On Sunday, June 7, 2015, I spent the morning traveling on a large speedboat, leaving Santa Cruz Island for the final time – headed toward San Cristobal Island.
When I had originally booked my flights, I was scheduled to leave the Galapagos Islands on June 6 – but earlier in the week, I had followed my heart and extended my stay by six days. As part of the flight change, I also changed airports. My final flight back to Guayaquil, Ecuador, would leave from San Cristobal Island – saving me yet another day of boat travel.
This post contains 170 photos telling the story of those magical final days in the Galapagos Islands.
As usual, the photos in this post are thumbnail images. Please click on any photo to enlarge it. The thumbnails leave much to be desired as far as colors and resolution – plus the thumbnails clip all of the edges. I use thumbnails for the post itself, because it gives people an opportunity to get a summary glimpse without downloading huge amounts of data for the high-res photos.
CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE TO HIGH RESOLUTION
This photo was taken on the boat dock as I prepared to leave Santa Cruz Island. The long ramp in the photo leads down to a small floating dock that raises and lowers with the tide. It is on the floating dock below where the water taxi will pick us up and take us out to our larger twenty-plus passenger speedboat.
Our boat leaves a very large wake as we zoom out into the rough Pacific waters.
In an attempt to have a more comfortable ride, while also staying dry, I sat as near to the back as I could, while still having a wall behind me.
The people who sat in the very back were often getting wet from the spray.
The couple to my right kept sliding to their left with every big bump of the boat. It was all I could to to lean into them to keep them from pushing me into the open air where I too would get sprayed.
Looking to the side of the boat as we continue forward.
At one point we pass very close to another island – Santa Fe.
After arriving at the port town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, I spent the first half hour finding a place to sleep. I found a delightful little hotel with feel-good modern rooms and air-conditioning – all for $25 per night. It was a little more than I wanted to pay, but still very affordable.
Soon, after grabbing some lunch and making reservations for another day of scuba diving, I was out exploring the town – heading toward a nearby Interpretation Center inside the boundaries of the National Park.
This is the parking are of the “Centro De Interpretacion San Cristobal”
Inside the main visitor area, I found this relief map of the Galapagos Islands. If you click to enlarge you may be able to follow along as I describe my journey thus far.
I am standing in the south, looking toward the north. The island in the very middle of the photo is Santa Cruz – and Baltra Island (where the airport is) is a tiny island perched on its northern shores.
The large island at the left middle is Isabela. I spent three days in the lower (southern) part of this island, exploring shorelines and volcanoes. The equator runs left to right through the northern part of this island.
The little island in the lower center is Floreana. I did a day tour to this island.
And the island at the far right center of the map is San Cristobal, where I am now, preparing to explore for five days. It too has a small airport – one that is only a fifteen minute walk from town.
A closeup of Isabela Island. As with the other islands, it was created by volcanoes. This is the newest of the islands. Looking at the relief map, you can see that there are shallow areas directly around it … but then it drops off deep to the ocean floor. The Equator runs through the top of this island.
And a look at San Cristobal Island (on the map) … I am at the left center corner of the island. This is the oldest island. Just like the Hawaiian Islands, the volcanic action below the ocean surface created all of the islands … but the tectonic plates shift, and as an already-formed island moves to the east, another island begins to form in the west.
This beautiful and peaceful path wanders through the National Park, beginning just above the Interpretation Center.
I loved the energy out here … and just as was the case on Santa Cruz Island, I felt strongly guided that I would soon be doing a ceremony out here (not today). Those are Candelabro cactus trees on the right.
More of the trail. That is an Opuntia cactus tree in the center. I love these …
Looking up toward the top of a hill. I see a lookout-platform up there, and soon discover that the trail I am following gives me an option to climb up the hill.
As I reach the first of two platforms, I see this sign talking about the “Tijereta” birds (Frigate birds). Not knowing for sure what I was looking for, I looked everywhere on this hike, not finding a single one. I was looking for the red sack on their upper chest.
The hill I am on is named “Cerro Tijereta” (Frigate Hill) – so I really hoped to see some.
Looking down at a gorgeous little bay below. This is a favorite snorkeling site. I never did go into the water here.
