On September 26 we left for Quito to begin almost 4 weeks in Ecuador to visit the Galapagos and Amazon basin. Because of the exact tours we wanted, it was necessary to spend an extra week with no itinerary between the Galapagos and Amazon portions. That extra week was the connection that made our trip to Ecuador complete. It's an amazing country that we knew little about before we left. In that one tiny country you can find virtually every climate on the planet. Quito, the capital, is almost 10,000 feet high and the highlands are even higher. (For comparison, Lhasa is about 12,000 feet). The altitude is noticeable and we were often out of breath walking up the jetway unless we had prepared with Diamox pills before our flight. We compromised by taking our time and not doing any difficult hiking in the highlands.
We began our trip in Quito for a few days and explored the old town section. We stayed at a delightfully elegant boutique hotel, Plaza Sucre Hotel. During our first morning walk to the town square after breakfast we saw President and Mrs. Correa.
[NOTE: This post was abandoned and not finished. It turned out that the sighting of the President was fortuitous because within a day or so he was deposed by a police overthrow but regained power before we were aware of the problems. We had already flown into Baltros on the Galapagos and started our cruise aboard the May Anne.]
I won't complete this but just know that it was a wonderful vacation from the Galapagos, Guayaquil, Quito, Otavalo, Cotopaxi, El Provenir and Amazonia aboard the Manatee Amazon Explorer.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Fall giving way to Winter, 2010
It's early November and the weather in DC has finally turned cool. We were in Ecuador for most of October but the weather when we returned was beautiful.
Traveling from DC to SF in December 2010
It was not our best planning.
We thought we could take the shortest route, DC to SF, which was listed on Google Maps as 1 day 21 hours. The shortest route is, unfortunately, the NORTHERN route and we were getting further and further into December. Checking the weather maps it appeared we 'might' be able to sneak through between two cold fronts. Another problem was that the route was already snow-covered (though with cleared roads) through the area we couldn't alter once we committed, across the upper Rockies from Nebraska to Wyoming and Utah. We couldn't just drop south to get out of it if we missed our windows.
We started off taking the most northern of two northern routes and got almost to Cleveland the first night. It was obvious as we slid on black ice in WV that we might have chosen poorly. When we also were slipping on ice in the parking lot of the motel, we realized we needed to rethink. Because of the original route we had taken ourselves way up north and had essentially just wasted the first day's drive as we made a beeline diagonally from Ohio to St Louis, to Jopin, MO, and then Oklahoma City. Day three took us to Albuquerque; day four was to Albuquerque and our last night was near 29 Palms. Hopefully we can do the northern route in March when we return to DC. We haven't been that route in a long time and are anxious to see that part of the country again.
We didn't get to do a lot on the trip...mostly driving. We were able to visit my cousin Norma Jo Goodwin and her daughter Jane and her husband Chris for pizza in Alburquerque. We also went a little out of the way to visit the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert for just a few hours. Other than that, we were just driving. Unfortunatel we were driving on interstates the whole time. Oh, we did divert on Oklahoma City to hit a bit of the old Route 66 and have lunch at a real old diner.
We thought we could take the shortest route, DC to SF, which was listed on Google Maps as 1 day 21 hours. The shortest route is, unfortunately, the NORTHERN route and we were getting further and further into December. Checking the weather maps it appeared we 'might' be able to sneak through between two cold fronts. Another problem was that the route was already snow-covered (though with cleared roads) through the area we couldn't alter once we committed, across the upper Rockies from Nebraska to Wyoming and Utah. We couldn't just drop south to get out of it if we missed our windows.
We started off taking the most northern of two northern routes and got almost to Cleveland the first night. It was obvious as we slid on black ice in WV that we might have chosen poorly. When we also were slipping on ice in the parking lot of the motel, we realized we needed to rethink. Because of the original route we had taken ourselves way up north and had essentially just wasted the first day's drive as we made a beeline diagonally from Ohio to St Louis, to Jopin, MO, and then Oklahoma City. Day three took us to Albuquerque; day four was to Albuquerque and our last night was near 29 Palms. Hopefully we can do the northern route in March when we return to DC. We haven't been that route in a long time and are anxious to see that part of the country again.
We didn't get to do a lot on the trip...mostly driving. We were able to visit my cousin Norma Jo Goodwin and her daughter Jane and her husband Chris for pizza in Alburquerque. We also went a little out of the way to visit the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert for just a few hours. Other than that, we were just driving. Unfortunatel we were driving on interstates the whole time. Oh, we did divert on Oklahoma City to hit a bit of the old Route 66 and have lunch at a real old diner.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
AFTER Ecuador heading to San Fracisco
Didn't do a very good job of keeping this journal so instead of trashing it completely, I'll add what I can when I can.
