Isabela
Upon arriving to Puerto Villamil, Isabela, the tour guide met us at the doc and brought us to the hotel. My hotel, however, was another 3 blocks away. Once settled, we met up to view the flamingos. What amazingly and seemingly unnaturally pink (I’m told this is due to the shrimp they eat, the younger ones are more white and older they are, the more pink they get).
After that, I explored the town checking out the local police station
and the post office (this is for you, mommy!).
I also noticed the locals were quite friendly, even posing for pictures.
Note I have no pictures of banks, not because it’s normally something I photograph, but the fact that there is none, nor an ATM. When I first arrived in Santa Cruz, there was only one bank and another ATM, now they’ve built a second bank and there’s an additional ATM. Wow, and Isabela claims “Isabela Crece Por Ti” (Isabela is growing for you)?!
If they want to grow, they better get some cash on the island!
Meals were included in my package, so I was back at the hotel at 7p for dinner were I met some French Canadians, Japanese who had taken the tours and Ram from Seattle, who was going on the tour the next day in my group. We went for drinks at the Sea Lion after dinner where we ran into Pablo from Tomas and our guide, Joseph, met up with us. I also saw another woman I knew, specifically another English teacher I’d met in PA. Small Archipelago!
The next day was the big marathon tour day. We took a bus about 50 minutes to our rented horses, which looked underfed and overworked, pobrecitos. My horse was the slowest of the bunch, and when the trainer whipped him to get him moving, he bucked, and I had to hold on for dear life (mostly to save my expensive camera equipment!)
We headed up to the Sierra Negra Volcano. At is 9x10 km wide, our guide said it is the second largest caldera in the world (however internet info is highly conflicting) and active (last eruption in October 2005). Unfortunately, it was a bit misty when we arrived, so you can’t get the full effect, however suffice it to say, it’s HUGE!
From the crater, we hiked to Volcan Chico where the lava erupted (this type of volcano oozes out its sides and creates tunnels) back in 2005.
On the way back, I got a different horse, who loved to be in front, so after stopping to nibble, she had to run to catch up to the others, which is dangerous in wet and rough terrain. I nearly fell at least a dozen times because she kept losing her footing. God, I can’t even count how many times did Christopher Reeves name pop in my head (bless him)! So just to drive the point home here, while horses cost more than walking the ___km trail, they’re no faster nor safer. It also should be said that this is not a tour for the weak or elderly, it’s quite challenging, and hiking boots, rather than simply “zapatos cerrados” should be indicated, as I wish that I had my hiking boots with me.
After the long way back to town, we had just enough time to change our clothes and head out to the docks for Islote Tintoreras (small islands with white tip sharks). We went to this canal where there were tons of white tip sharks sleeping, while turtles swam about below the marine inguanas’ watch.
We also saw the cutest baby sea lions! Oh my, too cute!
I love this curious baby sea lion checking out the iguana! Too freakin' cute!
After that tour, we went snorkeling, and of course I got on the boat before the sea lions came to play with my new Russian friends. Here's Alex:
After returning to my hotel, I was wrecked, with just enough time to shower and change for dinner. It was at this time that I changed my ticket to extend my stay for 2 more days, which I intended to do, but was just now confirming it. Later, Ram and I were walking from Beto Bar, because it’a closed on Sundays, to the Sea Lion and ran into my friend Christina and her boyfriend, Dave, who are staying for a few days too. We agreed to meet the next day. Then we met Pablo again and had a few drinks to unwind from the longest day ever!
We went to Coco Bar after, only to realize we were wrecked from the day and headed back to the hotel.
Up early, I went to the beach to write in my journal and wait for C&D. It took longer than we’d hoped to find a hotel, but alas, we checked in, no bother, we’ll get our bags later. We rented bikes, and after Christina tried, unsuccessfully, to flirt her way into a discount, we headed out to Muro de las Lágrimas (the Wall of Tears) (Ironically, Christina ended up having the bike with the flat tire the entire way.) This is a place where from 1946-1959, prisoners were forced to build a wall with sharp lava rocks, for no good reason. Just to keep them busy, but it was to serve no functional purpose.
We also saw quite a view of the town from the top of a lookout point.
On the way back, we stopped off to see a lava tunnel, where there was water that leaked in from the cracks above. The water was very silty.
Back in town, we returned the bikes and had a great fish lunch, although we sadly missed the $3 almuerzo (which I later discovered was a blessing, I think I’m still suffering from that meal). The town is “growing” as they say, look, they already have a new police station!
