Galapagos

Half Fooled

There are 3 ways to go to the Galapagos Islands:

1- A cruise with everything organize.
2-Last minute cruise, the same than the former but cheaper.
3-By yourself, just buying a ticket and finding your way in the Islands.

I went to several agencies and they had no flights until 2 weeks later. I thought that was a little weird but since I was determined to visit the Galapagos I decided to tried option number 2 that included an airplane-ticket. After this executive decision and still not very happy with it (I don’t like tours) I learnt that all the flights are reserved by the cruises but if you go to the airport you can pay right away and get in an airplane to the Galapagos without problems or tours. Yes, very useful information but a little too late my destiny was set. I had to wear a pin and follow a guide, how terrifying could be that? The only good thing was that I got a luxury ship for the price of a normal one because they had a “promotion” or so they told me.

I was supposed to wear a pin with a logo of galacruises in the airport so I will recognize the group and the guide. Since I had my ticket I decided not to wear the pin and just board the airplane by myself. I wasn’t very excited about the group or the guide but in San Cristobal I had to start looking for my guide and join the daunting group. Well the guide was as scary as my worst fears, he called us the seaman(name of the ship) family and said that the ship was our new home. I am sure you had experienced this type of guide once in your life, he repeated everything 300 times and called us little friends. On the other hand I have to confess that the ship was amazing, I couldn’t believe it. I had my own big bathroom, two beds, and great views to the blue sea. Really it was too much for my previous luxuries; this room was bigger than my room in New York, well this is not too difficult but still. The food was the best I have had since the last time I went to Caracas. The crew and the group were very nice. I really liked talking with a lady that is traveling with her husband in a land rover around the world this is her second year! Nice haaa!! But she is 60 humm I wish I could do that a bit earlier… I didn’t tell her that don’t worry. Also Marita, a German lady that have her own travel agency and travels all year round to check what she is going to recommend to her customers, not bad either. The Islands and the animals were as impressive and as Darwin said. I want to go back!

Backpackers

Some Backpackers

Quito-Otavalo

Otavalo is a little town in the north of Ecuador famous for it's Saturday craft Market. This time, I was invited for real. Since I didn’t have any special plans until Monday(off to Galapagos) I decided to accept the second invitation of my new friends. We arrived to Otavalo on Friday at 6:00pm and started Hostal hopping. Finally after 3 Hostals and a lot of bargaining, we found the BEST place. Hostal Runa Pacha a very ugly building with comfortable beds, great hot showers(shared of course) and cable tv!!!! All of these luxuries for only 5$ per night and the best part is that we were the only people in the Hostal so they gave us all the rooms in the terrace with amazing views to cute Otavalo.

I think is about time to introduce my backpacking FRIENDS, yes I am going to stop calling them my NEW FRIENDS. I even think they like me, they told me that we should meet again after I come back from the Galapagos, that’s a sign no? or maybe they felt bad because I am traveling alone? hummm no, that’s not the reason because they know Maria is arriving on the 9th so they definitely like me! ☺

Jen and Erik
26 and 27 married, from Minnesota.
Nurse and Engineer after they finished school they started working and saving money for traveling. Two years later they moved to China, here they tough English every weekend and travel on the weeks to every corner of China. Now they are traveling around South America for two months with Andy (Jens brother). After this trip they are going back home after a year away.

Andy (Jens brother)
23
Physical Therapist.
First time backpacking he is loving it so far. He will go back home to get his Master degree.

Aidan
20
Studying photography
He was traveling with 2 friends for a month and now he is traveling alone for some time before he goes to volunteer in Colombia. He is not very sure about what he will do there but he thinks he is going to translate.
Before college he took a year off to travel around South America. He told me he spent 4000$ in 7 months and after he ran out of money he volunteered for the rest of the time in the Galapagos Islands.

All of them are great and so inspiring! Also I am very impressed with the Spanish level. Aidan and Jen are fluent and Andy and Erik will get there very soon. Erik have a method to learn that seems very effective. Well the grammar they are learning it with a book but besides that they have flash cards and they learn five words per day. Believe me this method is great they are leaning so fast!

Ok, time to go. Sorry for my golden literature…

dani

Expenses of my first day in Quito

Friends in Quito

I arrived on Wednesday to Quito. I thought I would have to sleep in the floor of the Hostal Centro del Mundo the first night. To my great surprise a beautiful bed in a dorm was waiting for me. While I was unpacking, my dorm-mates were talking, suddenly, Erik said: what are we doing tomorrow? (he was talking to his wife, Jen) I thought he was talking to me, because I understood “What are you doing tomorrow?” So, I answered very happily: “I don’t have plans yet”. Erik was like: “ah ah haaa yes, you want to come with us?” at this point I knew he wasn’t talking to me but he seemed very friendly so I accepted the invitation. The invitation included walking up at 7 for taking a teleferico and then hiking for 4 hours the Volcan Pichincha. I was so tired I couldn’t even think right, I guess that’s why I accepted. Quito’s elevation is 2850mt, that’s VERY HIGH and I didn’t know the teleferico was taking us up to 4100mt and then we were hiking 500mt more. The views from the teleferico were beautiful and the hike was very nice until it got really cold and I started having the worse headache ever. The answer is yes, I was very stupid my body wasn’t used to Quito’s high and I pushed a couple thousand meters more… The result of this is high sickness your first day in Quito and body ache your second day in Quito (Today).

First night in Quito

http://www.centrodelmundo.com/prices.htm

I just called and they are full but they told me I could sleep in the living room!

My backpack