Over my big break this year, my parents came for a couple of weeks (see last post), I then rested in Asuncion for a couple of weeks, and then it was off to Colombia and Ecuador to explore, explore, explore! I didn't really start taking notes until we got to Quito, Ecuador, but will try and go back and fill in the gaps as I remember it! Enjoy!!! xo, m
Bogota = touring my new school (CNG), penthouse apartment with Eric and Lisa and the fam!, exploring my new stomping grounds, touring various apartments, cyclovia, excitement building for moving to a new city!!!
CNG -- my new school come July
Cyclovia -- an entire main avenue is shut down every Sunday so people can walk, bike, and explore the city! love it!!
Chocolate Santaferena -- yep, that's hot chocolate with cheese!!! que extrano!
La Candelaria neighborhood in Bogota -- the green people watch over the "city"
Cartagena = HOT, HOT, HOT!, massages on the beach, cute and super colorful old-town, flowers poking out through barricaded windows, carriage rides!, Playa Blanca, sleeping in hammocks on the beach, breath-taking sunset, candle pictures, crazy couples and lady that looked like a rooster?, super sketchy boat-ride back to Cartagena, clothes drying on the patio, spooky light fixture in the second hotel, yummy yummy thai fusion restaurant!, multiple textured purse that I envision using with all white and flowers poking out ;), another carriage ride, sunset at the corner bar/restaurant in my new dress, MUD VOLCANO!!!
Walking to the beach on Day 1
Playa Blanca!
So relaxing...:)
Sunset at Playa Blanca
On the city tour of Cartagena
At the fort...
Loved this Hostel (even though I didn't even stay there!)...if you go, stay there!!!
On our way to the...
Mud Volcano!!!!
Views from the carriage ride around town...
Us!
Sunset at Cafe del Mar
Quito = otavalo market and buying too much, Caitlin and Alex, zao restaurant, Mexican food, happy gringo travel agency, churches, beautiful view from their apt, almost losing my scarf
Touring Quito
Climbing up the bell tower!
Day-trip to Otavalo -- did a lot of damage here!! ;) ;)
Lunch??? ;) ;)
Chillin' in the city center park :)
Music at our actual lunch spot...loved it!
Banos = lovely hostel/b&b (la casa verde), Rebecca and Doug and baby John, rio verde, family of five room, walk to see volcano, falling and scraping knee, spiritual journey walk, banos de cajon (steam boxes), candle ear wax treatment, early evening in, organic breakfast, garden, last minute day trip of biking and rafting, craziest bus ride ever around mountain ridge with no guard rail, massages and colonics, thermal baths...love!, the good bar with Chris, Karen from London, bill from Canada and their three hours of happy hour, early 90s rap, karoake at la abuela, Karen getting very sick, ditching out and Chris and I barhopping more, Russian tourists dancing, one last bar and salsa dancing, walking home with a Jamaican, sleeping on the top bunk, walking around town, crazy earrings that look like hubcaps of a car, Chelsea handler book on bus and feeling nauseous, man selling videos of math and physics on bus, crazy turns on bus back to Quito
Driving into Banos
Walking around town... :)
Walking into THE spa! Lots of stories from here!!!
The gals on our spiritual journey! ;)
Approaching the end of the spiritual journey
Beautiful!
Bike tour before rafting!!!
Thermal Springs!!!
Church in Banos
Galapagos = MS Encantada, first day at Darwin station, sea turtle project, different kinds of sand, getting totally soaked with no umbrella or anything!, hanging around Santa Cruz, scared about the size of the boat, Andrew, Joan, Matt, mark, Maria, ralf, karoake on the mainland, captain belting out the ballads, $75 Bacardi bottles, rain, Emily and I skipping in the rain, first night on the boat, waking up to go cave swimming and "mail" postcards, snorkeling at devils crown, sharks, Emily with no flippers, hiking on day three on volcanic rock to see birds, hawks, marine iguanas, blow hole, blue footed bobbies, hike on another part of the island to see one lone flamingo and a beautiful beach, hermit crabs, sea lions under cool tree, disco dance music on the back of the boat, prostitute, fights, and art convos, sitting at the front of the boat and watching a white bird cruise along with us, stars at night, early wake up to lobos island to see baby sea lions and boobies and frigates, breakfast on board, sitting on top of the boat typing this, snorkeling another time with an eagle Ray, sharks, countless fish, bright blue tiny fish, 7 ft shark, sea lions, jumping off the roof of the boat, tanning on top of the boat, cactus forest, iguana molting, cutest sea lion pup with half sandy face, mom coming after us, dolphins swimming along side the boat on the last night, last morning walk, managing to pack every last thing!
Landing in the Galapagos!!! Can't believe I actually went there!!!
First view of the Galapagos
Crazy cactus trees!!!
Different variations in the sand at the Galapagos Islands
Sea Turtles!
They were huge!!!
Our first excursion...Floreana Island & Post Office Bay!
Our guide, Juan, showing us the "Post Office"
Ralf and Joan checking for mail!
Down into the unknown!!!
Exploring the underwater cave!
And we're off to the Devil's Crown!
Intense snorkeling happened here!
About to rest... ;)
A tranquil moment on the boat.
Second land excursion!
Sea Lions sleeping under the tree :)
So cute!
View on the other side of the island
Crabs were everywhere!
Looking out over the bay...
Next day of land excursions! (p.s. camera wasn't working quite right that day :/)
Baby sea lion!
View on the other side of the island
Blue-footed Boobies!!!
Hiking along the island...
Back on the boat for another land excursion...
Check this island out!!!
Sea Lion <3 ?!
Our boat, the MS Encantada (The Enchanted!)
More Blue-footed Boobies!!!
Sea Lions swimming right by us!
Sea Lion swimming right at us!!!
Spectacular scenery....
Baby Sea Lion!!!
These two are too cute!
Iguana!!! :P
Crazy cool cactus tree !
Sea gull
Sand-covered sea pup! Precious!!!
Seriously, sea lions were everywhere! Love it!!!
Matt and Emily out on the boat :)
Last Land Excursion
Frigates abound!
Last shot of the trip. So long Galapagos...soooooo fun!!! :)
Quito again = superbowl watch party with boatmates, Emily betting and losing, doing the macarena, photo with random people, and shots, equator adventure, water experiment, north=counter-clockwise, south=clockwise, equator=straight, balancing egg, finger pulling resistance, monument that was anti-climatic, backbends on the fake equator, holding up the world, art museum
Equator Experiment Park
Watching the water drain in different directions!
Emily trying to balance an egg!
Stretching out over both hemispheres!!!
ANNNNNDDDD, that's it! Hope you enjoyed the photos!!! xoxo, m
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