I giggle in retrospect. If you click to enlarge (you can barely see it at the left edge of the photo where the ocean meets the sky) – there is a Tijereta bird in my photo.
A sign by the upper platform on this same hill. It talks about a trail that leads to a beach a couple of kilometers away. I decide that sounds fun and start to walk.
Looking down from the start of this trail.
At first, the trail is barely passable – but vegetation is very much crowding the walking space.
It is gorgeous with all of the green.
I loved this place…
So lush and green.
Me, on the path. I was wearing my bikini and swim dress – but never went into the water today.
I walked until the trail started down the backside of the hill. At that point, it was so overgrown that it would be hard to even know if I was still on the trail.
As I pondered my next move, I first looked down and found lots of prickly leaves stuck to my dress, all around me. In this photo I had already peeled them off, leaving behind the green juice and portions of the leaves that refused to let go. I giggled as I realized I was covered all over with these leaves. They were thin enough that when I tried to pull them off, most of them just tore and disintegrated.
I took a photo of one of the leaves stuck to my bag – before trying to get it off.
As I walked back to the platforms, I learned to be very careful – and to even identify which of the many plants had the leaves that loved to cling. I still got covered by them, and continually had to peel more of them off of me. I decided I did not want to walk this trail under such conditions LOL.
Soon, I began to move back down the steps that led to the bottom of the hill.
Another view below, taken from the trail.
From down below, looking back up toward the platform above. If you look closely, you can barely see it at the top.
As I approached the beautiful bay below, I noticed several snorkelers – and lots of sea lions. I noted that I would love to snorkel here – but never got around to it.
Sea lions enjoying the small dock. I noticed that it would be very hard to keep the required distance of two yards if I were to try to get into the water.
A beautiful little cove with very clear water.
Soon, as I resume walking, I see a spider web – similar to one I had seen on Santa Cruz. The large spider in the middle appears to have four very large white legs … but it has the normal eight smaller legs.
Instead, those four white lines leaving the spider are intricately woven patterns in the web. I apologize for the poor focus in this photo. My camera focused on the rock behind and left the spider and web in the blur.
A statue of Charles Darwin, along with a turtle, a sea lion, and a marine iguana.
A map of the Galapagos, showing the route that Darwin traveled around – click to enlarge to read the words and see the lines on the map.
Zooming in on the animals below Darwin’s statue.
Looking back down toward the snorkeling area as I continue on the loop trail.
A beautiful Candelabro cactus with the bay behind.
And yeah … uh … this lizard says hello.
I love the unique natural landscape all around me.
I was shocked to see this old machine gun. A nearby sign says it was placed here in 1979, and was used in a border war between Ecuador and Peru. My photo of the sign was so faint that I did not include it here.
As I continued on the trail, I came to this gorgeous beach. The sand here was quite coarse, so I really didn’t enjoy walking on it.
But it appears that the sea lions don’t mind the coarseness of the sand. They are rolling all over in it.
Me, back on the main path, walking barefoot.
I think my camera lens is a little smudged.
More Candelabro cactus with beautiful red bulbs protruding from them.
Minutes later, I found myself back at the interpretation center, feeling hungry and tired … so I returned to town, changed clothes, got some dinner, and enjoyed a relaxing evening in my air conditioned hotel room (It is very hot and humid here).
Scuba At Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido)
On Monday morning, June 8, 2015, I went to a local dive shop to collect the scuba gear that I had tried on the day before. There were two of us from my dive shop – joining up with people from other dive shops – all headed out on a joint scuba adventure together.
I was surprised that our boat came in to the main dock – no need for a water taxi – and I LOVED the boat.
Even the message painted on the wall was relaxing – Stop, Breathe, Think
Those are our air tanks in the bottom left.
I soon learned that we had two groups of divers and one group of snorkelers, all on the same boat. It worked out surprisingly well.
Our destination was “Kicker Rock”. Another name for the same place is “Leon Dormido” which means Sleeping Lion. Some say, that when seen from a distance, from a certain angle, the little island looks like a sleeping lion.
I did not take many photos out on the water. Before taking this photo, there was quite a bit of history.
First, on our outward journey, we stopped for a test-dive to check our equipment and weights. Then we did a dive on another side of this huge rock island. Then we ate a yummy lunch.
