Ecuador Archives - Wanderboomer

G is for Getaway to the Galápagos Islands

BlueBooby(600 x 399) (450 x 299)

The fragile, moon-like landscape of the Galápagos Islands lures more than 100,000 visitors each year despite the archipelago’s remote location 600 miles off the west coast of mainland Ecuador. Ever since Darwin‘s famed visit aboard the HMS Beagle in 1835, travelers have been enchanted by its history, exotic vegetation and wildlife.

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In order to protect the eco-system of this UNESCO World Heritage Site as much as possible, the Ecuadorian government restricts the number of cruises that can visit each island at any one time. But you don’t have to worry about missing out: each of the 13 major islands, from the oldest in the East (Española) to the most recent (Fernindina) in the west, offers unique flora and fauna diversity for an extraordinary experience.

MarineIguanaGalapagosIslands (450 x 282)

To plan your own escape to the Galápagos Islands, choose from among a variety of tour options, including 8-day small-ship cruises, shorter-stay lodge-based day trips, and combined land/islands packages. Visit Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism site or discovergalapagos.com for more information.

In case you missed the travelogue of my own 2011 journey to the Galápagos, you can catch up on my stories here:

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What about you, wanderboomers? Have you visited the Galápagos Islands yet?

BY Nancy Mueller 9 Comments

F is for Farmers Market Destinations

Hong Kong Farmer’s Market – Photo courtesy of Crossroads Foundation – flickr

One of my favorite pursuits when traveling is visiting the local Farmers Markets to get an authentic, sensory feel of my destination.

Here I can discover fresh local produce, sampling and tasting as I saunter along from vendor to vendor, smiling while the farmers compete among themselves for my attention and pocketbook. I can get lost in listening to the music of a foreign language, learn where locals like to eat and how to prepare an evening’s meal from unfamiliar ingredients.

Seattle’s Pike Place Market

Even when home in Seattle, I can visit several different neighborhood markets to find unusual teas, melons and spices.

Seattle’s Pike Place Market

And can I ever leave without purchasing a bouquet of flowers or gifts of indigenous handicrafts? Hardly.

Little Red Riding Hood & Friends from Brazil Farmer’s Market

Not a bad way to spend a few hours . . .

What’s your favorite farmer’s market, Wanderboomers?

BY Nancy Mueller 10 Comments

R.I.P. Lonesome George

I’m feeling a little blue, a little out of sorts today. All because of a 200-pound tortoise, estimated to be between 80 – 100 years old, who passed away in the Galapágos Islands on Sunday.

At first glance, you might wonder at the world’s affection for such a slow-moving, plant-chomping, independent-minded creature. But Lonesome George was the last of his kind, a member of the Chelonoidis nigra abingdoni subspecies. Sadly, much of the tortoise population dwindled in the 19th century as they became easy prey for whalers, sailors and fisherman who prized their fresh meat.

I had the good fortune to “meet” George on my trip to the Galapágos last summer. In a previous post, I wrote that he had been living in his enclosure on Santa Cruz Island since the 1970’s, after being discovered alone on Pinta Island. Over the years, park officials had introduced potential female mates in the hopes that George would be able to procreate, saving his subspecies from extinction. But it was not to be.

Never mind, Lonesome George. We loved you all the same. While you don’t leave a biological legacy, your passing does serve as a poignant reminder of other endangered animals on our planet, such as the Sumatran Tiger, Giant Pandas and Polar Bears. Will we also witness their demise in our lifetime?

What are your memories of Lonesome George, Wanderboomers? Share with us here.

BY Nancy Mueller 12 Comments

Favorite Travel Photo 0f 2011

Galapagos Tortoise with Visitor

For the final travel post in my “Best of 2011” series, I’m sharing my favorite personal travel photo of the past year.

A few moments before the shot was taken on the island of Santa Cruz, this giant tortoise had been munching away on a few apples nearby. As it raised its head, the tortoise extended its leathery neck toward fellow visitor, 10-year-old Jesse. The curiosity of the tortoise toward its human visitor and Jesse’s surprise to be the object of that curiosity captures the wonder of my Galapagos Islands adventure.

What was one of your most memorable travels moments in 2011, Wanderboomers?

BY Nancy Mueller 23 Comments

2011: Most Memorable Meal

Equator Monument

Think back to the special meals you’ve had in your travels. What made the meals so memorable? Was it simply the quality of the food cooked to perfection? The unexpected delight of tasting new flavors? Or perhaps it was the company who shared your table and the conversation that flowed between you.

Though I had many memorable meals in 2011, a luncheon that stands out is one I shared with my tour guide, Giovanna, for all the reasons above. I had just arrived in Ecuador the day before and we were wrapping up our excursion to the Equator Monument, about 15 miles north of Quito. Before leaving, Giovanna suggested having a bite to eat at a small, nondescript restaurant on site. We were shown to a table in the back.

Traditional Ecuadorian Meal

With my first bite of the traditional Ecuadorian food I had ordered, I smiled. Mmm . . . The combination of pork, potatoes, corn, avocado and fried bananas made for a perfect midday meal. The setting far away from home, the ambiance of the restaurant, Giovanna’s wonderful company, all made for a most unforgettable meal.

What memorable meals have you had in 2011, Wanderboomers?

G is for Getaway to the Galápagos Islands

F is for Farmers Market Destinations

R.I.P. Lonesome George

Favorite Travel Photo 0f 2011

2011: Most Memorable Meal

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