After a train ride to Boston, a flight to Miami, a flight to Quito (pron. "keeto"), spending the night with Ashley's friend there (which included a taxi from and to the airport), a flight to Galapagos (through Guayaquil, pron. "why a keel"), a bus from the tiny airport to the pier, and a tiny ferry through the Pacific Ocean, well, I'm finally here.
Thankfully, despite all that could have gone wrong (a severe flight delay, terrible weather, forgotten passport, stolen luggage, etc.), everything happened pretty smoothly. I was (impressively!) early for everything--so much so, in fact that I sat on the ferry in the bay for an hour and a half before it left while we waited for the other passengers. Stupidly, I thought we were leaving at any moment. You can literally tell that I spent part of my day on a boat on the equator yesterday just by looking at my face. I am red except for a small line on my forehead which was covered by my hat. I will spend the next week and a half trying to even this out.
Some highlights:
- I saw some interesting things on the flight from Quito to Guayaquil, including someone herding cattle and what appeared to be a house on fire. I also had a breathtaking view of the Andes.
- The benches at the piers here are evidently not for people. They are for "lobos", or sea lions. Not once have I seen a bench occupied by a person, nor have I seen an unoccupied bench. Those lobos, they're smart. They know where it's at. Bench here? Sweet. Oh, shade, too? Really, you shouldn't have.
- I have so far eaten two meals--dinner last night, breakfast this morning. Both, I am told, were authentic Ecuadorian meals. And both were incredibly delicious. Last night I had some spicy beef with rice and a bean dish (begins with an M! But I can't remember it's name!) with soup and juice, and this morning it was even better: Fried patties of mushed plantains and cheese, called "tortas verdes" (green pastries) which were DELICIOUS; small sausage slices, and what looked to be chicken sausage (I asked, and it was chicken, so I didn't eat it); mango slices; home-cooked bread with black raspberry marmalade; coffee; and a drink, I believe called a "betito", which was essentially a very thick black raspberry shake. Believe me--I'm full, but for some reason can't wait to eat again...
- I've already experienced the sights and smells of species endemic not only to this archipelago, but to that very island (that means they live and grow NOWHERE ELSE in the entire world!). Plants, cacti, birds (blue-footed boobies are incredible!)... no turtles, tortoises or finches yet, but soon to come!
- Finally (and thankfully), I've learned that my Spanish skills have not left me, and they have been surprisingly adequate. I'm not speaking perfect Spanish, of course, but I've comfortably held a few entire conversations, and haven't yet had to rely on anybody's ability to speak English, but only my ability to speak Spanish. This is a big relief to me, and I'm sure to anybody who sees me, a very obvious gringo, trying to talk with them.
That's all for now. Hopefully I'll have more stories, and certainly photos, tomorrow. Until then, I'll be studying for an hour or so (to the sound of barking sea lions outside this window), then it's off for some hiking, swimming, maybe snorkeling, and relaxing on a seashore (a seashore in the Galapagos, if I might remind you).
I can't wait to see what awaits me. Welcome, and thanks for tagging along for the ride.
No comments:
Post a Comment