Ecuador and Galapagos...not for casualty!

Through Ecuador like true"ecuadorians", the Galapagos cruise on a tight and charming catamaran, the unforgettable Pulsar!

 

Let's go...

08/08/03
Yes!
Arrival in Quito late, among a crowd of arrivals there'a also Vero that awaits us, for us a surprise. A quick greeting and then the van takes us into a hotel at midnight finally on bed! In Italy, already seven in the morning.

09/08/03
First day in Ecuador, dedicated to visit Quito, a city seemingly quiet. It began our hunt for the Cotopaxi! In the evening dinner in a cuban restaurant with Vero, his sister and Caetano, tremendous "bocia" (child) .

10/08/09
After several treatings begins an intense day by minibus. First place the Parque del Cotopaxi, and here begins the evil, there is fog and we can't see anything, we decide not to pay the $ 10 and give up. Minibus leaves again for the lagoon Quillotoa. The road is terrible, almost touching the 4,000 metres. The lagoon is fantastic but there is an incredible wind. At 5 weare at Lacatunga, with another bus we go to Ambato, where we are spending the evening.
Incredibly at Sunday restaurants are almost all closed! We opted for a pizza, with shame.

11/08/03
Today is Monday and Ambato is the largest market of Ecuador ........ but we remain a little 'disappointed, is mainly for food. Anticipate departure for Banos with 2 taxi at $ 14 each.
We are now well impressed, directing to this spa town doing rounds of a great amount of agencies to organize the trip of tomorrow. In the evening we hurry, we want mostly wet ourselves in spas: water at 40 °! Fantastic. GB, cla and Gius try to risk their lives on 4-wheel motorcycles.
At the motel came even Tom, how easy is to meet around the world!
This evening dinner and drink at a bar, Tom tells us a little 'things on his climb to volcanoes, and how will be the cruise to Galàpagos, then a greeting and a goodbye to... who knows when!

12/08/03
8am and there is still no one to bring us for the excursion, a call and someonefinally arrives,. We see waterfalls, take the Tarapita (teleferica. ...) then lunch at Puyo, on the border with the forest (lunch for us cost $ 1.50 - for three coffee and a beer we spent $ 2.50!).
The day continues, we visit fatima and finally see a real tapir! The capibara and other animals, downhill canoe, hiking in the jungle and, cherry top on the cake, bathroom under the waterfall, a great fun which Gius declines for filming. The return is with thrill, in the middle of the night the van stops, then we walk to a bus stop for the return to Banos.

13/08/03
Today we spend the day shopping, apart from Gius that wakes early to see the Tungurahua volcano, so far he is the only one to have seen one!
With a bus we arrive in Riobamba and then to Guayaquil. It's late, 9pm, no shower and immediately at search of a restaurant for "comer" , this evening meat "Asado de toro." Mixed in Parrilla there are some bad things that we do not have the bravery to try.

14/08/03
It's the day of departure for Galàpagos, we queued at check-in and identify 5 Germans, our future travelling companions.
We land at 11:30, carrying out some formalities like paying $100 for entry and disinfected shoes (???). Our guide brings us to the catamaran, for me it is the first time in a boat, and I realize that we will figure like anchovies for 8 days! Lunch in the boat and then reach the first island, a little taste of what are the Galapagos.
A thousand of crabs, iguanas, pink flamingos, pelicans, sules..... and beautiful water, nothing to envy to caribbeans. At night on the boat we join a starry wonderful sky.

15/08/03
I'm learning to live with sea sickness, alternateing difficult moments .... a normal life (or almost ..) we travel from 4:30am and now after a good breakfast we are visiting the first island. Incredibly you have to be careful to put down your feet because of risk to crush an iguana or a sea lion, Galàpagos are truly unique.
Upon my return to the boat I go now on crisis and I eclipse myself in the bunk. In the afternoon, another island then after dinner and after I am forced to withdraw.

