Galapagos Islands – Waved albatross, tripping over marine iguana’s and playful sea lion pups

A very early start for a breakfast zodiac ride around Kicker Rock, not accessible, steep volcanic road that is also called sea lion rock as it resembles a sleeping sea lion. Watching the sunrise and the blue footed boobies gliding in the sky was mesmerising, they dive into the water like gannets in the arrow position. We saw another booby, the Nazca boobie, and a couple of green turtles swimming under the zodiac as we bobbed up and down. We saw sea lions playing with the boat, brown noddys again and frigits.

Back on the boat for the buffet breakfast, then on with the lifejackets again for our arrival at San Cristobal Island and an actual town. We visited the interpretation centre, telling us the history to the Galapagos, Darwin and early explorers and eco-tourism. On our departure, Ali spotted the San Cristobal lava lizard, only found on this island. Our next 30 minutes was meant to be for shopping by Ali and I got side tracked by the most amazingly coloured Sally Lightfoot crabs with their bright red shells, bright blue chest and pink eyes. Sea lions rested on the rocks, some under the benches on the pier and then back on the zodiacs for lunch. There isn’t much downtime in this trip…but we can always sleep at home.

After a Galapagos buffet lunch, it was on with the life jackets for the third time of the day an onto the zodiac’s for a dry landing. However, a sea lion mum and baby also wanted the dry landing point and after all, humans are second to animals on these islands. The marine iguanas are so graceful when they swim, and boy they can move. These islands feel so pre-historic, the marine iguana’s look like something from Jurassic Park and the Frigit birds look like pterodactyls. Time has forgotten these islands, and I’m very glad it has.

The amount of marine iguanas and sea lions on the beach was amazing, you really had to watch you feet otherwise you would have stood on one. What’s amazing is that they just don’t move when you come close to them, they have no fear of you at all. The iguana’s congregate on each other to keep warm, the sea lion pups with their inquisitiveness approaches us to play. We were also lucky enough to see a Galapagos hawk, the number one predator on the islands.

The Mockingbirds were the most inquisitive and you really did have to watch your feet, they looked like they were coming over to tell you a message as they hopped over and looked at you like you were an alien. The ground finches with their jet black feathers walk along the land looking for seeds and the best bit of Espanola – the waved albatross with their bright yellow beaks. They soar through the air and like all the others, we could walk straight up to families together with their chicks.

The Nazca boobies ad blue footed boobies were in abundance and at one point we walked down to the beach we were lower than all the animals, it did really feel like it was their islands. On the way back, through an albatross colony we hopped from boulder to boulder (this trip really is a workout). We got soaked on the walkway to the zodiac as the swell of the Pacific is huge. Back in Xpedition, pina colada cocktail party, dinner and then bed very exhausted.

Galapagos – sea lion pups and the infamous blue footed boobies

I love the behaviour of people, how they form their little packs, there are 6 of us in our pack and I’ve also noticed the brits down mix with the Americans. We have also yet to find people that aren’t retired. Waking up in Quito, we had an early start to get to the airport for our charter flight. Driving through Quito, the entire road of Avenue Amazonas was closed for cyclists. Apparently every Sunday one part of the road is closed for people to exercise. This is the equivalent of closing Oxford street every Sunday. Maybe a suggestion for Boris.

We went straight through to boarding, I’m liking this charter flight business, you don’t have to queue and you can take liquids on the flight! We flew with Aeogal, champagne was offered (at 9am) we had branded table clothes before given our trays with napkins and metal cutlery! The best bit was the salt and pepper shakers that were a mini plane.

Arriving into Baltra airport was interesting, a series of open huts, then we boarded the buses to the dock. On with the lifejacket, then we queued for the boat. Unfortunately Ali didn’t have a lifejacket so off I went on the navy seal zodiac while Ali looked lost on the pier. We sped across the water to our home for the week, Celebrity Xpedition.

Our first activity was a briefing and the announcement that you are not allowed to go to the toilet on the islands, and in the event of an emergency, they will send a zodiac to get you to go to the toilet. I vow to not drink before visiting, how embarrassing would that be. However, being the youngest by about 20 years, we should be fine.

We had our compulsory evacuation drill where we donned out lifejackets and went to our assembly point, and then we were off around the archipelago. First stop North Seymour island and our first dry landing which was getting off the zodiac straight onto the rocks. We saw frigit birds with their bright red throats, swallow tailed gulls, brown noddy, striated heron, Galapagos drove, warbler finch, marine iguana family, lava lizards, numerous sea lions and the infamous blue footed boobies.

