Ecuador had shown itself as a fascinating and easy place to visit based on our first ten days in the country. We had enjoyed the wide four lane divided highways of the north after the horror roads of Colombia, the traditional markets of Otavalu, the novelty of crossing the equator by road and then the magnificence of the Galapagos Islands. But now we were heading south again, heading towards Peru, … Continue reading →
Life on board the Archipell 1 was pretty relaxed. Our cabins were very comfortably furnished, if a bit small, and the common area where we ate and socialised was quite roomy for our small group. But the most popular spot on the ship was the open observation deck, partly covered to provide protection from the equatorial sun, a place to take in the views, look for wildlife, watch the sunset … Continue reading →
We boarded an old rickety public bus, windows slid open for ventilation on a mega-humid day, and left the remote airport of Baltra for the main town of Puerto Ayora. The road crossed the rough desert scrub, nothing special, when suddenly the driver slammed on his brakes and the old bus reluctantly skidded to a stop. What on earth could have caused the driver to take such drastic action in … Continue reading →
Julie and I booked and paid for a special splurge – five days in the remote Ecuadorian islands of the Galapagos, made famous by Charles Darwin and the island’s huge tortoises. Our challenge, and it was a big one, was to drive through the spectacular but painfully slow mountains of Colombia to the capital of Ecuador, Quito, where our flights were leaving from, whether we’re on them or not. Could … Continue reading →
