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What survives on volcanoes changes with the type of volcano and its inhabitants. Rabida Island is the red beach made from the red cinder sand and small pebbles. Without the vegetation you would see the vastness of red. The island has small bush like trees and cactus. No land iguanas live here who prey on cactus and as a result the cactus have adapted their thorns to be quite fine.. The fine thornes don’t hurt the birds that are needed to pollinate the flowers.

December is the end of the dry season, and to conserve their energy, the trees drop their leaves. The tree survives by sucking moisture from the lichen that inhabits it’s branches. The cactus survives by performing photosynthesis during the night when it’s pores can be open to take in the carbon dioxide and reduce the amount of moisture loss.

The landscape is rugged and desolate and interesting and unlike anything I have previously seen.

Galapagos was born from volcanoes.

A shallow, just under the water volcano created large bursts of steam that threw a great explosions ash and rock. Over several months, there would be a barrage of these bursts. The result are cliffs that resemble the equivalent of geological rocky road ice cream.

Another volcano type here is your classic lava type. So there is lots of black rock that you can tell just flowed like treacle and moulded to its surroundings.

A cinder cone volcano is a result of a massive lava explosion causing gas bubbles to heat and then cool quickly. This makes a fine red sandy substance which when you add some pressure and a few years becomes rock. This rock flakes off and becomes sand again ready for the next volcanic eruption.

What volcanoes do is give an environmental restart. This is also what the Galapagos is about. What happens when a place reboots and is remote. What inhabits the place and how does the regeneration happen.

When you first feel the rock of the boat, your body is unsure and it stiffens in reaction, then slowly you let go and succumb to the rock and become one with the rhythm of the wave. Rock-A-Bye Baby.

We are sleeping on a boat called the Santa Cruz II. I really must find out about Santa Cruz I.

The boat is designed for 90 people and on this cruise there are 34. Lots of people run the ship. A captain and a first mate. Cruise director and a bunch of guides. I think there are also magic elves because whenever we leave our room someone comes to retrieve towels or straighten a mess we have made or leaves chocolates.

Galapagos was discovered in the 1500’s when the Bishop of Panama was sailing to Peru to settle a territory dispute. As most good discoveries go, he was on his way to somewhere and the winds blew and he ended up someplace new. He also named the islands because the large tortoise shell reminded him of a Spanish saddle called ‘galapagos’

Amazing the fearlessness of the animals.

Llamas are kin to a camel. They are so representative of South America and quite loved for their beautiful eyes and soft wool. There are also alpacas that look like small llamas and a huarizo is a cross between a male llama and a female alpaca.

We are happy to have them greet us at an archeological site today. I loved when a couple of them came charging over to see what treat we had. So much fun to spend time with them.

Ecuador as most people know is named for being on the Equator. It was French scientists that came and first triangulated the 0.00 mark in Ecuador.

Ecuador was perfect for this work because the triangulation could be done utilizing the surrounding Andes. The Scientists were successful and marked down the belt were the Northern and Southern Hemispheres met. As they left, they built a small statute to mark the join. In 1932, this small statue was replaced with a much bigger replica and with souvenir shops and museum and restaurants surrounding.

Now with the use of GPS, it is discovered that the statue is in the wrong spot and not were they join at all. The actual join runs through a gentleman’s house about 250 meters away. His house isn’t yet a tourist site but it should be. He is sweet and charming and has created an alternate site which you can get to see by appointment. He isn’t ready yet for the backlash that will ensue when the official site and museum find out that he has created this amazing alternative site. We had the pleasure of the adventure.

We have arrived very safely. We had arranged for transport to pick us up from the airport and take us to the hotel. This little luxury helps to start our vacation well after the flight and not quite having our bearings.

The hotel is lovely, right on the main square in the heart of Quito. We were greeted with fresh fruit and John and I immediately ate the banana.

I love airplanes. The miracle of flight is not lost on me. That moment the plane gets air beneath the wings and soars up. Engine roaring in the background. The landing and the audible sigh of relief when he pilot lands it without a jolt. We have been on flights were people have applauded. Love it.

We took Copa Air. I know, I too never heard of them before. They had a good connection from Toronto through Panama City to Quito. I did feel like I was taking a chance and they have surprised me. The seats are rather rooming for economy, well compared to the AirCanada flight we took to Vancouver when John was in a yoga pose the whole trip.

They also served food even on the short hour and a half flight to Quito. Airline food is never three star, this was better than we have had on other flights, better than the pretzel package.

Not sure actually how many times I made an early morning trek to the airport. Anticipation and calmness in the familiarity of travelling the Gardner and then up the 427 to the airport. This is my element. How fortunate I am to be able to travel.

There is a certain anxiousness before I leave on vacation. All those decisions and research, will it all work out? Will it be a dud after all my anticipation. I hope it works out. I hope I made all the right decisions and I hope it changes my life just a little bit more. I hope John has a good time. I hope John doesn’t get sick.

I hope I let it go and just enjoy.

I never forget the fortune that I have to travel. To see other places and to smell the air. Eat the food and experience another way of life. And then come home and know that I live in the best place in the world and can come home again where every thing is familiar and yet a little bit different because I saw another world.