We are leaving tomorrow for the Galapagos. I can't wait to see the boobies. You know, the blue-footed booby birds. Oh and the tortoises, penguins, flamingos, etc., etc. We are meeting up with our Intrepid group in a few hours to get to know one another before we board a flight and head to the Islands for the next 5 days. It's going to be amazing. I just know it.
Trishy and I are back in Quito for the day with just enough time to run errands and squeeze in a last minute salsa class. My first lesson ever. Trishy had the advantage of already having 10 classes under her belt. I mostly laughed my way through the lesson and just enjoyed it. My teacher spent the 55 minutes shaking his head at me. I wanted to tell him, "I swear I'll be better next time!" But unfortunately that was our one and only lesson here in Quito.
Our train ride down the Devil's Nose was a very bumpy, long journey. We stopped several times in the beginning to check on the engine. Apparently something wasn't in order and everyone clambored over to stare under the hood to see what was wrong. Yes, the hood. This was not a train. It was a bus converted into a train. Reborn as a bus/train to take foolish tourists on a 5 hour ride through beautiful Ecuadorian country where we all begged to sit on the roof. They wouldn't let us at first since it was raining and would be unsafe (a wise decision). However after waiting 45 minutes for a boulder to be cleared out of the path (the rock must have fallen just after the train ahead of us passed...hmm, slightly scary) we were allowed to jump on top for $1 each to whizz through the country and enjoy the view. It was the best roller coaster ride ever. Too bad it only lasted about 15 minutes before we had to sit back inside and return to town. We were all a little disappointed and wanted $0.25 back.
Anyway, I've spent the last 2 hours uploading just one piece of the trip so far so please take a look at my Belize photos when you get a chance. I'll try to upload more but it takes a long time (5 pics at a time...and I have very little patience so it's a bad combo).
Hope you're all well. I will write again when we return to Quito for the 3rd and final time next Wednesday.
