GALAPAGOS ISLANDS!! (Part 1)

We checked off a major bucket list item a couple of weeks ago when we went to the Galapagos Islands for the holidays! A big thanks to Spencer's mother for footing the bill for this adventure. It truly was an adventure.  It was an amazing trip to an amazing place. I highly recommend to anyone that is interested that they make this happen, it is like no place on earth.  There is no way that this post will do it justice, but here goes.

Day 1 - The Charles Darwin Research Station

 

The sea lions and iguanas just hang out wherever they please in town, like dogs do in the rest of Ecuador.   

Red crabs are everywhere

Beautiful cemetery

 

Pelicans waiting for scraps from the fishermen's fresh catch. A lazy sea lion and some weird looking fish ready to be fried up. Yummy!

Day 2: A visit to the land tortoise farm and the lava tunnels.  These big beasts were so cool to be around.  Like all the animals in the Galapagos, they are completely unafraid of humans.

Being silly at the farm.

Sherry was ready for the beach.  And kind of hard to see, but that is a sea lion hanging out on the sidewalk as we headed to dinner.

Day 3: A day trip to Isabella Island.  Sea lions everywhere, more iguanas, blue footed boobies, penguins, snorkeling with a sea turtle, flamingos, and more!

Can't get enough of these guys!!

See the blue footed boobies on the left. We snorkeled in front of these rocks.

 

Toured around this small island.  Sherry in 'big blue' following the guide, needless to say we never lost her.

Soooo many iguanas.  

This small island just off Isabella has a landscape like nothing I've ever seen before.

Day 4: North Seymour Island.  Incredible desert like landscape, frigates, sea lions, more snorkeling.

First we snorkeled from this beach.

Beautiful frigate that glided just 2 feet above the boat for a long time on the way to the next island. 

So cool.

The following pictures are from North Seymour Island. A very inhospitable tiny island with TONS of cool Frigates (very large birds) hanging out fearlessly as we toured around their territory.

Baby photo bomb!

This baby does not look comfortable.

Always more iguanas.

Took this video of baby sea lions playing at the beginning of this video and then I spun around to find so many more!

Stay tuned for PART 2 of our amazing trip to the Galapagos Islands!!!!

I went to LA

In October, I went to LA to meet up with my mother at my brother's house so we could all celebrate my mom's 70th birthday together.  It's hard to believe she has hit this major milestone and you would never believe it by looking at her or listening to her talk about her life.  She is the busiest retired person I know and the youngest 70 year old I've ever met.  

It was a great visit for a lot of reasons since I love to visit with Schuyler and his family (I can't get enough of my niece and nephew) and I LOVE LA.  I was also thrilled to spend some time with my mother's younger sister, Anne.  My Aunt that I have not seen in nearly 20 years, but the moment we met again it was like we had known each other forever.  I loved getting to know her and hope to find some time to visit her in Seattle someday.

My mom (l), my Aunt Anne (r) and I went for a beautiful hike in the canyon near Pacific Palisades.  It's is always a beautiful day in LA.

My sister in law is so great about taking pictures, that I often forget when I am around her.  

So this is all I've got.  It was such a fun trip!

Amy came to town!

Shortly after I returned from the states in August, one of my all time favorite redheads came to visit.  Amy is the most well travelled person I know as her work sends her to Africa often.  She was one of the biggest inspirations for us to embark on this adventure.  It was such a treat to have her here and be able to show her around a part of the world she has yet to explore.

 Pictures from our trip to Otavalo.  Waterfalls, crater lakes, hiking, car trouble, shopping, and good times.

Next we headed to Mindo, a cloud forest.  Our hostel, El Monte, was amazing and so isolated that the only way in was to cross a river on this hand pulled contraption.  Hold onto your bags!

El Monte is known for their bird watching hikes, so we indulged Amy's newest hobby.  It was actually very cool.

In the main lodge building.  Beautiful place.

Back in Quito, heading to the top of the Basilica.  This is one of my favorite things to do with visitors as it would NEVER be allowed in America.  It is very dangerous, but very worth the view!

Next we headed to Banos.  Took a canopy ride over some waterfalls.  Note our tiny shadow in the photo on the left.  We were very high.  It was beautiful.

Back in Quito for a trip to the best view in Quito, up the TeleferiQo!  It was so good to catch up with the very old friend who we have not seen in a long time.  Thanks for visiting Amy, let's not let so much time go by before we see each other again!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone near and far!  

Sorry for the lack of updates, it's been a whirlwind few months since we got back from the states where we had a fantastic visit.  Lots of great quality time with friends and craving satisfying experiences.  I drank every dark beer I could get my mitts around and loved it!

Here are some photos from our time in the states.  It was a fast 3 weeks, but I did my best to get around to see everyone.  Thanks to all who made some time for us!

Took this shot from the plane as I was coming into Providence airport.  Yes, that it Watch Hill on a beautiful summer day.  I was very excited!!

Spent my first few days on the beach with my brother and his family.  On the left are 2 of my (3) godsons, Devon, also my nephew, (l) and Liam (r) and my brother trying to corral them for the photo for me. The right is the beautiful Summer, stopping only long enough for the photo before chasing me with that sand ball.

One of the most perfect spots in the world (Watch Hill, Rhode Island).

A great evening with friends in Connecticut.

Took a drive to visit one of my best friends in the whole world in upstate New York.  Stopped to stretch my legs at a beautiful lakeside rest stop along the thruway and was very annoyed to find this sign posted in front of a beautiful shaded picnic area near the water.  Come on America!  Loosen Up!!

Ah, the Finger Lakes Wine Region.  Heaven.

Swung back through Boston to get a glimpse of of these beautiful faces.  Love my ladies!

On to Newport next.  Awesome times. 

Couldn't miss a chance to spend a day with a great friend and her amazing girls.  (Pictured is

one of my favorite 7 year olds on the planet!)

Amazing New England summer sunset witnessed from a beautiful deck on the water with friends and cocktails.  Where else could one possibly want to be in that moment.  Perfection.

Our visit home was perfect and amazing and definitely made me miss the states and all it has to offer.  But, it also reminded me how many rules there are!  Everything is very safe and clean in the states.  It is wonderful in many ways, but feels a little sanitized in many others.  As much as I love the lack of litter and street dogs that I endure in Ecuador, I don't like all the signs everywhere that tell me what I can't do (see the pets prohibited sign above for the best example).  It reminded me how much I appreciate the sense of personal responsibility that is a requirement to live in Ecuador.  There is no nanny state here ensuring that you don't fall in that hole in the sidewalk or that you're wearing a helmet when riding your bike.  There isn't anyone to sue here, so people need to take care of themselves.  It is empowering, and I love being responsible for my own safety.  Ecuador isn't perfect (see recent news about journalistic censorship), but it does make you feel alive to be here!

Anyway, onto the next update.  Happy New Year!