Cruise Day 1

It´s official! We are going to the Galapagos on an 8 day cruise. We packed our bags in Guayaquil andwent to the airport to get on our plane to the land of giant tortises. Once we got on the plane, we were stunned because somehow we ended up in first class. I will not complain about that mistake. We arrive at the galapagos airport and have to be sanitized by the crew to make sure we aren´t bringing any foreign germs into their islands. We are off the plane, grab our luggage and are shuffled into a bus to take us to a ferry. The airport is on Baltra Island and we needed to take a ferry to Santa Cruz Island. Once we get off the ferry another bus, just for our boat, Queen of Galapagos! That´s right a luxury catameran that has 5 stories, 10 crew members (cabin boys), the captain, a natualist 3 guide, and 16 guests. It was a great boat.

Once we get onboard and have our room assignments we get shuttled back to land, Port Ayora and take a bus to the high lands to visit the giant turtles. That was so amazing. They are so big! I knew they were big but I could scrunch up into their shell. We walked around and could go right next to them. We could hear them breath. Sometimes they growled when people would get too close and they didn´t like it. It was such a peaceful area filled with flowers, green grass and tress all around. There were even ponds for them to go swimming if they needed.

(Sidenote to those who understand...if you don´t understand send me an email) The day before I left to the Galapagos, I was terrified about snorkeling with sharks. I sent Micaela a message on myspace asking for encouragement and strength. I told her that I hoped to see her there, since be both had longed to go and visit the animals we both cherrished. As soon as I got out of the bus to walk into the field, butterflies appeared and circled me, then followed me on the walk through the turtles. It was an amazing experience. Later, before every snorkeling trip we had, a butterfly flew by the boat. She was looking out for me, letting me know it would be okay. The rest of my adventures on the island were butterfly free, only whne I first got there and before every snorkeling excursion.

Once we were done visiting the giant turtles we went into town and were allowed to go shopping for an hour or so. I love shopping, but only bought postcards, which I have yet to send, sorry guys. It was nice to look at the city and slowely get used to the surroundings.

After shopping we got back on board an had a welcome coacktail, where the crew were dressed up in their cute little white uniforms. We had our drink (good and strong...the bartender was very genorous) and then had dinner and got to know everyone on board. It was such a mix of people, but we had so much fun!

There was a family from Guayaquil, Carlotta, carlos and their son Jean Carlos. Theyown a giant bakery in Guayaquil. Carlotta and Jean Carlos were able to speak English, which was nice for us. They had two friends, Henny and Tealy from Holland, who were bakers and have since retired and go around and help struggling bakeries. They came out for a visit and went on the cruise with their long time friends. Next was this woman, Perla, who was traveling by herself. she seemed to have traveled all over by herself and has done very well. She was much older and had a lot of spunk. She only spoke spanish but was determined to talk to us! Then a father and son team from Germany. gert is a retired doctor and speaks very little English but had good knowledge about beer. His Son Oscar spoke German, English and Spanish. He was very helpful at times. These people were only on the cruise for 4 days.

The rest of the 8 day members were Monica and John Carlos from Argentina. The are learning English, and are quite good. They tried to teach us some Spanish, but we weren´t that good of students. these two are spitfires and full of energy, as you will hear later. They had been traveling with another couple from Argentina, Anna and Noberto. Anna doesn´t speak English but is desperately trying. Noberto had been holding back and knows more English than what he had lead us to blieve. Then a couple from Australia, John and Lavina. We had many great nights of conversations and laughs with them. This was such a fun group of people! We had a blast.

So how the boat worked, is we would travel at night (most of the time) and in the morning we would wake up, have breakfast, go on a hike to see plants and animals, come back to the boat and go snorkeling, come back to the boat and have lunch. After lunch we would have a longer hike with more plants and animals and then an afternoon snorkeling trip. come back to the boat and have dinner and chit chat for the rest of the night. Get up and do it again the next day.

The first night, we were awaken by the boat rocking. It was pretty bad but we all lived and had to get used to the motion of the boat. We were able to get back to sleep and embrace the rocking. It was a great first day and introduction to these unbelieveable islands.

01/25/08