The trip to Ecuador was great. Despite all the reading (primarily The Beak of the Finch and travel sites online) and research on how to get there, get around and what to see, Ecuador was a bit of a surprise. It appeared to be more advanced than Peru and, perhaps, even Chile (though we were there 10 years ago.) There were many people in traditional dress, but also the general feel was of a reasonably dynamic country.
The trip to Ecuador was great. Despite all the reading (primarily The Beak of the Finch and travel sites online) and research on how to get there, get around and what to see, Ecuador was a bit of a surprise. It appeared to be more advanced than Peru and, perhaps, even Chile (though we were there 10 years ago.) There were many people in traditional dress, but also the general feel was of a reasonably dynamic country.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Getting to the Galapagos
This isn't easy.
First of all I finally found the Galapagos venue--a beautiful square-rigged brigantine named Mary Anne. Of course it's a big motor-sailer but if we get the sails up jus on a passage or two, it'll be worth it.
Now I have the ship so I have to coordinate a trip to the Amazon basin. Looks like that will come after the Galapagos. Being the cheapskate that I am, I can get the flight from Quito, Ecuador to the Galapagos airport but the return flight takes 24 hours!! Seems that the Ecuadorean military operates the flights and squeeze everyone else out of the flight times. LAN is starting up service but their return trip (about 3 hours) starts before the Mary Anne gets to the airport. Oh well, I'll keep on lookin'.
First of all I finally found the Galapagos venue--a beautiful square-rigged brigantine named Mary Anne. Of course it's a big motor-sailer but if we get the sails up jus on a passage or two, it'll be worth it.
Now I have the ship so I have to coordinate a trip to the Amazon basin. Looks like that will come after the Galapagos. Being the cheapskate that I am, I can get the flight from Quito, Ecuador to the Galapagos airport but the return flight takes 24 hours!! Seems that the Ecuadorean military operates the flights and squeeze everyone else out of the flight times. LAN is starting up service but their return trip (about 3 hours) starts before the Mary Anne gets to the airport. Oh well, I'll keep on lookin'.
Friday, March 12, 2010
My Memphis State Roomie
Before we left on our Retirement Tour 2010 my roommate at Memphis State University found me on FaceBook. I'm usually the one who searches and finds people, so that tells you that this roomie is special. We promised to stop on our way through Arkansas.
Now Joe and I had been through Arkansas several times. As we entered Arkansas this time we each realized we had specific memories of the terrain, sites, cities in AZ, NM, OK, TX, MS, LA....even MO, but neither had a memory of anything in Arkansas. Nothing. Zilch. Best we could come up with is that all of those surrounding states are unique to an East Coast eye. Arkansas is very much like the mid-Atlantic--Virginia and Tennessee where we grew up. Must have been that; but this time we found the heart of Arkansas. A beautiful state with lovely people.
Kay Rose Shurgar was the best roommate I had in college. We met in a 3-girl room the first semester and moved to a 2-girl room the second. I had mono the first week of school and Kay, who not surprisingly became a nurse, helped me through that first semester and literally nursed me the through a myriad of maladies that second semester. She stayed up one night thinking she would have to give me an emergency tracheotomy during one bout of the flu or pneumonia that second semester. Did I say she "became" a nurse...she didn't know a thing about traches then but she was going to help no matter what!! : ) She still has that same spirit.
After almost half a century, it was like we had not skipped a beat in our mutual admiration since our first meeting. We regaled Joe and her husband Jerry with some of our crazy, stupid funny, funny antics and winked a couple of times when we knew we could tell more, but some secrets need to be kept.
It also developed that Joe and Jerry, who is retired now, had similar interests and the most incredible thing was talking to someone who had different life experiences but the same understandings of the world around us. Jerry is a fly fisherman and promised he'd help me the next time we get together. [To Jerry: even though we know that I have a terrible memory--Kay was always my memory bank--but this is one promise I will not forget! PS Thanks for the flies.]
Their cabin is absolutely perfect and in a beautiful setting with a year-round creek running into the Cadron River at the bottom of their hill. We met their next door neighbor who was their architect and builder so he could hear first hand the many compliments we had on the innovative features he employed--like corrugated tin and a wonderful metal roof that I kept praying we would be able to enjoy in a storm; first time I've prayed for rain on a vacation.
Occasionally you meet someone who gently tweaks your life and you carry a bit of them with you. I'm not talking about big changes that come from big events or people. Just the quiet admiration of a person, or in this case a couple, that after meeting you feel like you have changed a bit for the better.
That's what this visit was like. The best part of a wonderful vacation.
[To Kay: Did I summarize the visit? Didn't even mention that you guys almost froze to death sitting with us outside!! ha]
Now Joe and I had been through Arkansas several times. As we entered Arkansas this time we each realized we had specific memories of the terrain, sites, cities in AZ, NM, OK, TX, MS, LA....even MO, but neither had a memory of anything in Arkansas. Nothing. Zilch. Best we could come up with is that all of those surrounding states are unique to an East Coast eye. Arkansas is very much like the mid-Atlantic--Virginia and Tennessee where we grew up. Must have been that; but this time we found the heart of Arkansas. A beautiful state with lovely people.
