Reflection: Pre-Trip Meeting #4

"These islands seem to be a little world within themselves--a perennial source of new things."
--Charles Darwin, 1837

In our final logistics meeting, on Tuesday, I was excited to share some tips based on shopping that I've done (FINALLY, I feel like I can contribute to this group of experienced travelers!). I recently found "sneaker balls," designed to reduce odor inside sneakers and gym bags, and I am definitely planning a trip to Dollar Tree to purchase school supplies for our visit . I think I'm done with most of my shopping at this point, but I've still got to face the bugs we'll encounter by purchasing DEET, a head net to go over my hat, and after-bite.

We also watched an IMAX film, Galapagos, that provided yet another look at these fascinating islands.  It would have been great to see this film in an IMAX theater, but a DVD viewing at the HMS library had to suffice. The spelunking shown in this video was different from what I've seen in other documentaries, and I loved the description of the Galapagos tortoise as "built like a half-ton tank." I'm hopeful that we'll see tortoises on all of the islands we visit to gain more insight into some of the observations that helped Darwin come up with his theory of natural selection. I hope I'll recognize the strange-looking cormorant if we see it. I'm not really into birds, since the birds I saw most growing up in New York City were sparrows (not exciting) and pigeons (filthy creatures perhaps best described as flying rats), so I'm hopeful I'll get something out of bird-watching on this trip.

I am constantly amazed by the symbiosis at play on these islands. The Galapagos DVD we viewed mentioned yet another example of a mutually beneficial relationship between two species, this time between the land iguana and cacti that produced the fruit the iguana likes to eat. I was glad to see more video of the marine iguana, one of the animals that most captured my attention at our second meeting. And it basically goes without saying that I can't wait to swim with sea lions! I expect their personalities will be quite different from those of manatees and dolphins, which I've swum with previously. I love the diversity of sea life in the waters of the Galapagos, though I'm a bit scared of the moray eels, and of course, the hammerheads.

The trip is very close--just 2 weeks away--and I cannot believe it is almost here. So... ¡Vámonos!

Image: http://www.seetheglobe.com/modules/wfdownloads/images/screenshots/galapagos_imax.jpg

Reflection: Pre-Trip Meeting #3

I wasn't quite sure what to expect out of this third group meeting, and it followed a long school day in which I wasn't feeling very well. So I was pleasantly surprised by Elmwood School Principal David Ljungberg's presentation of photos from his own travels to Ecuador and the Galapagos. It was well-paced and informative and definitely helped to further build some excitement about the trip for me.

The country looks absolutely stunning, and I can't wait to explore the diverse terrains and climates. I'm envisioning our plane flying over the Andes, the mountains on both sides, and landing in Quito; sailing the beautiful Pacific Ocean to travel within the Galapagos; and traveling via long boat to get in to the jungle. I don't get motion sickness, but I do get anxious when traveling, if a flight is bumpy; I haven't yet experienced the winding roads described by Mr. Ljungberg, but I'm hoping I can at least keep my cool on land. I'll be nervous enough stepping onto and off the boats we'll travel in!

Locro de papa. Image from laylita.com.

I also look forward to eating traditional Ecuadorian food, such as locro de papa and strong chocolate. The drinks, from coca tea to white beer to chicha, sound interesting, but a little strange. I've always been an adventurous eater, and I think I will try guinea pig if given the opportunity, but I certainly won't force myself to eat anything I don't actually like.

I loved seeing Mr. Ljungberg's photos of the landscapes and animals on the Galapagos Islands. I'm jealous that he got to see Lonesome George, but hopeful that we'll see lots of other tortoises. I really love animals (except BUGS... YUCK!!!!) so I was very pleased to hear that animals have the right of way on the islands and we'll be able to get so close. The blue-footed booby mating dance looks incredible; I hope we'll get to see that at least once. I was pleased to hear that there are baby birds everywhere, and that 80% of the island species have been preserved. I'm also looking forward to snorkeling in the Galapagos, and I'm still trying to decide whether to be more afraid of the hammerhead sharks that Mr. Ljungberg said were plentiful in the waters, but harmless because they are so well-fed, or the fast and furious seals that are likely to bump us around in the water!

I got a lot of insight also into what to bring on the trip, including smaller bags to use each day. I'd better get shopping before it's too late!