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Sat 06/06/09 (day 2)
Quito
Arrived in Quito last night, it like any big city in Latin America - a bit grubby!
Met most of my group and the intrepid rep and went on a tour around the old town, which is much nicer than the new town. They have a black burnout building that dominated the skyline, it was owned by the bank that stole all the Ecuadorian´s money. He is hiding out in Panama. Ecuador changed to the US Dollar to help recover, but it took the best part of five years to get most of the Ecuadorian people out of poverty. They keep it as a reminder of how bad things were.
We also witnessed a coming of age ceromony in the church. It happens when they turn 15 years old. The girls that are being welcomed into society wear pink dresses, every other girl wears blue dresses. They have a party after the ceromony.
At the top of the main square in the Presidental Residence, although the current President doesn´t live there he does hold public meetings there every Monday. Most of the past presidents have be forced out and fled in fear of they life. This President is well liked at the moment so is safe for now.
To the left of the Presidental Residence is the most expensive hotel in Ecuador. But no Ecuadorians can afford to stay there.
On the top of one of the many hills in Quito there is a large statue called the Virgin of Quito. It is in a very poor area but the people believe she is watching over them.
I fly to the Galapagos Islands tomorrow, I´m very excited.
Met most of my group and the intrepid rep and went on a tour around the old town, which is much nicer than the new town. They have a black burnout building that dominated the skyline, it was owned by the bank that stole all the Ecuadorian´s money. He is hiding out in Panama. Ecuador changed to the US Dollar to help recover, but it took the best part of five years to get most of the Ecuadorian people out of poverty. They keep it as a reminder of how bad things were.
We also witnessed a coming of age ceromony in the church. It happens when they turn 15 years old. The girls that are being welcomed into society wear pink dresses, every other girl wears blue dresses. They have a party after the ceromony.
At the top of the main square in the Presidental Residence, although the current President doesn´t live there he does hold public meetings there every Monday. Most of the past presidents have be forced out and fled in fear of they life. This President is well liked at the moment so is safe for now.
To the left of the Presidental Residence is the most expensive hotel in Ecuador. But no Ecuadorians can afford to stay there.
On the top of one of the many hills in Quito there is a large statue called the Virgin of Quito. It is in a very poor area but the people believe she is watching over them.
I fly to the Galapagos Islands tomorrow, I´m very excited.
Sun 07/06/09 (day 3)
San Cristobal Island, Galapagos Islands
Landed on San Cristobal Island, the capital of the Galapagos Islands this afternoon. We were met by Karla (the intrepid leader) and Carlos (the Nature expert) at the airport. They took us to our hotel then out for a three course lunch, this could be dangerous!
After lunch Carlos took us on a walking tour and a visit to the information centre to learn about the history of the Galapagos Islands and its people. We ended up on a beach where a group of sealions were sleeping in the sun. We were able to walk around them without out bothering them. They have only ever been exposed to friendly people they have no fear of them.
This evening was our welcome dinner (three courses again). It was a good chance to get to know everyone. It was an early night, busy day tomorrow, snorkelling in the morning and a bike ride in the afternoon. I´m looking forward to it.
After lunch Carlos took us on a walking tour and a visit to the information centre to learn about the history of the Galapagos Islands and its people. We ended up on a beach where a group of sealions were sleeping in the sun. We were able to walk around them without out bothering them. They have only ever been exposed to friendly people they have no fear of them.
This evening was our welcome dinner (three courses again). It was a good chance to get to know everyone. It was an early night, busy day tomorrow, snorkelling in the morning and a bike ride in the afternoon. I´m looking forward to it.