Kay Rose Shurgar was the best roommate I had in college. We met in a 3-girl room the first semester and moved to a 2-girl room the second. I had mono the first week of school and Kay, who not surprisingly became a nurse, helped me through that first semester and literally nursed me the through a myriad of maladies that second semester. She stayed up one night thinking she would have to give me an emergency tracheotomy during one bout of the flu or pneumonia that second semester. Did I say she "became" a nurse...she didn't know a thing about traches then but she was going to help no matter what!! : ) She still has that same spirit.
After almost half a century, it was like we had not skipped a beat in our mutual admiration since our first meeting. We regaled Joe and her husband Jerry with some of our crazy, stupid funny, funny antics and winked a couple of times when we knew we could tell more, but some secrets need to be kept.
It also developed that Joe and Jerry, who is retired now, had similar interests and the most incredible thing was talking to someone who had different life experiences but the same understandings of the world around us. Jerry is a fly fisherman and promised he'd help me the next time we get together. [To Jerry: even though we know that I have a terrible memory--Kay was always my memory bank--but this is one promise I will not forget! PS Thanks for the flies.]
Their cabin is absolutely perfect and in a beautiful setting with a year-round creek running into the Cadron River at the bottom of their hill. We met their next door neighbor who was their architect and builder so he could hear first hand the many compliments we had on the innovative features he employed--like corrugated tin and a wonderful metal roof that I kept praying we would be able to enjoy in a storm; first time I've prayed for rain on a vacation.
Occasionally you meet someone who gently tweaks your life and you carry a bit of them with you. I'm not talking about big changes that come from big events or people. Just the quiet admiration of a person, or in this case a couple, that after meeting you feel like you have changed a bit for the better.
That's what this visit was like. The best part of a wonderful vacation.
[To Kay: Did I summarize the visit? Didn't even mention that you guys almost froze to death sitting with us outside!! ha]
An Overview for ourselves to help us remember and the last few days of our "Retirement Tour"
So, the standout locations with great memories attached are:
- The hawk? vulture? wing-tip impressions in the snow at Port Tobacco
- The huge bonfire at the top of the sledding hill
- Shield's Tavern in 'olde' Williamsburg with our own minstrel
- Almost deserted Okracoke Island on the Outer Banks, NC in the rain huddled up watching DVD movies
- Charleston and Fort Sumter and some of the best food on the trip
- Exciting Savannah and visiting with my cousin Judy Compton and Fred Maher
- Okefenokee Swamp boat trip
- The infamous Confederate Andersonville Prison in GA where scores of Yankee soldiers died
- The Katrina devastation still evident in Pass Christian, MS and along the Gulf to New Orleans
- Staying in the French Quarter and being at a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, including the characters we met
- The bayou country small-town Mardi Gras parades
- The adamant declaration of a B&B owner that there was no segregation in LA but also admitting that there were a lot of private schools
- TABASCO's Avery Island
- Fast and furious at times airboat ride on Bayou LaFourche seeing baby alligators, beautiful birds, dark bayous overhung with Spanish moss and thousands of nutria skittering across the water..also understanding the saying: "Dumb as a coot" (they tried to outrun the airboat!)
- Visiting with Liz Grubaugh in Rowlett, TX
- Oak Alley Plantation B&B and seeing the tops of tugs across the levee
- Dealy Plaza in Dallas (and the ensuing debates)
- Big Bend as a destination, but marveling at the scenery in the entirety of the gargantuan vistas along deserted roads in West Texas
- Following the Rio Grande along the TexMex border
- El Paso and looking over to the enormous city of Juarez at night
- Carlsbad Caverns
- Fairyland feeling in White Sands, NM. Pictures do not do it justice.
- Reliving the Manhattan Project and the history of flight at a museum in Alamagordo
- NOT being able to get to the Trinity Test Site...so it's still a bit hot, radioactively, that is
- Globe, AZ a very hard-bitten little town in the coal mining area of AZ...who knew?
- Losing/finding my computer on the casino floor at the Stratosphere in Las Vegas where the room was $29 and the tax was $28.85
- Brunch at the revolving Stratosphere restaurant
- Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon NP in Utah--pictures do them justice
- The Luxor in Vegas and a much better brunch (King Crab, etc. etc.) for a much lower price with my cousin Rachel and Frank Williams off the strip
- Seeing the half-constructed giant bridge across the gorge where the Hoover Dam between Nevada and Arizona
- The mad dash from Las Vegas to Albuquerque to visit cousin Norma Goodwin and her daughter Janie and Chris' Route 66 Mustang shop..a wonderful step back in time
- Visiting my college roomie whom I hadn't seen since her wedding 46 years ago
- Oak Ridge and a good visit with my brother Bob and Milinda Compton in Oak Ridge, TN
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