16/08/03
Every day we see different islands and add new "inhabitants", today it's the time of albatrosses and famous blue foot sules. It's strange to walk among these animals without any slightest fear for our presence by their.
Afternoon relaxing on the beach and playing with sea lions, the sea is fantastic, we lack only a little sunshine.

17/08/03 evenings writes:
This day is easy to describe ... as a record. As usual, since we are on a cruise, alarm at about 6:40 (note that there are those who sleep .... and who is trying !!!). Breakfast at 7:10 or so, with eyes lost in a vacuum, interrogative expression about weather (in essence: the sea is calm or not?). Leave dinghy for isla Isabella (I think): dark sand to the west, white in the east. The sea lions now bring us company for each landing. We have seen the pink flamingos (coloration due to the food they eat); slowly we came in a second beach: traces of jellyfishes "deceased", turquoise water ..... white sand .- Coming back from excursion Henry had the courage to do snorkeling (in cold water) also seeing a shark! I (Serena), Claudia, GB and Gius we preferred to stare at the sun.... not alone. At 2:00pm for isla S. Cruz. Finally calm sea, sun .... all ready to tan ... but again sailing! Finally ... I'm going to sleep
Hours 7pm, S. Cruz: last landing to earth for 24 hours! Wow! We drag us into a pub, then in a restaurant.... return to approximately midnight .... now I'm collapsing ..... Good Night!

P.S. today 18/08/2003 08:30pm I'm suffering a cold (what a bed luck). What to say was it the bathroom of 16/08.....or my poor health?

I restart speaking of 18/08 after hiring Serena to describe past days, finally without navigation was a good night and for the first time I was woken up by the lunch bell.
We are no longer accustomed to life on land, today it will be the normal. At last we see giant turtles... exaggerate! Before we see them free into the vegetation and in the afternoon again in Darwin station. We are little disappointed from the poor science work, the same impression of our German fellows.
Today we have lunch in a restaurant but we agree that the kitchen of our boat cook is definitely better. Dinner at 18, again soon!
Then you should land ..... but maybe we'll stay in the boat. Tonight at one o'clock the last major transfer (5 / 6 hours, we hope not to dance too much!)

19/08/03 Galàpagos
Wilo says that henceforth our cruise will be easy! The first berth is now on a red beach, beautiful. The particularity of this island (Santiago?) Is that it allows us to observe very closely pelicans intent to feed up. I start with some photos, then the usual walkaround, the colors are very beautiful. A little of free time now as the best part of our cruise. We dedicate to tanning and snorkeling. We are without towels so we lend those of Cla and Gius. On GB's one is impossible to stay in two ....
usual excellent lunch and a trip to Sombrero Chino. Beach with sand and white colors of the sea, exceptionally quick visit on the black lava and then free time. I do a little snorkeling, but there is very strong current!

20/08/03
Breakfast at 7, litte trip in dinghy to inspect some penguins, nothing at all, we land in St. Bartholomew, this island is full of craters, very strange.
After 360 steps we arrive on the highest point at 165 m above sea level, a wonderful view! The contrast of colors of the sea with volcanic rock is unique, spectacular. Wilo promises us that we will see sharks ..... how many lies he tells us! Instead, right near the beach we see one, it was at least a meter long! And then with penguins swimming we also dive in this beautiful bay .... calm water, turtles, iguanas, penguins, well, that's not bed!
Return on Pulsar, mega lunch, and after we see a mega cast of black lava.
The Galàpagos are interesting not only for wildlife but certainly also for the particularities of landscapes. We come back on Pulsar to see some penguins .... Clau has a cold and goes immediately to shower!
At midnight we arrive, but the sea is smooth, I tire myself up going inside the bed, of the other members no trace!



