I arrived in Guayaquil on Monday the 21st. This city is closer to Leah than Quito (the capital) but way HOTTER. It is in the coastal zone. I rented a car and we traveled to the mountains to meet Leah's PC volunteer friends Lindsay (Indiana) and Deanna (Colorado) who live in towns near Leah. They are awesome. I am so glad Leah has such great people to hang with. We stayed at Leah's I got to meet her new kitty, Nena and we had dinner at the home of her host family. I took them an Easter basket which forced Leah to explain 'spring' and our paganistic practices in the US. I also got them a Cross to display. I also finally got to meet Rafael, Leah's host dad and counterpart. We had a nice translated chat while they carefully examined the Easter basket and contents. I think they liked the chocolate.
The next couple days we drove east down toward the Amazon region. We stopped to see several beautiful waterfalls and stopped at the Monkey reserve in Puyo. This was very cool. The monkeys roam freely and climb on you. One stole a watch out of my pocket. Leah accidentally captured this on video. It was hilarious! The monkey took off with my watch, went to the roof of an enclosure and shook it over the top of his head and kissed and hugged it. It looked like he just won a gold metal. He tried to open it it by banging and biting it and sticking it completely in his mouth. The reserve volunteers eventually got him to trade it for food. The reserve had several resident dogs too, and the monkeys keep the dogs perfectly groomed. No flea or tick collars needed there.
On Friday we drove back over the mountains back to Guayaquil. We caught our flight to Baltra (Galapagos) Saturday morning. We were pleasantly surprised that our ship rooms and bathrooms were nicely sized. We didn't feel cramped at all. Everything on the ship was very nice. The food was spectacular. The crew and guides were great. Our small excursion group was composed of a Spanish speaking Japanese family of 4 (children age 6 &9) from Mexico and an Ecuadorian Mother and son and nephew (age 16 & 17) and an 80+ yr old couple from Illinois, and Leah and I. Quite a mix. The IL couple were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary and couldn't have been more IN LOVE on the day they were married. Everyone loved them. They were adorable. I told them they were the most 'endangered' species.
Each day's activity generally consisted of a 2 - 2 1/2 hr hike and 1 hr of snorkeling in the morning AND afternoon in the blazing sun of the equator. We were pooped by the end of each day. We got to experience all of the wildlife up close and personal. It was just like I always dreamed. Sea lions encircling and coming nose to nose with you in crystal clear water. Floating in the tide next to several huge sea turtles. Huge schools of beautiful fish. Being a few feet away from couples of blue footed boobies while they danced their mating dances.
It was a once in a lifetime trip. I had near 1000 photos when my camera/phone disappeared at the airport on the way out. Yep....Devastating!!! But at least Leah was taking similar pictures as me. We tried to upload my pics to her computer each day, but could not get them to transfer. I feel a little bad because I think all the great food, nice accommodations, car freedom and exotic vacation activities made Leah home sick. But she is past the half way point and would not be happy coming home until she finishes what she has started.....her project is funded and underway and time is flying. She will be done in no time!!
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