Leaving Tena, we rode through the scenic mountains
on our way to the Middle of the World Monument, where you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere, photo posted previously. Lunch was at a local restaurant where some of the group ordered Cuy (guinea pigs raised for their meat). You can imagine that there were strong feelings each way on the decision to partake in this local delicacy, basically a high quality food vs furry friend debate.
One last evening in Quito,
then it was off to San Cristobal, Galapagos the next morning. We stayed at Casa Opuntia, located on the waterfront promenade, and named for the local cactus trees.
That afternoon from one spot along the seawall, we saw pelicans, frigate birds, huge land iguanas, sea lions (one nursing its three day old pup), sea turtles, and bright orange Sally lightfoot crabs.
The next morning the blue footed booby entertained us.
The sea lions own the place, lying on the street, sidewalks, benches... They will chase you out of their territory, being faster than you might imagine. There are warnings on the beach and high racks with pegs to hang your personal belongings. We witnessed a family of sea lions evict two young women from their beach towel, using one of their backpacks as a cushion.
Although C wasn't feeling well tummywise and skipped dinner, I had my favourite meal of the trip. Not as cute as guinea pig, so no controversy at the table, I ordered langostino (tropical lobster) and tostones (fried plantains), both food of my childhood when visiting the Puerto Rican side of the family. We had it great growing up, benefitting gastronomically from both Polish and Puerto Rican sides. Tostones are still a treat, though I don't make them frequently.
A must do on San Cristobal: Centro de Crianza de Tortugas Terrestre (Center for the breeding of giant land tortoises). C was still recovering so I went on my own. We saw them from one week to over a hundred years old.
On our last day we walked past the Galapagos Science Center (part of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (can you imagine doing as stint there as part of your education?) to the San Cristobal Interpretive Centre to learn about the sordid history of the Galapagos. It wasn't always a paradise for biologists. We walk the trails and were struck how barren it is due to its exposure, being 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador.
Many of us considered observing the blue footed booby as the highlight of the stop, and I had commissions to paint three versions of them.
Next stop: Guayaquil, Ecuador