From: Rick Samco
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Subject: Galapagos?

Well, it´s been 3+ days since we left the Galapagos and I must get out this email before its memories are completely superceded by Peru´s ...

In short the Galapagos were WOW! Their overwhelming characteristic is the variety and approachability of the animals. The ability to walk right up to birds, reptiles, and the few types of mammals (i.e., sea lions) is an amazing experience. And swimming/snorkeling with some of them is unbelievable. E.g., I was snorkeling along watching a myriad of fish, sea lions, and penguins a few feet away, when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked over expecting to see Martha or someone else in our group at my side. Instead a penguin was swimming ¨on my shoulder¨. And a sea lion would commonly suddenly spring up in front of your face mask. Sharks, turtles, sea rays, sea iguanas ... and none see humans as a risk (or happily as food).

And the human fauna was great as well. 15 fellow passengers on the Alta -- 6 from the U.S. and 9 from U.K. And everyone got along fabulously well (unlike what we heard from folks on other boats). Our naturalist guide, Fabian, was an amazing guy -- Ecuadorian, with masters in marine biology from UCLA, and working on PhD in ¨political risk¨ at UNLV. The latter correctly portends that he is VERY opinionated politically -- applying what he has observed/learned of non-human ecologies (like in the Galapagos) to the human condition. For example, we now have a much different (or at least additional) perspective on South American cultures. He also owns a working farm north of Quito, is a past Ecuador motorcross (dirt motorcycle) champion, etc. In short, one of a kind.

Two days before the Galapagos, and one day after, was spent in Quito, a beautiful city. The heart is a well preserved Spanish colonial town, with the most amazing churches we have ever seen. E.g., the interior of one was almost completely covered in gold leaf ... quite a spectacle.

Now we are in Peru, having spent a couple of days in Cusco and on our way to Machu Picchu. But I´ll save a description of the Peru portion of our trip to the next, and probably final, trip email.

´til then ...
Rick & Martha