Journey to the Center of the Earth (Ecuador and the Galapagos) - December 2001 and January 2002

This travelogue describes my cruise through the Galapagos Islands on the Polaris (operated by Lindblad Expeditions), followed by several days on the Ecuadorean mainland. I tried to divide it into reasonably brief sections, so you can skip to the parts you're interested in. The offiicial logs for the Galapagos part of my trip can be found at Lindblad's Daily Expedition Report site. (The dates are Sunday, December 30, 2001 through Friday, January 4, 2002.) There are no official logs, however, for bus rides in the developing world or city tours of political demonstrations in Quito, so you're stuck with my view of those.

Introduction: Why, How, Galapagos Background and a Bit on Shipboard Life

Here Be Dragons: Cerro Dragon and Espanola

Mail and Mysteries: Floreana

New Year's Dolphins: Isabela and Fernandina

Tortoises and T-Shirts: Santa Cruz

For the Birds: Genovesa

Sharks and Turtles and Penguins, Oh, My: Bartolome and Santiago

Returning to Guayaquil

The Toothbrush Trail to Cuenca

The Center of the Earth is a Riot: Quito and Saquisili

The End of the Trip and a Few Concluding Remarks