Trouble was, the sea lions were everywhere, you really had to watch your feet so you don’t trip over one. They just don’t flinch, the amazing thing about the Galapagos is that the animals rule, humans are secondary to them, it’s their islands and they have no fear of these strange creatures walking by the side of them. It’s pup season too, and they were absolutely gorgeous. We watched them suckling from their mums and playing by jumping up on their mum’s neck. What a first day.

Earthquakes and the equator

It’s been a funny old day. It started at 5am, I hate jet lag. Altitude sickness has unfortunately hit Ali and she was up most of the night  I’ve fared ok so far, people are mentioning breathlessness and nausea. The solution is apparently to drink chocolate so Ali is happy.

After a copious amount of breakfast, we waited to be ushered onto the bus but then the earth wobbled! It didn’t last very long, nor was too strong, an earth tremor but having never experienced that before, it was pretty scary while we sat under our foyer full of glass.

We started our city tour at the Basicilica looking at the ornate gargoyles. Young girls were wearing traditional dress, babies on their backs and selling scarves to the coach loads of tourists, the colours of their clothes is amazing.

The tour through the old town was wonderful, past colonial buildings while the street got more and more narrow. We visited the palace where I guide told us the reason for every plaque, I only remember the person that found the source of the amazon and the prime minister that was murdered. I hope there isn’t a quiz later. We saw the first flag of Ecuador, then off to the cultural museum which was a bit like walking around a university library…because it was. We went into one of the art galleries of Carmen Silva and came out feeling a bit sick. That might be the first and last time that Ali and I try to look at art, gosh Carmen likes boobies though, and not of the blue footed kind ;)

We visited the most ornate churches, covered in gold with their mixture of indigenous and catholic memorabilia in an attempt to convert the indigenous people. The heaven and hell pictures were scary, apparently you will be eaten by a pig if you commit adultery!
Ecuadorian buffet for lunch of potato soup with avocado and cheese, surprisingly yummy. On route to the equator, our guide told is some interesting facts about the economy, the 5 biggest incomes for the economy. 1) Oil, 2) the money sent back home from illegal immigrants, 3) bananas, 4) roses, 5) tourists.

Then we visited equator city to stand in the middle of the earth between the northern and southern hemisphere. Also, what was first thought to be the middle of the middle of the earth. I.e . the middle length wise as well as width wise. We watched as tourists concocted all manner of ways to take their pictures either side of the equator, and visited the top of the building for some great views over the mountains.

Tomorrow we have an early start for our flight to the Galapagos islands and boarding our cruise and surprisingly, there is no liquid limits! But tonight our bags are being checked by the Galapagos agricultural authorities for seeds, seed pores, any leaves, bark or food of any kind. Nothing biological can enter the islands!

The secret is revealed

After a year in the preparation, the secret is out, 2 weeks in Ecuador and the galapagos islands. After a traumatic night where we went to bed at 8am for our 3 o'clock wake up call, we were rudely awoken at 10pm by the fire alarm. Anyone that has been to bed before 9 will know that you wake up thinking it's maybe 1 or 2, so there were quite a few grumbles and then it was 3am in a cold, dark heathrow hotel. Onto the hotel hoppa but little did I know that the flight wouldn't be open yet so it was time to reveal the secret. I told Ali the flight time, and she yelled we were going to madrid...then asked if it's in Portugal ;) then I said she needs some books so passed her parcel. She opened and the glazed expression meant she didn't believe we were going to galapagos, her dream destination. No fear, I recorded the whole lot for the holiday DVD. She remained shocked for ove an hour and didn't quite believe me until I showed he the literature, then it was onto departures. We are currently starbucking by Harrods food hall, not too excite about the 14 hour flight bit the adventure begins here :)

London to Quito - an everlasting day

OH my, this day has truly gone on forever, we woke up at 3am in the Comfort Inn, Heathrow airport and I'm currently writing this to stay awake and avoid jet lag in the Marriott in Quito, Ecuador, the swankiest hotel I've ever been in. A fairly uneventful flight on an aeroplane that needs a spruce, this is how plane snobby I've become, we commented on the lack of individual tv screens and lack of room! 11 hours later, a few escapades with 2 smokers who decided to smoke in the toilet, one woman who refused to do up her seatbelt and then we arrived in Quito, the 2nd highest capital in the world.

Before we left the airport we had to go through customs and I had to do something I've never done before, I had to declare! You are only allowed to bring 2 peices of electronic equipment into the country, so my laptop, phone, camera and video camera was way over my limit. As was Ali's, so Ali and I sheepishly walked into the customs office to declare our goods, luckily we didn't get charged the taxes :(

Apparently we won't notice the altitude until tomorrow but we have been advised to always walk slowly, drink hot chocolate and no alcohol. Sounds like a great way to live for us. Quito is really sprawling up the very steep hills, it's a very long city of 46km but only 11km wide. Between that you have vetical slopes. Our hotel is next to an active volcano. Ali is failing to stay awake as it currently feels to us like it's 2am, awake for 24 hours but tomorrow will be worth it, a city tour of Quito's old town and standing on the equator. My first time in South America, I just hope the altitude sickness isn't going to hit tomorrow. Fingers and toes crossed.

