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Editors Note: Selected
pictures from the various slide shows mentioned in the
text are included
in web-sized versions here. The original ".exe" files are not available for
download here.
Continued
from Part-1
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Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands
March 1, 2004
Had a fantastic day - even though I probably sweat off a few pounds. Did I mention that it is hot as hell here?
Took a cruise to one of the other islands and saw lots and lots of sea lions and lots of iguanas and lots of birds of all different kinds.
Then in the afternoon I went snorkeling and it was fantastic! The water is totally sparkling clear and the sights are unbelievable. When my daughter Heather was 10 or 11 years old I took her snorkeling in St. Martins and she was so shocked at how many fish were swimming around her that she refused to go into the water for the rest of the trip. Well, there were fish of every description swimming around with me. And the absolute highlight of the afternoon was when I was joined by a curious sea lion. He/she (didn't get a chance to check for sex) swam beside me for a couple of minutes and it was totally exhilarating.
I got some great photos yesterday and today and have decided to wait until I get back to send the slide shows. I do promise that you are going to love them. Right now I'm having trouble deciding on which pictures to send - there are so many good ones. It's a lot easy taking pictures when you're not bored silly with your subject.
I decided to see what kind of night life Puerto Ayora has to offer and strolled "down town" after dinner. I found this place called The Iguana that had a big sign outside promising TOPLESS DANCING and went inside. At first I was a little disappointed to find out the topless dancer was an iguana, but after a while I got into it. She could really shake her
tail! Actually, there is so little to do at night here, I think I could make a go of a topless-iguana bar.
I'm staying at the Hotel
Silberstein, which is very small. There are only 22 rooms in the whole place. I felt a little reluctant to put my valuables in the "safe" here because the last time I did that in a small hotel was in Zanzibar and the hotel ended up robbing me. I hope I get my stuff back when I leave.
It actually is very nice and I highly recommend it.
Everybody drinks bottled water because the local stuff is totally unsafe. In each room there is a small amount of safe water for teeth brushing. I have found the only way to start brushing and using the tap water is to hide my toothpaste away from the bathroom. That way I have to look for it and reminded not to use the tap water. I did get a little diarrhea and figured out it was coming from the ice, which evidently is made with tap water. I've got pills, so no big deal. I just have to give up ice for the rest of the trip. It's unbelievable how much water I'm going through. Did I mention that it is hot as hell here?
George
Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands
March 2, 2004
Had a cruise starting at 5:30 this morning that I chose to opt out of. I'm going to explore a little and take a few pictures of Puerto
Ayora. That should take about five minutes. It really is small.
I have already noticed that there are several Internet Cafes so I'll send this this afternoon. It will probably be my last communication before I head home. Am still having an absolute blast.
Hugs and kisses to all,
George
Quito, Ecuador
March 5, 2002
I'm on the way home. It's been a different type trip - that's for sure. I did get some great shots and am trying to figure out how to break them down.
Anyway, on my last night in the Galapagos, I decided to go out on the town to celebrate the trip. And as I was walking down the street I saw a sign that said
"TOPLESS DANCING! COME SEE SOME BOOBIES! THEY ARE HOT!"
Well, I was a little reluctant after my experience the other night. But I figured I didn't have anything else to do so I went in. And I have to admit I did get a little suspicious when I spied that topless iguana hustling a sea lion for drinks at the next table.
But I ignored them as I sat drinking my Scotch and papaya juice (with no ice). And my great anticipation of what was to come was so great that I actually had three of them before I realized it was the worst thing I had ever tasted. But I was excited about seeing Boobies. I'm always excited about seeing Boobies. And I wasn't disappointed! I saw Boobies. I saw lots and lots of Boobies. And they were hot! (Well, actually, everything in the Galapagos is pretty hot - have I ever gotten around
to mentioning that it is hot as hell there?)
Okay, download the file Boobies.exe. (Don't ask me how I came up with that name - I'm just so smart it just came to me like a bump in the night.) Anyway, close the blinds so that the neighbors won't know that you're looking at pictures of Boobies and click on the program and see Boobies, Boobies, Boobies.
Lots more good stuff coming when I get home.
Hugs and kisses to all,
George
Roswell, Georgia
March 8, 2004
First of all let me apologize for "double sending" a couple of times. It happens when I'm at an Internet Café in a foreign country and the program is running at a snail's pace and I'm not sure if the "send" has actually taken place..
And it is almost impossible for me to change an address while I'm accessing from a foreign country. In Australia you have to stand on your head to do that. And in the Galapagos, you have to kiss an iguana before making an address change. Just trust me, it's hard. Okay, enough housekeeping.
I'm going to try to explain the Galapagos. They are very beautiful. They are pretty much in pristine condition. Translation: you have to walk a
lot. They sell a T-shirt there that has a picture of a guy loaded down with a pack and carrying water, insect repellent, sun block, a camera, a first-aid kit, a compass and a global positioning system and
flares to send up for emergencies. His clothes are soaked through and through and sweat is pouring off his face. And he is saying "Are you sure this is a vacation?"
Some of you very astute folks have by now figured out that it was hot as hell in the Galapagos. It is possible that I might have mentioned that at some point.
So if your idea of wild adventure is riding an air-conditioned tram above the animals at Busch Gardens, you should probably skip the Galapagos.
But if you want to see iguanas, sea loins, truly exotic birds, and giant Tortoises in their natural habitat while you sweat a lot, you should definitely jump on a plane to the Galapagos.
Every time I returned to my air-conditioned hotel room at night, I kept thinking "Boy, am I having fun or what?" And a little voice would answer ‘WHAT!"
I already mentioned swimming with the sea lion. What I didn't tell you was that just before he jumped in, I'm pretty sure I heard him say "It's hot as hell here!"
Actually, it was a great trip. It's definitely not your run-of-the-mill trip. I think it would be better to go in May or June, which is their "cooler" period. A guide told me that it actually gets cold sometimes in July and August. But she had no idea what I was talking about when I asked if they got ice and snow.
I'm going to try to share my impressions with you in some slide shows. The first is attached and is just a general overview - just a quick tour in photos.
In a few days I'll send what I think is a neat slide show featuring birds. Hey, hang in there - you might actually enjoy it. And then I'll send you one that shows sides of the Galapagos that you probably only get from someone with my strange way of looking at things..
The first slide show is called Galapagos.exe (I was up until three a.m. coming up with that name.) The only explanation needed to the show is that there are A LOT of birds in the Galapagos. The white stuff you see on the rocks is bird poop. Oh, the things you would never know if you didn't have me to point them out.
Hugs and kisses to all,
George
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