In this photo, we are preparing to take our second dive, here in this spot. We do not go through it, but there is a little passage in the middle (white spot) that goes clear through the rock.
The whole reason I signed up for the scuba dive here is because I wanted to see hammerhead sharks. It is quite common to see them here … and is in fact unusual NOT to see them.
Me, in my wet suit, preparing for our second dive of the day. I quickly put my camera away, put on my gear, and dived in.
We looked and looked. The currents were strong here, and our dive master had us grab onto a rock, about forty feet down. Finally, in slightly cloudy water, I barely caught a glimpse of a hammerhead shark … but it was so far away, and moved so quickly, that I was not able to enjoy it much.
But yes, I did see one hammerhead – on two separate glimpse occasions.
After this dive, we began our return journey, with a stop at a beautiful beach area.
Our boat backed up to a point where we could step off in only a foot or two of water.
The sand here is also very coarse and hard to walk in … but the scenery is gorgeous.
Having just spent the day diving, I opted not to swim again … just having fun on the shore.
My hair was wet and tangled because of previous diving.
My new friend Kate (on the right with her hair pulled up in back). We had a lot of fun talking and I even shared my story with her. She was part of the snorkeling side of the trip.
One of many marine iguanas hanging out here and there.
And these beautiful crabs are plentiful everywhere I go.
A closeup of the very coarse sand. It hurt the bottom of my feet to walk barefoot.
Some of my group exploring in the distance. I was tired and rested most of my time here.
Back on our magical boat, headed back to port. This is looking toward the front of the boat. that little gate in the middle was removed, and we dove into the water from there.
In this photo, you can barely see that huge rock out there on the horizon (left side). That is Kicker Rock – or Leon Dormido.
Some of my tour-mates resting on the return journey.
It was fun to get a different view (from the boat) of this area. That hill is where I was hiking yesterday afternoon … and the bay at the right center is where the people were snorkeling.
Preparing to go around that point with the lighthouse.
And now, with the lighthouse in the foreground, we can see Puerto Baquerizo Moreno in the background. About 6,000 residents live on this island, most of them right here.
Another view of the town here.
Coming closer to the docks.
… and closer still.
… and now turning the final corner. We will stop right where that small water taxi currently sits.
Ceremony Day
On June 9, 2015, I followed my guidance and did another medicine ceremony, beginning in my hotel room, and then spending a lot of time on the trails that I hiked two days earlier.
Highland Tour
On June 10, 2015, I joined two other people in a private tour of the Highland areas of San Cristobal Island.
I arrived early at the travel agency, so after checking in I walked across the street to snap a few photos.
I loved this bird drying his wings in the sun. He almost reminds me of a flasher opening his cape (you will need to click to enlarge to see details).
And more of those beautiful reddish-orange crabs.
And there are sea lions all over this port area. They would be all over the town too if it weren’t for the fences that try to keep them out. One day I saw some policemen looking into a drain channel (under a grating) that crossed the street. Feeling curious, I looked too. There was a sea lion trapped in there. The men were trying to figure out how to free the sea lion without violating their “no touching” rules.
This is the “Darwin Scuba” tourist agency that arranged both my scuba diving and now my highland tour.
This sign shows the three main places that we will visit on the tour. I will talk about them later.
Our vehicle for the tour (belongs to the travel agency).
Our first stop is in the middle of this side of the island, at a small mountain pass near an old volcano. I think we are about 2500 feet (800 meters) above sea level.
This is a trail that leads to the top of this ancient volcano. We are told that there is a freshwater lake inside the crater.
Some vegetation along the trail as we climb.
Looking up at part of the trail.
A view from the trail, looking away from the volcano. It really is a completely different climate up here – very wet and cool … and green.
Looking down at a lake below the volcano. This is NOT the one in the crater.
A sign at the top of the trail. We are on top of “Junco” volcano.
The sign talks about a wind park for renewable electricity. I am not sure if this exists somewhere or is just being proposed.
When we looked into the crater, all we could see was fog …
But soon, as I felt some wind blowing, the fog began to blow away. In this photo we can barely begin to see the lake in the crater.
The fog continues to lift.
… getting more clear all the time.
