We pitch, roll, and heave all night long. At least I stay horizontal on my bed in the small dark cabin. I survive to the morning without nausea! Dramamine works. Better living through chemistry. Our first full day at sea. Lee sets his alarm one hour too early because of …
Boat. Lots of boat. Boat everywhere. Up, down, up, down. Water, water, water. Birds. We have arrived on our maritime adventure. 6am, we wake at our Quito airport hotel. Vacation? What vacation? The staff kindly prepares us a hasty breakfast. While Lee successfully returns the rental car, the 3 of …
In the course of a single day, Lee drove most of Ecuador. At the start, we head south along the river, past ramshackle zip lines, empty barbecue restaurants, and rushing waterfalls. We mean to stop but never do. Like Kurtz, we descend into the jungle, the heart of darkness. Actually, …
After breakfast, we pull south from “famous Machachi” on to the Avenue of the Volcanoes. Don’t expect fumaroles and heavy boulders. These volcanoes are heavily-terrased, verdant peaks lost in the drifting mist. Nonetheless, the road is good and the scenery spectacular. We kick about two nondescript but “real” Ecuadorian towns: …
I’m wasted. It is 4 o’clock on a dark afternoon as I’m inside a windowless baggage claim terminal of the Quito airport waiting to be rescued by Lee flying in from an unknown city to meet me around 5 o’clock. I hope he makes it. If he misses his flight, …
Holà. To close out 2015, Lee, Ray, Adriene and I sailed The Galapagos Islands on a little 16-person boat called The Yata Frigata. Prior to the cruise, Lee drove me south from Ecuador’s Quito along the Andean volcano ridge through the adventure travel town of Banõs and into the Amazon …