21/08/03 Serena writes:
Today ends our experience on the catamaran: eight days really beautiful, despite the physical illnesses that the big waves caused us.
The alarm was too early (5:45!), With last visit to an island (Seimour).
Immediately after breakfast .... saying the truth, moving away from the catamaran (our beloved Pulsar) with the bags; final greetings to Coco (Cochito), León, Wilo and other travelling companions, we are very sorry. Arriving at the airport departure ...... Galàpagos goodbye! Hasty day. Once in Guayaquil, we took a immediatly the bus for Cuenca. The impression that Guayaquil gave us was not good, indeed, it seems that crime rules. Arrive in Cuenca after an exhausting journey of 6 hours: holes, bumps and what else!
We found the hotel now and then .... way to eat something different from rice, chicken or potatoes.

22/08/03 Cuenca
By common consent, for once we decide to fix the appointment for desayuno (breakfast) to nine and one quarter (after various tradings ...).
looking for the colourful stalls ... tomorrow shopping! Today we walk around for Cuenca .... but then a little culture! We take the bus for Incapirca, it is not a direct run and we must change to Tambos.
We spent a life, almost 3 hours, to give us a quick snack and then a super-fast view to Inca ruins because at 3 it's time to come back.
Compared to Peruvian sites this is only an appetizer of Inca culture.

23/08/03 Cuenca Riobamba Serena writes:
Day trips: the morning is dedicated to a walk downtown for shopping, and a visit to the cathedral (a little dark inside). The weather has begun to make tricks with a little drizzle. We got lunch in the space of the first evening.
Taken luggage we got the terminal, ready to hours of bus, direction Riobamba. Once in Riobamba at the second try, we found the hotel. It does not seem very beautiful. Dinner at Mexican restaurant.... slow digestion. The day is over ... another is starting.

24/08/03
We have an appointment with a furgoneta, how pick-up is called here, to go to the slopes of Chimborazo. After a failed telephone negotiation for another service, we stop a great Taxi, we agree $ 35. But after about 5 km driver communicates to us that water was heating into the radiator and he has to come backback to Riobamba to change wagon, for a newer one.
Once in the country we called another taxi driver and we rely on him. This time we get to 4700 m of parquemento del Chimborazo, the weather is beautiful and we enjoy the magnificent view of the volcano. A short stage and descent, we find a place to block: claim that the entry pay $ 10! Aided by the taxi driver who gave no threats to call the police, we go. On the descent we also have the luck to see a vicuna.
The time to retrieve luggage, for the umpteenth time we are in a terminal of land, this time in direction of Quito.

25/08/03
Buses now are part of our DNA, 9 us back to earth terminal ready to go shopping at the market of Otavalo, known for fabrics and sweaters.
Two and a half hours by bus, and a half hour of free time devoted to purchase and then an ugly lunch of fritadas (meat?, Potatoes, corn roasted and boiled). Coming back in Quito, this evening we are invited to dinner by Vero.
With a taxi we go to appointment to Cumbaià, a new district where Quito is expanding. We are in advance and we go into a sort of Burger to drink a coke.
Sharply at 8 and 30 to meet Vero for the return. At home we met his Iranian host and a friend Yvonne, the girl who helps Tom in the agency.
For the occasion Vero pops a bottle of Chilean wine, great!
we dine with salad-based food, rice and champignons, look at the photos including one with Tom to Banos. It'she first time that it happen to meet people known around the world, truly a beautiful experience.

26/08/03
Today is the last day in Ecuador, soft day, with our friend now we go to the famous Mitad du mundo, a citadel for tourists, shops restaurants, etc. etc..
We opt for a luxury lunch! We struggled to find the San Thelmo ... but we remain immediately affected, there are only businessmen, we are a little 'misplaced. We ask the waiter the better dish, we do not want to play this possibility! We eat a steak argentina accompanied by Chilean wine (less evil than last evenings and I got Cla making me company!).. Tonight pizzetta hotel and after immediately in bed!

Our trip to Ecuador is concluded, we were lucky, we knew very little from (someone had met only for a few hours!) But everything has worked well for me is one of the best trips I made. The Ecuador enchated me by its nature, its colours in their maximum expression to Galàpagos, and for his people, need to think about it.