.I got my bags and settled into the new hotel, then off to see Concha de Perla. It’s a snorkel site, but I was simply too exhausted to swim, so I just took in the view, and the cute sea lions!
C&D and new friends all met for dinner that night, then to Beto Bar after, the hot spot in town (meaning the best of the 3 bars).
There, I met our guide, Joseph, from Sierra Negra, and after I told him I was going snorkeling the next day, he offered to show me the hidden snorkel sights at Concha de Perla. I should have read the signs and known this was a “line.”
The Scandal!
So while we were snorkeling, Joseph tried to hold my arm the whole time, maybe he thought I would get lost or something in 5 foot water. Meanwhile, it was actually the first time that I’ve been cold in the water and needed to swim just to keep warm! At one point, he was nearly professing his love for me, and saying how beautiful I am, not just outside, but inside too! What!? I met this guy 2 days ago, and he doesn’t know a thing about me, it was so rehearsed! So I said, thanks, I’m not interested, but let’s go see some more fish! At the end of our adventure, he says, “please keep this conversation between us.”
The ironic conclusion to this story, is that just 10 minutes after leaving Joseph, I ran into Jayne and Irene. Jayne told me how she’s also a massage therapist, and what do you know, Joseph told her the EXACT same things he told me! Well, he’s really got nerve to not only hit on 2 women at the same time, but to go so far as to introduce them!? That’s Latin machismo and arrogance! Well, if it did nothing else, it brought Jayne and I together as friends at Beto Bar later that night. Haha
During my time in Isabela, I saw 2 spectacular sunsets, and one sunrise (as I had to rise before the crack of dawn to meet att 5:30am for our 6am departure
.
This was the second night, the same sunset.
This was the following night, the same sunset (notice the white speck on the first pic, that's the sliver of the moon)
This was the saem sunrise...the colors are unbelievable!
So I arrived back in PA on the 31st, only to discover my roommate, is moving out and can’t pay for January. Great, we just got in a 3rd roommate for 1/3 the rent, now I’m going to have to eat 2/3? Wow, there’s no consideration here…fortunately, I hope to confirm today that I will have it covered afterall, and I will hopefully only pay half the rent.
New Year’s Eve
So after a long nap, I met up withe my friends Jen and Brian and we walked around checking out all the años viejos, all of which will be burned at midnight. By their house was a big field, with soccer players, super cool!
It took so long to reach the malecon, after being stopped by loads of friends, that it struck midnight as Brian and I went for drinks in the shop, and we didn’t even have a drink prepared! Fireworks blasting, and viejos burning, cool scene, and TONS of people! It was a bit awkward carrying running into my students after a couple drinks…and they won’t let me forget it either!
And what would a party be without ending up at Bongo? What a great night!
School
So now we’re in the final stretch of school. We apparently had classes Monday and Tuesday, but since Tuesday was “cleaning” day (kids had to sand and paint), there was really only one day of classes. Plus, my exams aren’t until Monday, so I really hope it’s beach weather the rest of the week! Fortunately, the interenet at the school is functioning, so I’ve had the chance to chance to chat with my friends, and hopefully, my one dear friend from LA, who’s name rhymes with Richel Haller (no pressure though!), will meet me in Ecuador after I leave Galapagos!
Housing
So, thanks to no notice of one roommate moving out, and a new one moving in who tells me immediately that he's leaving, I had a bit of a housing/roommate crisis. Luckily, I was introduced to 2 Aussies volunteering at the Sea Shepherd (also from Perth, who, ironically, both have mothers who are massage therapists...wow, Perth is booming with massage!). They've been with me a few days now, after Peter left. Hopefully this means my last month here is sorted, and no more roommate issues...crossing my fingers.
Despedidas
So of course I couldn’t go 2 blogs in a row without a despedida or two in the middle. My Canadian friend, Ben, has left us, as well as Peter (my very temporary roommate). They will be missed! Shockingly, and don’t pass out, I have no pictures as I missed Ben’s, and neglected my camera at Peter’s last nights. They will be missed. Watch out for the next despedida...mine!
End is near...
So, my time here in Galapagos is nearing, and I'm already starting to miss it. I'm making my list of all the things I want to do/see before I leave. Los Gemelos (twin craters in the highlands), kayaking, Gordon Rocks dive, San Cristobol...although I may not have time for all these things, I'm sure going to make the effort. I have a cruise booked from Wed through Tue, so I'll get to see many of the islands I've been hoping to see, stay tuned for thos pictures.
Also good news...my dear friend Michel from LA just confirmed she'll be meeting me on the mainland, so well be traveling and seeing more of Ecuador. What a great treat for me, things are all coming together!
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