Some pics from the underwater Galapagos camera!

Just got the photos developed from the underwater camera we took to the Galapagos Islands.  Got some good shots out of it, so I thought I’d post them for all you to see!  As there’s a lot, I recon the best ones are…

• http://eadyadventures.com/?attachment_id=249 (Sea lion playing)
• http://eadyadventures.com/?attachment_id=248 (Sea lion attacking Dave)
• http://eadyadventures.com/?attachment_id=246 (Sea turtle)

Shark! (sleeping)

Speckled fish

Dory fish (we think)

Dave (in the jacuzzi?)

Dave with little fish

Fish

Dave giving the thumbs up!

Sea lion playing

Sea turtle

Sea turtle

Baby sea lion playing

Ouch!

Hello Mr Sea Lion!

Sea lions tugging a piece of rope being held by the capitan

Happy birthday Dad McGowan!… and the Equator

First of all… big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Papa McGowan – I think he´s as old as those giant tortoises on the Galapagos, but I´m not sure?

Yesterday we went to the Equator – or as it´s known locally ´The Centre of the Earth´.  We got to jump between the northern and southern hemispheres and see a few experiments.  I (Dave… not Carly!) even managed to balance an egg on the end of a nail… got a certificate and everything!  Also dressed as a local indian and fired a dart through one of those blow pole things…

Off to Peru tonight, got our first stay over in an airport, so I´m glad I learnt the odd thing or two from that Terminal film with Tom Hanks in it.

Bars in Quito

We just nipped out for a cheeky wine in Quito – doesn´t happen often I promise!  Firstly we were told to sit away from the windows for drinking wine 2 days before the national election (we are unsure why – we think they can´t vote with any alcohol at all in their system!!!).  Then whilst hiding round the back and nibbling on deep fried cheese strings, 2 men walked in the bar and passed us carrying… a coffin.  No joke!  We like to think that no one was in it!!!!  Shortly afterwards we drank up and left!

The Galapagos Islands

We have just returned from our boat trip around the Galapagos Islands. It was fantastic!!!!!! And now we are in a nice hotel for the last day of the tour, which makes a nice change too.

A week or so ago we set off on a 1970s plane (aaarrgh) to the Isle of Baltra. It was lovely and sunny and we soon got on board our boat for the week. After only 5 minutes we had seen a sea lion and many many birds! Over the next 7 days we did some really cool things. We visited loads of islands and saw sea lions and their babies, iguanas, marine iguanas, turtles, giant tortoises, sharks, blue footed boobies, penguins, pelicans, frigates, albatross, lizards by the million! flamingoes and much more! Sometimes our group were the only humans on an island, which was so cool. You could get so close to the animals and they couldn’t care less! In fact, sometimes they wanted to play with you. Sea lions come up to you in the sea and tug on your flippers and blow bubbles at you – they are so cute! Dave also dared to swim with big sharks! I lasted about 5 minutes on that occasion!

We also walked up some low volcanoes and saw some good views of the islands. The sea was a bit choppy and we still feel like we are swaying now!!

Thanks for all your comments – we enjoy reading all of them. Which reminds me, we were going to tell you about the food here. It has actually been quite nice, although there is lots of rice, beans and pork, which can get a bit much!! Big portions too… which I’m sure you’re glad to hear!

Here’s a collection of some of our photos (although in total I think we have about 600+… seriously!)

Latacunga and Cotopaxi

So we have spent a couple of days in Latacunga, which is a couple of hours from Quito.  The bus journey was fun, randoms kept jumping on trying to sell us stuff!

Seems much colder than Quito, despite being the same height.  Once again the locals are not phased by us at all!  Dave went and got his hair cut, which was amusing – they gave him a nice straight line across the bottom if you get what I mean!  Not bad for $2 though… cheaper than his usual £7 chop shop in Angel.

Dave having a hair cut

MAJOR SHOWER INCIDENT:

I was in the shower at the hostel when the water suddenly went off.  I had just put all the shampoo in my hair so I stood patiently waiting for it to come back on.  No such luck!  I grabbed my stuff and ran back to the room to see Dave exclaiming, “The water´s all gone and I´ve still got shampoo in my hair!  I think someone´s stolen my shampoo as well!!”  I didn´t realise but loads of people turned around and I think the whole hostel was secretly amused by me – full head of soapy hair, with only a towel on and a look of despair on my face!!  To make matters worse Dave had to get a bucket of COLD water and pour it over my head to get rid of all the shampoo!  But hey – it is South America!!

Today we went up really really high to Volcano Cotopaxi.  It´s almost 6000 metres, but we only made it to 4700 before I felt terrible with altitude sickness and threw up!!  We both nearly passed out and decided to go back down again!  Fine now mum, don´t worry!

Cotopaxi (5897m), Ecuadors highest active volcano

Quito – the home of the Xmas buses!

Well, we´ve managed our first day in South America at 2850m above sea level.  A little hard to breath, but we´re getting used to it!

Seen all sorts of things today in the lovely Ecuadorian sunshine from Cathedrals to presidential palaces.  One thing that has been a bit amusing is the singing buses!  Their tunes are mainly Christmas based with Rudolf and Deck the Halls being amongst their favourites.  You might think it were ok if they were playing this to their paying passengers, but they´re not, it´s to all the lucky pedestrians to warn them that the bus is coming and to get out of its way!

We´ve been quite surprised that we haven´t been harrassed at all really in Quito, which is nice.  Although one guy did track us down in three different areas of the town to offer us a tour.

Off to try out our first proper bus trip to Latacunga tomorrow… that should be fun!

Arrived in Quito

Hello!  We arrived safely in Quito.  In fact we did well to mention that it´s our honeymoon because we got upgraded to business class on the 2nd leg 11 hour flight!  It was fantastic – so much leg room and a seat that lies down!!!  Probably the most luxurious accomodation that we will have for a while!

The hostel is nice.  Basic room but an amazing view of the city from the terrace.  It´s warm enough to be outside all the time which is nice.  So… we are very jet lagged now and need to get some sleep (we are 6 hours behind you!).

Lots of love – missing you all already!

Business or pleasure?!?