| DIARY |
| 27th June 2005 What a turn up for the books...... still in Madrid tonight, meant to be half way to Lima!! The flight to Lima was double booked so we have to fly out tomorrow instead. Good news though.... we were given 600 Euros each as compensation and we're in a 4 star hotel for the night with all meals and transfers to and from the airport and a couple of phone calls free!! Happy days!!! And you thought we were going to slum it... no chance.... spent the afternoon by the pool!!!!! We're not the only ones here-have met two girls (Fran and Louisa) and a group of four lads, all heading for Peru - just about to have dinner with them... Hope we have better luck with the flight tomorrow. 28th June 2005 Finally got to Lima after 12 hour flight - amazing flying over the Amazon and the Andes - for 3 hours or more all we could see were trees and the odd river for as far as the eye could see. We think we saw the mouth of the Amazon (Belem). Found somewhere to stay with Fran and Louisa - Fran speaks Italian and a little Spanish so was handy to have around! 29th June 2005 Breakfast..... hmmmm...... rolls nice, but eggs, herbal tea and orange juice(??) not too good! Went to bus station and booked tickets to Quito (Ecuador) for next day wandered round and then back to room - Lima doesn�t have much to offer!! 30th June 2005 Spent day in Lima and caught bus at 6pm - ready for 38 hour journey! 2nd July 2005 After the 38 hours next to the toilet (we did have a couple of brief stops) we arrived in Quito 8am - checked into a slightly more expensive hotel, but think we deserve the jacuzzi (still only $13 dollars each incl. breakfast). Didn�t realise Quito was so high in the Andes (2850m) - some great views on the way in. Went sightseeing.... Basilica del Voto Nacional, the highest cathedral in Quito and climbed to the top of the towers (scary for me (C) because flip flops not a good idea on thin steel ladders (windy too)). Also went to the Virgin of Quito (El Panecillo) - a huge statue on a hill overlooking the city (which is huge, you only realise when you�re up there). Booked flights to Galapagos - can�t wait! 3rd July 2005 Went to the middle of the earth (Mitad del Mundo) - the equator. Official one first - where the French thought it was - wrong!!, then went down the road to a small museum where the real one is (by GPS) - did experiments to prove it - balancing an egg, water test and strength test (Claire still gloating!!) )explain another time). Also had an indigenous experience - saw how they live etc... saw shrunken heads, drank corn beer and Terry had a go with a blow pipe (not pot)! 4th July 2005 Jacuzzi lovely.... spent morning in there and sauna!! Then had a walk round the New town until it started to rain - great thundertorm above us when we got back to the hotel!! 5th July 2005 Spent day in Old town and relaxed in sun at one of the pretty squares (Plaza Indepencia). 6th July 2005 Flight to Galapagos. Arrived in San Cristobal and wind, heat and humidity hit us as soon as we got off the plane. Walked into town from the airport and found somewhere to stay (no campsites afterall). Went to beach across the road and found a colony of sea lions - cool!!! Also saw pelicans, lava crabs, boobies, frigate birds, geckos and lots of different coloured finches within about 10 mins - it�s amazing! Glad to get out of the cities!! Went for a walk and paddled in sea - gorgeous!!! After dark sea lions come right up beach next to noisy nightclub, but doesn�t faze them - even looks like they�re dancing!!! 7th July 2005 Walked to La Lobelia - a stretch of coastline good for surfing, but which also has loads of marine iguanas and sea lions - took loads of photos!! Afternoon, went to the Interpretation Centre - learnt about history of islands and then did walk from there to Frigate Bird Hill with great views of the coast. 8th July 2005 Caught a Fibras (25� cruiser with twin 200 hp outboards) to Santa Cruz. 2 hour journey - very wet and bumpy but great!!! Saw dophins!!! The only downside was sharing with 10 Americans - bit overbearing at first, but quite nice really!! They were from Washington (their �Nation�s Capital�!!) and thought the dolphins were whales and that pelicans were... �big birds, must be hawks or something�!! Stayed near Pelican Bay where so many pelicans gather when the fishing boats come in - saw the fish being unloaded too - massive!!!!! |