Safety First

Another great example of the incredible safety standards here in Ecuador.  Got onto a bus last week and noticed this.  Look closely at the driver's instrument panel.  Yes, that is painted on. No need to know how fast you are actually going.

Safety First - for the parents

Not a great photo, but worth pointing out to all my parent friends that car seats are not a thing here at all:

Yep, that's a baby, just holding on to the window.  I think he's in his mother's lap if that helps….

Spencer is a Championship Coach!

Spencer coached the Boys Varsity Volleyball team this fall.  He was a natural and took the team all the way to a championship!  It was very exciting and just reinforces how great he is with these kids.

Here's the team

Coaching action shot.

Ecuador at its Best - Quilotoa

I took an amazing day trip a few weeks ago to Quilotoa. This spectacular crater lake is a must visit spot for any trip to Ecuador. Spencer got to go with a class trip shortly after we arrived last year so I have been missing out till now. My friend Emily decided to take a visiting friend there on a day trip so I jumped at the chance to tag along.

We have 7 peaks over 17,000 feet. Quilotoa is just under 13,000 feet at the top and is located between Illiniza and Chimborazo on this map:

On our way out to the site, we had amazing morning views of the mountains along the Avenue of the Volcanoes running down the middle of Ecuador. We saw others as well, but I didn't get  great shot.

Chimborazo

Cotopaxi

Tungurahua spewing some ash!!!  

Yes, this is the one that erupted more fully a few days ago.  Quite a cool site to see.

The guide for our trip took us to meet an indigenous highland family and see their house.

Apparently 10 people live in this hut and the floor is covered with their main food:

Next we headed to our final destination, the beautiful Quilatoa crater:

Visitors can hike down to the lake.  Admittedly, I only made it about a quarter of the way down.  It was crazy steep and I was not confident that I would make it without slipping, potentially re-injuring my knee that I have been so diligently working to strengthen since my big falls last year. So, I made my way back up and took some photos while waiting for my friends.

Starting the hike

The clouds come in and out very quickly.

The photo on the right is the steep path down.

Sooooo beautiful. Overall a great day and I am so glad I got to see this one before we have to go.

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS!! (Part 2)

Sorry for the long delay, we've been pretty busy down here, but that's for a different post.  Anyway, here are some more pictures from our amazing trip to the Galapagos over Christmas.

Day 5: Bartholome Island.  Amazing views, more cool animals, more snorkeling.

Heading in on the boat.  Long rides to these places, but very worth it.

This awesome guy was hanging out on the stairs by the boat dock.  He lifted his head as we went by, but didn't bother to move so we had to slip by. 

We followed the wooden walkway all the way to the top of the island for some killer views.

Quintessential Galapagos postcard shot

Galapagos Hawk.  Sat just a few feet from us for a quick photo shoot.  Beautiful.

Followed up our hike with some more snorkeling where we saw some more sea turtles and then a great lunch on the boat.  Another perfect day.  Sherry skipped out on this one and had fun back in port.

Also, this was Christmas Eve, so when we got back to town we all went out for a delicious waterside dinner.  We even got to see animals frolicking about in the water from out table. 

And these little lizards came up to try my dessert.

Day 6: Tortuga Bay. A long hike to a beautiful beach with incredible swimming.

The path out to the famous Tortuga Bay. 

Beautiful, huge, deserted.  Wish I had done a panoramic of this one.

 

A little further down we found the swimming beach.  It was enclosed so the water was calm and gentle and amazing.  Spencer and I rented some kayaks and headed out to see the white tipped sharks.  We found dozens of sharks in the little coves around the bay.  Some as big as the kayak.  

We were careful NOT to tip over.  

We took a much appreciated water taxi back to town.  Not sure if Sherry was enjoying it.  The waters were pretty rough (i.e.: fun!), but she held on so tight she ended up battered and bruised at the end.

Day 7: Floreana Island.  The least inhabited of the inhabited islands (4 in total). Only about 100 people live here.  Its super remote, but also the most diverse of the islands.  It had some highlands where there was a huge tortoise farm.  Very cool creatures.

I loved this guys sunbathing so regally in front of the naval station.

Just a couple of sea lions hanging out in the shade.

These huge pelicans are everywhere!

Followed this island visit with some more snorkeling.  Too bad we weren't able to get any underwater shots, but we didn't have the right equipment.  It was as amazing as the first 3 times including more sea turtles and some sea lions.  

Day 8: Quick stop at the lava craters before heading home :(

These photos don't do the size and depth justice.

A truly once in a lifetime vacation!!!