Today was a full day tour to visit the famous Otavalo market north of Quito .. only just south of the Columbian border. Our two hour bus trip include some spectacular views of the country side, including the various volcanoes that surround the city of Quito. It was mid week at the market so somewhat quiet, but a very colourful spectacle with the vendors all displaying their range of local handicrafts made from natural materials .. wood, feathers, bronze and lama wool. We also wander the local streets and visited the central town plaza.
An early morning rise and headed off to the airport again for another flight ... two hours from Quito directly west back into the Pacific and you arrive at the marvel of the Galapogas Islands. From the airport, just a strip on the flattest piece of rock available, a bus, a ferry then another bus to arrive at the southern end of Santa Cruz Island at town of Peurto Ayora, the largest town in the Islands. Spent the afternoon visiting the Charles Darwin center, and the local giant tortoise sanctuary - the feral goats, pigs and dogs introduced to the Galapogas by humans have seriously endangered the tortoise populations, so there is now a significant breeding program to restore numbers onto each Island.
Day 6 Thursday 11th December 2008 Day trip to Plazas
Our first day trip out from Santa Cruz to one of the smaller Islands that we are allowed to visit - a small piece of rock called South Plaza, roughly a kilometer long and half as wide. As you step off the dinghy onto land, you are greeted by a racous chorus from the male sea lions lounging about in the shallows or sun baking on the rocks. You can get up close and personal with these funny creatures, although the tour guides are careful to make sure you keep a safe distance. And of course, the babies are just cure and adorable. The other fascinating creature on Plaza is the land iguana - big lizards in the variety of sizes and colours that sit around all day under cactus plants waiting for a flower to fall off - because that´s lunch ! There are a couple of photos in the album of these colourful lizards. More on galapogas bird life in the next blog entry. After a quick swim in a sheltered cove on the way back, it`s home time to rest up and be ready for the crack of dawn start tomorrow.
Our first day trip out from Santa Cruz to one of the smaller Islands that we are allowed to visit - a small piece of rock called South Plaza, roughly a kilometer long and half as wide. As you step off the dinghy onto land, you are greeted by a racous chorus from the male sea lions lounging about in the shallows or sun baking on the rocks. You can get up close and personal with these funny creatures, although the tour guides are careful to make sure you keep a safe distance. And of course, the babies are just cure and adorable. The other fascinating creature on Plaza is the land iguana - big lizards in the variety of sizes and colours that sit around all day under cactus plants waiting for a flower to fall off - because that´s lunch ! There are a couple of photos in the album of these colourful lizards. More on galapogas bird life in the next blog entry. After a quick swim in a sheltered cove on the way back, it`s home time to rest up and be ready for the crack of dawn start tomorrow.
Day 7 Friday 12th December 2008 Day trip to Bartolome
Back at the base of Pinnacle Rock, penguins also make their home. And on the small beach the sea lions bask on the beach or just wallow in the shallows, pretty much oblivious to humans around them. The Galapogas promise of swimming with the sea lions is actually a reality ! The wind got up during the day and the trip back across the strait was not that pleasant - lots of rolling in a small boat meant that a couple of us (no names mentioned) were very green and very ill for a few hours until we got feet back on dry land .... but no permanent damage done and a quick recovery.
Day 8 Saturday 13th December 2008 Day trip to Seymour North
For our final day on Galapogas a much shorter trip to another flat island nearby in Seymour North - an island used particular by a wide range of birds as their nesting site, including the elegant frigate (thats the male with the puffed up red chest), the famous blue footed boobie and many others. As usual, large numbers of sea lions lounge about on the rocks or in the shallows around most of the island, always providing entertainment with their antics. Our final stop of the day was back on the main island of Santa Cruz, at a beach along the coast that sea turtles use to nest - we were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one female up on the beach before she decided the safety of the water was a better option. 
And an amazing highlight - we were all just standing on the beach after a swim when out of the corner your eye there was a flash as a sea lion chased a large fish literally out of the water and on to the beach - it grabbed the fish and dashed back into the water with fish in mouth, no doubt to find somewhere quiet to consume lunch. And on that note, our time on Galapogas sadly draws to a close - after experiencing the amazing natural diversity of what this part of the world offers, tomorrow we head back to the mainland for a recovery day in Quito, before heading on to Peru.
Travel day ... pleasant enough flight back to Quito ... interested landing, we landed on the mountain top with the clouds sitting in the valley below. A return visit to the Hotel de la Rabida. We kid you not - this is the Fawlty Towers of Quito ! Tiny little hotel of two floors and eleven rooms, staircase just like Fawlty Towers and all the waiters say "Si" ... only difference is that the owner is five foot nothing, not six foot five ...
Day 10 Monday 15th December 2008 Quito Half-day tour of Quito
Half day tour of Quito today, we visited the "middle of the world" and stood on the Equator which passes through Quito, and then to the "old town" to see some of the history of Quito and local Cathedrals. The old town was particularly beautifiul with narrow streets and very steep slopes. The main Cathedral is absolutely spectacular, very Baroque in style with magnificent gold leaf (real gold !) work on every surface - unfortunately, no photos allowed ! We catch an evening flight very shortly to conclude our fantastic week in the diverse country of Ecaudor ... and we begin our time in Peru. Next entries will be in new blog entry in a few days time - thanks to everyone who is posting messages, we very much enjoy hearing from home .... until Peru ....
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