Finally, the fog is gone and we have a beautiful view of this “Junco Lake”.
My two tour-mates and I began to walk around the rim following a trail. It got increasingly muddy and slippery and we soon decided to stop and turn around.
A view from our hike, looking back toward the place where we had first seen the lake.
We hiked to this gorgeous moss-covered tree … and a little bit beyond … before turning around. If you look two photos back, you can see this same tree off in the far distance.
A closeup of one branch of the tree.
After leaving Volcano Junco, we resumed our drive to the other side of the island. Yes, that is ocean down there.
The climate is shifting again. I remember asking my guide if there were Opuntia Cactus trees here … and he said yes, but not yet, we have to get further down close to the shore.
Our first stop was a small restaurant where we ordered our meals – to be eaten on our return trip. They had many bundles of bananas here, and our guide told us to eat what we wanted. I gobbled down three or four of them (I had skipped breakfast) – they were so yummy (grown right here on the property).
I loved seeing these chickens running around in front of the SUV … reminded me a lot of Guatemala.
Our next stop was the Turtle Breeding Station here on San Cristobal Island. Their mission here is much like the one I visited on Isla Isabela – to repopulate the indigenous variety of Land Tortoises.
A very large turtle.
This one just had his interest peaked. A man just brought a bunch of branches for the turtles to eat, and the turtle just got excited.
He quickly gets up on all fours and begins slowly walking toward the food.
This is the man moving the food around, spreading it out.
He is running as fast as he can (very slowly).
Meanwhile, another turtle begins walking – this one is closer to the food.
And a third turtle takes interest, hurrying slowly from the other side.
The second turtle arrives first, beginning to excitedly dig in, enjoying the feast.
The third turtle is almost there, arriving on the “leaf end” of the plants.
… yum yum …
… and gobble gobble …
Finally, the first turtle to move has almost caught up with the others.
Move over, it is my turn …
A while later, enjoying one of the trees endemic only to the Galapagos.
And now we are in the nursery, looking at the babies. If I remember correctly, these are four to six months old.
And this one is a year or two old.
… hello there.
An interesting tree. The sign reads,”The matazarno tree only grows in the dry zones of San Cristobal and Santa Cruz. It is so resistant that in the first dock made on the island with this wood, the metal parts corroded while the posts remained undamaged.
I am fascinated by how many endemic plants and animals there are – species that only exist in the Galapagos.
The trunk of this “Matazarno” tree.
This is one of those poisonous Manzanillo trees – the turtles can eat these apples, but they are poisonous to most who would even just touch them.
Soon, our driver pulls into the parking lot for Puerto Chino.
It takes about fifteen minutes as we walk down this beautiful trail toward the beach.
I love this view.
The water and sand here are beautiful.
Before playing on the beach we first climbed this nearby hill.
Looking down at this gorgeous beach as seen from the top of the hill.
Some blue foot boobies posing to greet us.
This one is especially cute.
Me, on top of the hill … just before we climbed back down to the beach.
I strongly debated if I wanted to get all wet in the ocean here … but when my tour mates headed out into the water, I decided to put on my bikini and join them.
I swam for a good half hour before returning to shore to dry off and change back into my clothes. Meanwhile, the other two people on my tour remained in the water.
There were biting horseflies on the beach so I went back up on the hill to meditate and breathe in the view.
After a while, the young woman on our tour called up to me and asked if I wanted photos of me on the hill. She went to my backpack, got my camera, and snapped these photos for me.
It is hard to see, but that is me in the upper right of the photo, standing with my arms outstretched. Click to enlarge if you wish to see.
Another one with me standing up … she took a lot of photos. I am just including a few of them.
Me, with a little more zoom.
Eventually, we left to the beach and returned to the restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious meal of fried trout. We then retraced our steps, returning to Puerto Baquerize Moreno about an hour later.
La Loberia
Being back in town with plenty of daylight to spare, I indulged my curiosity about a place called “La Loberia” – a beach on the other side of town – one that I had been told you could walk to.
When I asked my tour guide how long the walk was, he told me that I could do it in about fifteen minutes. It was only later that I realized he and I were on different pages. His fifteen minutes was “from the parking lot” … and I assumed it was from the town.