Nicest hotel we have ever stayed

This really is the nicest hotel we have ever stayed in. As we arrived at the hotel to our hot towel and welcome drink, the bell boys brought out bags, we opened the door and there was our housekeeper stood in the dark bathroom holding a rose. We wondered if every room had their own personal housekeeper that hid in the bathroom with a white rose until the occupants arrived but alas, other guests didn't have the same service. She let down our beds, closed our curtains, left out rose and off she went.

The beds are go high you have to climb onto the two double beds in our room and the bath is so deep i think it could be considered a swimming pool. The hotel has it's own shopping centre and 4 restaurants. This is the life.

Musings of a commuter - never travel on a Friday

First time for everything but I aim to never travel 4 hours there, and 4 hours back again, especially not on a Friday. Having missed the train by all of a minute, the whistle was blown just as I went through the ticket barrier and all I was thinking was that I didn't want to be one of those people that runs for the train, misses it, and has to do the walk of shame as the successful travellers lurch off to my destination.

Trouble is, the slow train is 4 minutes later so I opted for that. I wonder what would happen if the fast train went after the slow train. Tonight I wished it was that way around but alas. I sat opposite a girl who spent 30 minutes applying makeup, even plucking her eyebrows which I thought was lethal knowing how jerky the train is. I played leg bashing with the guy opposite me, when will the train companies realise that seat opposite each other don't work as the population has legs.

The difference between travelling on a friday was the severe amount of luggage causing a trip hazard as the wheeley suitcase walk of death almost caught me. I avoided sitting by the man coughing and spluttering and watched people. Surprisingly, on the fast train it's packed until my stop, but half way through, it was my carriage but why oh why do I always end up by the toilets?

Jasmin and Peter's wedding

It's not often that you go to a wedding when you haven't met the bride or groom before, but our wedding marathon continued and it was a complete contrast to the day before. Jasmin and Ali went to sixth form together, so we joined the sixth form table. The Vera Wang fairytale princess dress was amazng, as the couple left the arts centre a cascade of balloons fell from the ceiling, and each of the bridesmaids wore different colours. A weekend of very different weddings but oh they are exhausting but you can't help but have a lump in your throat when you see people hitched.

Caroline and Peter White

The second in our group of friends to get married, and then Caroline and Peter only got engaged this year so they pipped us to the post and Ali and I will now be number 3. Although, they have been together for over 10 years. The years just fell away as we discussed PE knickers, the new school uniform, the demolition of the old school, previous boyfriends of Alison...It was as though time stood still. Caroline looked so regal in her emerald green dress in Ye Olde Bank of England on fleet street. The wedding was so them, so laid back and relaxed, with the hardest quiz ever, we needed Caroline in our team. In her fathers speech he mentioned the rivalry between Caroline and Phil McGowen as they were both the most intelligent in the year. Unfortunately I think having caroline on our team might have been cheating somewhat. People were rather reluctant to catch the bouquet, so I nabbed Alison and she only went and caughtSo, another friend married, I've never seen her so happy.

Musings of a commuter - people watching at Kings Cross

As someone addicted to travel, I feel travelling is something I do everyday, it's about keeping your eyes open to your surroundings and that's exactly what I do, on trains. On a late Wednesday evening, I had an hour to kill and the only thing available (apart from eating) was people watching by the photobooth, a very popular photobooth. Having not been in a photobooth for many years, I'm rather surprised by the number of people using it at Kings Cross, and the weirdest bit, they take credit card. Long gone are the days of putting £2 in.

As I sat between two men on the bench, I could just feel their negativity to me being there. The masses wandered past me, and you could really tell that the season is changing, the clothes are so mismatched. You have some wearing autumn clothes, some in summer and both regretting what they chose to wear this morning.

Across from me is the girl waiting for her date, you can tell as her eyes are fixed on the tube exit. There are the suits who are yawning as they walk after a long day at the office, there are the tourists that never know where to go and get in the way of the suits but I'm always amazed by the amount of luggage people carry, mounds of it. One day, watch people and see how much luggage we carry around.

A man walked past me in his clip clop shoes and I wonder that If I was a man, would I have clip clop shoes? And yes, i think I would, puts fun into walking. And then it happened...one of my hates...couples canoodling and the worse bit was they sat next to me so there was no avoiding it. Time to go.