GALAPAGOS

Getting to the Galapagos was another crazy rotary traveling experience this time instead of leaving in the night at around midnight we left at three in the morning. We all got into a bus and drove to the airport in Guayaquil (which is a 3 hour ride but the driver drove very slowly so it took 4 hours instead) to catch our flight at nine. When we landed there was a big misunderstanding with the Galapagos Park authorities because all the exchange students were suppose to only pay 25 dollars like the Ecuadorians because we are all in school here. But on some of the letters from the different schools things were worded differently so must of the exchange students had to pay foreigner prices 100 dollars. Luckily this was the only big problem on the trip. After the airplane we got into another bus and drove to the opposite side of the island that we landed on to our hotel. We all had lunch then we went on a walk to see the giant tortoises which are actually giant these things have shells big enough for me to fit into.

The next day we split into groups my group went in a boat to another smaller island where we snorkeled with the sea lions. This was one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever done I was so close to the sea lions I could have touched them and there were schools of fish swimming everywhere in the clearest water I’ve ever been in.

On the third day we all as a big group went to what is said to be the best beach in all of Ecuador where we could swim and relax in the morning. In the afternoon we went to old lava tunnels. We walked underground through pitch black with flash lights. And every night we were allowed to go and walk around the town we were in.

The last day was my favorite first we went on a walk to see the marine iguanas. And after we went to a canyon to snorkel and the water was even clearer the 2 day there because this waster was a mixture of salt and fresh water. When you were swimming through there was a part where a pile of rocks were in the way so you had to swim through an underwater cave. Then the guides made us go back to the hotel, but some of us wanted return to the canyon so we talked to the chaperons and were allowed to take a water taxi back. Because no one else was there we climbed up the walls and jumped off the rocks with some of the locals and we went to see how far we could go in the canyon. We ended up climbing over boulders through holes and swimming through the water for about 2 hours. We then ran back to the hotel changed supper quick got on another buss and went and had a fancy dinner on a ranch.

On the last day on the way to the airport we stopped at a sink hole that was lava tunnels the had collapsed and that just about raps up my Galapagos adventure.

CARNIVAL

After the Amazon trip was Carnival which is a big three day party before lent like a long Mardi Gras. The bus got back to Portoviejo at around 11:30 at night then everyone was picked up by their parents and most went to the beach. My family and I went to San Clement a little beach town that is known for having one of the best carnivals in Manabí my province. It was so much fun during the day everyone hung out at the beach and swam and at night there was music and dancing and parties in the streets. One of the traditions of carnival is to throw water at people but you could have a lot more then water thrown at you. One of my friends had a whole glass of beer thrown at her. And you could also buy spray foam I saw people getting covered in colored foam. Only one bad thing happened to me the whole weekend. When I was swimming one of the days someone stole my shirt but its ok it was just a plain blue shirt. But I’m still a little curious as to why some one would steal a t-shirt worth about a dollar here.

amazon part 2

On the other days we would go to a school that was about half a mile form the lodge and help out there doing small chores in groups. Because a major part of the classes were in agriculture and rising animals my group one day had to help dig a hole for a fish pond which turned into covering each other in mud. And another day we planted corn. But in the afternoon we always went somewhere on the boat. We went on a walk through a nature reservation run by the lodge which was a lot of fun but very hot and humid and we went to visit a shaman where everyone was cleansed. After being cleansed we all got to try a blowgun and spears like the native people hunted with.

After working and the little day trips we would usually have some free time before dinner. Normally everyone would go down to the river and swim and swing on a rope and jump into the river then it was dinner which was always really good and after dinner was time to hang out with everyone and talk an relax. So far this has been my favorite rotary trip.

AMAZON

The first day in the Amazon was crazy mostly because of how we had to get there and because I was very sleepy. So first we left Portoviejo at like 11 pm and drove through the night to Quito and right as I’m falling asleep everyone in the big 12 passenger van started singing to me because it was the midnight of my birthday. Then I couldn’t fall asleep after that so I was awake the whole night. Once we got into Quito we waited like 3 hours for our flight to take off. The flight only lasted half an hour to Coca a little town in the Amazon but don’t get excited were not there yet we all got into a boat and spent 3 hours on the river before we got to the lodge. Once at the lodge we got our rooms and rubber boots then we went on a walk through the jungle to the top of this really big hill to see the river valley. By the time we got down it was dark. So we all went to our rooms to get ready for dinner got to take hot showers which was exciting. Then we had dinner and hung out with all the exchange students until about midnight meaning I was up the full 24 hours of my birthday. Longest birthday of my life.