Ecuadorean Adventure--Galapagos

Ready to snorkel in the Galapogos.

For two weeks in frigid February, we escaped a major snowstorm to visit friends who have an apartment in Quito, Ecuador. This is my first time in South America. The city is surrounded by mountains and it is so highly elevated I feel out of breath after only a few minutes of walking. The first day we took a tour of the old town with its colonial-style churches and then drove out to the Equator monument where you can stand in the exact center of the Earth. The location was originally designated by French scientists in the 18th century but advanced technology has determined the exact location about 20 meters away. There are gimmicky attractions like standing with one foot in the Eastern hemisphere and another in the Western. 

The highlight of the trip has been a four-day travel package to the Galapagos Islands which I found on line. The $700 package included transfers from the airport (which involved a bus, a ferry boat and a long cab ride), meals, and four excursions. I was excited about going by myself but a little nervous. I managed to find a direct flight from Quito to Baltra, the one airport on the island chain, but there were several hoops to be jumped through at the Quito airport. First you have to buy a travel permit to visit the islands ($20, Ecuadorean currency is the same as US), which you must download to your phone. Then you have to have to bags inspected to make you're not carried anything that will disturb the ecosystem, fill out a declaration form and that has to be downloaded to your phone too. Once in Galapagos airport, who have show both docs as well as your passport and a $200 visitor's fee in cash.