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Satin Shoes Go Camping
First thing must say is to those who are in the midst of evil exam season: I am thinking of you. Good. Now that's out of the way I can get on, with a slightly clearer conscience, with making you all green with envy at the incredible time I had in the Galapagos Islands.
It all started with me lucking out immensely and receiving a free upgrade to a five star boat, the Coral I, complete with whirlpool, barman decked out in black tie, and cordon bleu cuisine on tap. There was a slight SAGA holiday feel to my fellow passengers, but I had a great roomie only 15 years my senior who helped me lower the tone suitably and, being an ICU nurse, took care of my crook tummy for the first couple of days when I could but stare at the piles of brekkie pancakes.
But on to the animals. We had a marine biologist acting as our naturalist guide during the week (Hernan: fancied himself majorly as Indiana Jones in a tight white t-shirt) so I've become quite the little animal geek (nothing compared to you, Soph...and you can rest happy now: I didn't see any dolphins). Each island had such different landscape quite unlike anything I've ever seen, from rust-coloured earth covered in ashen foliage and towering cacti, to white sandy shores being lapped by crystalline turquoise waters. I saw so many sea birds; graceful albatrosses (not quite so graceful on take-off and landing), blue-footed boobies (cue many hilarious tourist t-shirts) and frigates with inflated scarlet plumage for mating season. The lizards and land and marine iguanas were fascinating, but there's nothing to beat the cuddly sea lions and oh-so-cute teeny Galapagos penguins - especially swimming with them, which I got to do, snorkelling every day. Even copped an eyeful of a few sharks and floated amongst colossal sea turtles. Can't beat the quiet dignity of an 80-year old Giant Land Tortoise either.
Could go on for hours (and I will when I get home): have taken over 300 photos to bore you with, but for now I am back in Quito...felt like a might just about blend in as a local (with my sunnies on) given my Galapagos tan, but I reckon the Oxford stash (cheers Rob) and the life-or-death manner with which I clutch my Rough Guide could be a giveaway. That and my total lack of Spanish (the language barrier has already got me into trouble - was presented with a virgin cocktail one day as the crew had surmised that I was preggers...didn't think I looked that bad in my new bikini. Turns out pointing at your tummy and refusing alcohol because you've got a peaky tum can be drastically misinterpreted). Meeting my tourgroup for the next five weeks tomorrow. Here's to hoping they're a good bunch, and for some eye candy. Yes please.
Big love to all, ta for the messages on the board, keep 'em coming peeps. xxx
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