Using my rudimentary city map, I followed the pointers until I began following this road. It lead round the end of the airport and just kept going and going …
I was not even fully sure if I was on the right road … but all of my inner compasses said that I was.
After at least a half hour, I passed near this huge rock formation. It is a construction area where rocks appear to be mined for building materials … and I also saw piles of city trash down in one of the holes there …
I loved the texture of these plants beside the road.
Finally I reached the parking area and began following the real trail.
A sign saying “Do not touch the sea wolves” … I finally figured out that our Sea Lions, are actually Lobos Marinos (Sea Wolves) in Spanish.
Finally, after a long walk, I came to a place that looked as if it were my destination. Some people swimming there confirmed my suspicion.
It was low tide, and the water was very low. It looks as if this would be an incredible place to snorkel … but alas I did not bring any gear, and it was late in the day.
Instead, I went hiking a little further up the shoreline. There was a sign here pointing to the trail, so I don’t think I was exploring in forbidden or restricted areas.
When I paid attention, I could see marine iguanas all over. They blend in well with the black lava rock.
Looking back at the little inlet of “La Loberia” – which would translate something like “The area of Sea Lions”.
The shoreline was mostly made up of these large, very porous, lava rocks. I had very good traction as I walked across them.
Two little birdies enjoying the day.
And finally, after taking a taxi back to town, I am back in my delightful hotel room, resting and enjoying the company of Bobby-bear and Brenda-doll.
A Final Full Day
By June 11, 2015, I was feeling quite ready to move on, leaving the Galapagos Islands behind. I was not interested in any more tours or swimming / snorkeling adventures. I just wanted to rest and integrate.
For part of this day, I took a delightful walk, back out onto the trails that I had twice explored earlier in the week.
Me, out on the trail again, still enjoying a huge grin on my face.
For several weeks now, I have noticed that I have been smiling so much that I have tan lines in the wrinkles that form when I smile. I took this photo to illustrate that silly fact. If you click to enlarge you can see more clearly. What you see in this photo are not wrinkles – that is just my face without smiling … and the white lines are just areas that have not seen much sun …
Ever since I was little, I had dimples and smile-wrinkles that formed around my eyes when I would smile. I hated the smile-wrinkles so much that I stopped smiling so I would not look stupid (or so I thought) ….
Finally I have learned to love my little smile wrinkles … and I love having them.
Finally, a spider photo with perfect focus on the spider. I loved watching for the details along the trail.
As I climb back up to the lookout platforms, this lizard stops to say hello.
A gorgeous view looking down below. The water is especially calm this morning. It would be a perfect time to snorkel if I wanted to. I can see the bottom down there from all the way up here.
Zooming in on that beautiful water below. The bottom is so clear.
Enjoying the view with bare feet and painted toes.
I took another run at this trail on top of the hill, trying to be very careful with those sticky leaves.
A tour guide had come through while I was sitting here. He took a group back there. I asked him where the “Tijeretas” (Frigate Birds) might be found … and he told me to walk about 100 yards and to take a little side trail on the left.
Finally, I saw them up close. Sure enough, they are the same birds I saw flying around earlier in the week. I had been looking for smaller birds with a red chest.
As I looked at these majestic birds, I remember seeing some of then on Isabela Island – and I remember being curious about why some of them had a red sack hanging from their neck. I can only assume that the red sack, when inflated, becomes the big red puffy chest that one sees in photos.
None of these birds had the red sack.
Another one in the tree below me.
And looking back toward the snorkeling site with a different vantage point.
One of the Tijereta birds, head on. These birds get their name from the Spanish word for scissors. When these birds fly, their tails are split like scissors.
Looking back toward Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, from high above this hill.
A Striking Morning
Early in the morning of Friday, June 12, 2015, I was resting in bed when at around 6:00 a.m. I heard loud noises on the streets outside. I didn’t go outside to check, but it sounded as if people were banging large sticks against pots and pans, while simultaneously shouting.
“I wonder what they are protesting about?” I questioned as I remembered having seen a large protest in a nearby park, just three days earlier on Tuesday night.
