Ecuador-Quito and Galapagos
In and around Ecuador
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I left for Quito, Ecuador the 17th of November and stayed until Nov. 30. I met my daughter, Melissa there, she has been staying in Ecuador for the last couple of months to learn the culture and language.
Arrival: Flew from Minneapolis, MN to Chicago, then to Miami, then to Quito. Each flight had a cushion of at least a couple of hours, which was good, because the plane to Miami was an hour late. This was my first time flying alone, and also having to change planes this many times, so it was an adventure for me. I didn't have any problems, just read the signs and asked a lot of questions!Â
Quito
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Nov. 17, 8 pm, Melissa met me at the airport, she snagged a taxi who took us to her lodging hostel, the Green Parrot, (rough translation), which was very decent place, with 2 beds & bathroom for only $9.00 a night. Shower was hot, toilet worked. Mel informed me not to throw toilet paper into any toilet in Ecuador, instead put paper into waste basket (something about sewer system efficiency & clogging). We got unpacked, the plan for the next day was to finish the arrangements with the travel agency for the Galapagos tour and tour some around Quito. You fly out of Quito to the Galapagos, then get on your boat for the tour of the islands. There are 3 to 8 day tours that can be arranged, most on smaller boats holding 10 to 50 people, but there are also a couple of bigger ones with room for 100. We arranged a catamaran holding 14 people for 8 days. Ecuador uses US currency, but nobody ever has change, other then the $1.00 coins.
Route taken and entries by Real Traveler gardencottage
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1
Ecuador Vacation-Quito
Nov. 18, Friday: Melissa had arranged a tour with a guide. The first thing we had to see was the middle of the world, the equator. It is called... Continue reading »
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Quito area
Nov. 19, Saturday: We had a tour arranged which was supposed to start at 7 am at a hostel Mel was at before. However, not everyone was ready to g... Continue reading »
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3
Galapagos First Day
Sunday Nov. 20: We flew to Galapagos Islands , Costs about $400. You have to stop in Guayaquil for about 15 minutes. Nice plane. You put on the... Continue reading »
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Galapagos Senic rocks & Critters
Monday, Nov. 21:  We got up early, got in the ponga which took us to shore for a hike to the top of a lava heap, there were 200+ stairs up. From t... Continue reading »
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Galapagos-Isle Isabella & volcanic crater
Nov. 22, Tuesday: This was the day several of us arranged for a day trip to the Volcano. The mountain dominates the western sky of the town of Pu... Continue reading »
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Galapagos-Isle Floreana
Wed, nov. 23: This morning we awoke to the barking of sea lions. We were anchored near the island of Floriana. We took our rubber boat to land, a... Continue reading »
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Galapagos-Espanola Island
Nov. 24, Thursday, Thanksgiving day. It didn't seem to be Thanksgiving, especially since there were only 3 US citizens aboard. We woke near Espan... Continue reading »
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Tortoises, Lava Tubes
Nov. 25, Friday: Today was spent at Darwin Station, in the town of Puerto Ayora. Darwin Station was the main turtle breeding place. We had more e... Continue reading »
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Galapagos-Gordon Rocks, Islas plazas
Saturday Nov. 26, last full day in paradise! Today we went on shore trip where we saw still MORE marine iguanas, and also land iguanas, and hybrid... Continue reading »
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Galapagos-time to leave
Nov. 27, Sunday: We went on an early ponga boat ride into a mangrove swamp, it was quiet and warm, the water was warm. The water was clear, we sa... Continue reading »
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Last 2 days in Quito
Monday Nov. 28, Tues Nov 29 Quito: We had some laundry to do, and e-mail to answer, also wanted to burn CD's of pictures off our camera memory cards,... Continue reading »
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