Dia 2

Sabado la 30 de marzo

Got up at 5:00 am.  Left Hilton Colon in Guayaquil to arrive at airport for short 1 1/2 hour flight to islands   1 hour delay but still arrived on San Cristobal island (third largest) by 10:00 am.  Took shuttle to boat launch where we boarded a National Geographic Zodiac.  We were greeted by several sea lions bathing in the sun.

Boarded National Geographic Endeavour.

Attended several lectures on weeks activities and policies and procedures.  Found out that there are approximately 180,000 visitors to the Galapagos year.  Compare that with Disney or Yellowstone.  Extremely strict here.  Prohibited to bring ANY food, gum, wrappers, etc. on any of the islands.  Metal water bottles are permitted. Glad to see how proud Ecuador is of it's country ad has continued to preserve this pristine archipelago.

At 3:30 we had our first island expedition.  Took Zodiac to Cerro Brujo (Wizard Hill) where we were again greeted by sleeping sea lions.  They weren't the least bit frightened and we just quietly walked by them.  Be sure to check out my pictures and video of them in action.

Tomorrow we are headed to Isla Espanola.  This is the world that Charles Darwin visited in 1835.  We hope to see marine iguanas, blue footed and Nazca boobies and endemic albatrosses.  Isn't this place the most beautiful place you have ever seen?  I can't believe it didn't become claimed by Ecuador or any other country until the 1930's. 

Dia 1

Buenas noches!  Hoy estoy en Guayaquil, Ecuador.  Llegamos muy temprano esta manana a las cinco de la manana. 

El viaje en avion de JFK a Guayaquil nos fue bien y pasamos el dia aqui en ecuador explorando la ciudad de guayaquil.  No tengo mucho de contar ahorita pero manana muy temprano (a las 7:20) salimos el hotel para las islas.  Espero compartir unas fotos y cuentos interesantes manana.  

¡Bienvenidos!  Welcome to my blog of my amazing adventure to The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador 2013!  

My mother has generously invited my daughter Morgan (age 12) and I to join her on an amazing trip aboard the National Geographic ship called the Endeavor.  Below is a picture of our boat. For those of you interested in the specific details of this 96 passenger boat, you can check it out on the link here.   This is a once in a lifetime trip and I feel so fortunate that I can experience this with her and my daughter.
http://www.expeditions.com/our-fleet/endeavour

 

These islands are known for their unique and abundant species of animals that are fearless of humans and visitors can get up close and personal to some of the world's rarest animals.  Have you ever heard of the blue footed booby? 

We have been busy preparing for this trip by reading up on Ecuador, watching videos and researching on-line.  We are so excited to explore this new culture.  In preparing for this, we watched a video that highlighted one unique local food item called "cuy" (otherwise known as guinea pig in English).    Morgan has always been an adventurous eater, however she has made an emphatic decision not to eat "cuy" on our upcoming trip (especially since the new household pet of the Cornell's happens to be a guinea pig).

If you would like to see our itinerary, take a look at the link here.  http://www.expeditions.com/Global/pdf/Printable%20Itinerary%20Summaries/EN_GALA%202013%20tiered.pdf

 

We leave in exactly 5 days.  I plan to update this blog daily with stories (both in English and Spanish), pictures and video (technology permitting) from our boat.  I hope you enjoy it.  I encourage you to comment, ask questions, etc.  ¡Gracias y Chao!