In fact, as I ate lunch the next day, a woman in the restaurant had turned to a news channel on the television. They were talking about how the “Lei de Galapagos” (Galapagos Law) had just passed in their government – and there was a lot of talk about peoples anger at the law. It is only after leaving the Galapagos that I discovered that, due to the high cost of living here, the people’s wages are all subsidized to make it possible for them to survive. This new law takes away that subsidy, and also takes away their ability to fly to the mainland for free. I can understand now why they would be so worried. In the Tuesday night protest I understood several phrases (but not most) indicating that they were afraid they would not be able to survive living here any more.
Back to Friday morning …
As I walked out of my hotel around 8:00 a.m. to find some breakfast, the streets were mostly bare and all the restaurants appeared closed. I saw a row of taxis parked on the street a half block away. They were totally blocking the road, allowing no traffic flow.
Immediately, I wondered if I was in the middle of a major strike. I flashed back to two days in Calca, Peru, where the entire town was completely shut down.
One of the hotel managers walked by as I returned inside and I asked him what was going on. He said it is a Paro (Strike).
“Will I be able to get food? … and Will I be able to fly out of the airport today?” I asked him.
He just shrugged his shoulders and said he didn’t know.
I set off on my own exploration to try to find out. First as I walked beneath a restaurant across the street, one whose doors were closed, a woman called out from the balcony above and asked if I wanted breakfast. I said “Yes” and she told me to just walk through the closed door and come upstairs. Soon I was eating a small breakfast nest to a young boy, in a very crowed space.
After that, I set off to explore the walking route to the airport. I wanted to see what was happening there, and had never walked out in that direction until today.
Ten minutes later I approached a large crowd of people who were blockading the road, right in front of the airport gate. Behind the crowd, on the other side, was a huge gathering of riot police all decked out in shields and helmets. They were lined up about ten rows deep and about fifty feet wide, making sure the crowd did not enter the airport property.
Feeling safe, I got closer to watch what was happening. I really wanted to know if I would be able to fly today. I observed several travelers (Spanish speakers) pulling suitcases toward the left side of the blockade. Immediately the crowd began to shout and gather on the left side, forming a barrier at least ten people deep, very tightly packed. Every time the travelers tried to push through, the crowd shifted to block them. There was no violence taking place, but loud words were being shouted, and there was lots of jostling and shoving to keep the barricade solid.
“I guess I will not be flying out of the airport today,” I told myself as I began to walk away, having satisfied my curiosity.
I never waited to see what happened to those travelers. Soon, as I was nearly a block away, a woman approached me asking me if I wanted to go to the airport. I told her that I have a flight today. She said she worked for the government as was escorting two other people into the airport … and said that they WOULD get through. She insisted that I come with her. I told her I did not have my luggage with me but I wanted to talk to the airline … and she kept insisting that I come with her … so I did.
I went right up to the blockade with her as she pulled the two other travelers into the jostling crowd – a crowd that quickly began to to argue and push back. I decided to leave and started to walk away and the woman called out and motioned for me, insisting that I trust her and keep coming. After they jostled for another minute or two, I turned and left when she was not looking. I wanted to get through the blockade, but did not want to do so without my luggage. And I did not want to do it if I would be risking a physical confrontation. Both options seemed stupid to me.
I walked back to the hotel and had the hotel clerk help me call the airline. The first person I talked to told me they would move my flight to tomorrow, with no fees, but we got cut off and I called back. The second person I talked to told me that they were flying today, and that I should try to get through the blockade. She reassured me that other people were getting through … and that once they reached the police line that the police would step aside to let them safely pass.
I bounced back and forth for a half hour – trying to decide what to do. Finally I connected with my peaceful heart and decided to pack up my bags, check out of the hotel, and to give it a try – knowing that the worst that could happen is that I would end up back at my hotel for another night or two.
As I pulled my luggage through the streets toward the airport, I noted that people had constructed more barricades, beginning to pile large clumps of weeds and grass in the middle of the streets in order to stop people from walking or driving through.
I took a deep breath and remembered a recent Matt Kahn video. Following Matt’s inspired advice, I put my intention out there … asking the Universe to help me connect with the Higher Consciousness of all of these people, while doing so with my own Higher Consciousness. I pulled my suitcase up on the sidewalk and skirted around the first barricade.
