road ahead doesn't look as scary in the photo as it did on that scorching day)
(Karina in good form up ahead)
(In Bella Vista waiting for the cyclists, Sebastien is getting pumped up)
(We had loads of friends and fans supporting us at the finish line!)
(Steve won in his group, and Stuart and Diego, pictured here, got 2nd & 3rd respectively in theirs. Congrats, boys!)
My 15 minutes of fame: So my students keep telling me they’ve spotted me on TV. One time on a promotion for the triathlon, another in an anti-violence against women advertisement, and finally, I’m currently starring in the official Tomas de Berlanga commercial! It’s a small town, with limited talent! LOL
I was playing and really enjoying Ultimate Frisbee up until December 1, when I carelessly, and very unluckily sprained my right (the GOOD) ankle. No, it wasn’t catching the dramatic winning point, nor was it because someone body checked me, I was all on my own, and simply fell awkwardly. My luck! And no, I didn’t go to the hospital. For better or worse, I’ve had many sprained ankles, so knew what I was in for…plus, if you’ve heard the horror stories from the hospital, you’d know that it’s avoided even in life-threatening situations! I think I may have jinxed myself by taking this photo…
(Ben, frisbee accident & Marcel, freak attack by a bicycle)
I’ve been on more dives, 4 more than my course, to be exact. The first time we went to Mosquera and Daphne, and I unfortunately missed quite a bit as I was hanging out in the back. We did see a white tip and Galapagos shark, and some saw turtles, while I missed them. I did get to see sea lions though. All in all, a good day of diving with good friends!
(Me, Jen, Ben & Sebastien)
(Marcel, Liz, Case & Marta)
The second time, was when my friend Meridyth arrived with her boyfriend, Mark. We booked to Seymour and Mosquera. The first dive being in Mosquera, where I just was and saw very little a couple weeks back, but on this day, WOW! Sadly, we didn’t have the camera on the first dive, were we saw much more than these photos reflect. But between the 2 dives, we saw: hammerheads, white tip, black tip, Galapagos sharks; manta, sting, marble, spotted eagle and movola rays; sea lions, turtles, tiger snake, moray eel, nudie branch, garden eels, tons of starfish, puffer fish, flounder, barracudas…
(Stingrays)
(elegant sea turtle)
(Meridyth & Mark)
(ME!)
(Me & Meridyth)
(cool blue starfish, not sure the name)
(me and a sleeping white-tip shark)
(Hammerheads!)
(puffer fish)
(garden eels)
(moray eel, doesn't it look like a hand puppet?)
(nudie branch)
(another cool starfish)
(This was the last dive I didn't go on because I thought my ankle might be bothering me, check out the strong currents!)
Random Mentions:
My roommate, Paola, started her tattoo. She designed this, and apparently, the tattoo artists here do housecalls. She’s yet to complete it, as she’s changed her mind midway on the artist. This tat could take years! LOL
Also worth mentioning, one of the only 2 locals closed down for several days, not exactly sure why, but it seems they’ve paid off the right person, because it’s since reopened.
There was also Dia de Darwin events over a weekend, on the last day intended to attend, however it seemed that the townsfolk were all Darwined out, so I met my friends who were hanging out with Spongebob.
(Ben, Case, Marta and their good friend SpongeBob Squarepants)
Despedidas & Parties:
Since the last time writing, there’ve been many despedidas and parties, I’m sure you’re not surprised.
Despedidas: We all said farewell to our dear friends:
Zoe,
Sebastien,
Raul & Maribel,
Lyz & Marcel (well, just Lyz is pictured here...),
Chris (only because he returns to Galapagos after I leave),
Jefferson,
and FX & Marta.
Parties: Thanksgiving Dinner (I had about 30 guests for this massive feed, and it was THE best turkey I’ve tasted in my life—and it was even burnt—thanks to my Chilean roommate, Paola),
(the spread...)
(The ceremonial cuting of the turkey (the guests were all behind the camera...really!))
(Take a number! See, I told you there were a lot of guests!)
(Really!)
(Standing room only, right Jen?)
Marta’s birthday
Diana’s & Malena’s Huasipichai (housewarming party)
(The party had a hat theme, the center is Malena, one of the 2 hosts)
(Me with Diana, the other host, and my former roommie)
(Suelen & Marta)
(Yes, the party was in full swing at this point!)
The day AFTER the Huasipichai
(Recovering in Bella Vista at brunch...which was really very late lunch)
(Chris lounging...)
(Diana content)
The Tomas de Berlanga sponsored Christmas luncheon (where Diana won the award for Boca Sucia or Potty mouth, and Damian won just about everything else)
(Jenny & Reyna, my boss)
(Diana: Boca Sucia)
(Damian: everything else)
(Ok, there were a few other award winners)
And finally, Christmas Eve Dinner. Christmas dinner was spent at Stuart’s house (tall, strapping Brit gentleman and 8 year Galapagos resident) with Diana (my former roommate), her mum and dear friend Beto, Marta and FX. It was intimate and such a wonderful night of conversation (much of which I actually understood, for a change as group conversations in Spanish are quite challenging), food and drink!
(the happy couple FX & Marta reunited)
(Me, Marta, Diana & Stuart)
(Diana and Beto)
(You know what they say about turkey making people sleepy...)
Expect the next, and likely final update before I leave, to include the upcoming New Year’s Eve festivities (I can only imagine what's in store for that). Diana has about 5 friends and her sister coming for the event, which I understand is quite the party here in Galapagos! Stay tuned...