Soon, one by one, several people approached me, kindly telling me that the airport is closed, that no flights are leaving, and that I would not be able to get through. I just thanked them, telling them the airport is not closed, and kept walking. No one tried to stop me, even though several people approached me at different times.
A block later, I approached another barricade that was hurriedly being built with more grass and weeds to block the road. Again, I just walked around it with no problem.
As I approached the airport gates, the crowd was two or three times larger than when I was there earlier, but I just kept walking, noticing that I seemed almost invisible. People were just mulling around in small groups, leaving enough space that I could squeeze around them here and there … and I just kept going as if no one could see me.
It was not until I was about five feet from the police that someone even attempted to stop me. A man reached out and grabbed my suitcase handle, jerking it backward, telling me I could go no further. I pulled back, not letting go, and engaged in a 10 second tug-of-war with him. Meanwhile, a local angel came to my aide. A loving woman in her forties came over and scolded the man, shaming him in Spanish, telling him to let go and to let me pass.
Seconds later, I was hurrying through a tunnel of police. They parted just enough that I could squeeze between them … and then closed up right behind me.
I never stopped feeling peaceful through the whole adventure. After passing through these policemen, I went into the airport, checked in, dropped off my luggage, and took a seat. They told me that they were not yet sure if we would be taking off … but it was still possible.
After a while, I stepped outside to snap a few photos. I wish I had photos from the other side, but I had been burdened down with luggage and the last thing on my mind was my camera.
This is a photo of the back side of the police barricade on the airport side. In front of those police in the brown uniforms, you can see many of the riot police in their full gear.
Same photo, without a zoom. I didn’t want to get too close to the police line … I wanted to stay uninvolved.
Meanwhile, I noticed that people kept streaming into the airport, seeming to come from different directions. A few were in vehicles, and were accompanied by police. Others were straggling in from the left. I put two and two together to realize that they were being guided through a different back-door gate, bypassing the barricade completely.
I was still quite happy for having had my own adventure – a story to tell.
I giggled when I later noticed these coast guard officers coming in to back up the police on the airport side.
Meanwhile, back inside the airport … this is a look at the Tame check-in gates … there are still more people arriving and checking in.
Exploring the grounds in front of the airport.
Later, I walked back to the police line, taking a few more photos from closer up. By now, many more officers where here at the back of the lines.
And another photo from further away.
A statue of the head of a blue foot boobie (or maybe a red foot one).
Finally we are allowed to pass through security. They seemed to low in staffing (obviously), and no one was running the X-Ray machine for luggage. Instead, a woman searched my carry-on stuff by hand.
I sat in the secure waiting area for another hour. Finally, at about 30 minutes after our scheduled departure time, I giggled when a large Tame jet landed, arriving from Guayaquil.
“Yes,” I celebrated, “we are flying out today … my plane has arrived.”
After unloading the arriving passengers and luggage, I was shocked by how fast they let us board the plane. Within ten minutes of this plane landing, we were already boarding, and soon we were in the air.
Taking off … saying goodbye to San Cristobal Island. I was happy to be on my way. I later learned that the Baltra Airport by Santa Cruz had been completely shut down, with no flights coming or going. I felt very lucky to continue my journey as scheduled.
And I felt very grateful for the peace that had kept me company throughout the entire morning.
Final goodbye views of San Cristobal Island.
And another …
Meanwhile, inside the plane …
Flying high …
Arriving over the mainland of Ecuador, near the Guayaquil area. I am surprised by how high the rivers are below me … and many of the fields appear flooded.
Another similar photo.
Preparing to land in Guayaquil.
And we are on the ground, with flaps up.
After collecting my luggage, I was hoping to catch a night bus to Cuenca, arriving there in the morning. I had a taxi take me straight to the bus station.
I soon discovered that the bus ride was only four hours, and that if I left now, I would arrive around 9 or 10 at night. I never like to arrive in a new place after dark, so I opted instead to return to the same hostel in Guayaquil where I had spent my first night in Ecuador.
Summary
It was a magical sixteen days and fifteen nights on the Galapagos Islands … an adventure I will never forget … but I have to say I was very happy to again be moving forward in my journey.
Copyright © 2015 by Brenda Larsen, All Rights Reserved