Author: Unknown
Location: LWGPS
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Monday, July 30, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Volcan Chico and Arted
Author: Laura
Location: Isabella
We woke up and went to breakfast. It was tasty! We had a glorious breakfast full of PAN!...JUGO!...MANTEQUILLA!...french toast...it was really good! We headed to our meeting point and met Maria Isabella...everyone getting excited for a long day of horseback riding. Let me tell you, no one was expecting what they were about to experience! Whether it was a biting horse, dust up your nose, or a horse that made it a point to kick everyone else...it was a wonderful experiential educational adventure! Our final view point was the edge of the Volcan Chico crater. Another beautiful sight of the day was the 2nd largest crater in the world, Sierra Negra Volcano. After the long day of horseback riding, we all went to get ice cream in town. We went to dinner at Pepe's restaurant and then had a bonfire at Dora's hotel. Our guest star of the night was Maria Isabella! We sang songs and admired Saphir's Madonna interpretation...his high voice could crack windows! Saphir won the horse race game with his horse, Arted. After the bonfire we headed to the Fiesta in town! Theo got everyone to start dancing and after that they had trouble getting us off the dance floor! Our last night in Isabella was a blast!
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Location: Isabella
We woke up and went to breakfast. It was tasty! We had a glorious breakfast full of PAN!...JUGO!...MANTEQUILLA!...french toast...it was really good! We headed to our meeting point and met Maria Isabella...everyone getting excited for a long day of horseback riding. Let me tell you, no one was expecting what they were about to experience! Whether it was a biting horse, dust up your nose, or a horse that made it a point to kick everyone else...it was a wonderful experiential educational adventure! Our final view point was the edge of the Volcan Chico crater. Another beautiful sight of the day was the 2nd largest crater in the world, Sierra Negra Volcano. After the long day of horseback riding, we all went to get ice cream in town. We went to dinner at Pepe's restaurant and then had a bonfire at Dora's hotel. Our guest star of the night was Maria Isabella! We sang songs and admired Saphir's Madonna interpretation...his high voice could crack windows! Saphir won the horse race game with his horse, Arted. After the bonfire we headed to the Fiesta in town! Theo got everyone to start dancing and after that they had trouble getting us off the dance floor! Our last night in Isabella was a blast!
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Friday, July 27, 2007
Rest and Relaxation
Author: Taylor
Location: Isabella
On Friday, team Lifeworks got a much desired and hopefully well earned day off. We all eagerly planned to skip breakfast, sleep into the afternoon and then relax on the beach. But, as we've learned so many times this trip, things don't always turn out as expected! The majority of us woke up between 6:30 and 8, ended up eating breakfast of arroz crocante cereal and pancakes with coconut whipped cream. After breakfast, some went back to bed, some read books on the beach, and some watched Pirates of the Caribbean 3. The only real activity of the day was Theo's snorkeling adventure. Saphir, Eliot, Deb, Margaux, and I managed to raise enough energy to join him in his search for manta rays in a sheltered bay of mangroves. The manta rays did not oblige us with their presence, but we did manage to find a sea cucumber (secret cumber, as Theo would say) and have a small water fight. We managed to snorkel in earnest for at least 20 minutes before we decided that it had gotten too cold. Dinner was the usual fare of rice, plantains, and meat with papaya to follow. We watched the community basketball game afterwards, bought some ice cream, and walked on the beach. Our day drew to a close with the relaxing feeling of contentment, and we went to bed with happy expectations for the day to follow.
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Location: Isabella
On Friday, team Lifeworks got a much desired and hopefully well earned day off. We all eagerly planned to skip breakfast, sleep into the afternoon and then relax on the beach. But, as we've learned so many times this trip, things don't always turn out as expected! The majority of us woke up between 6:30 and 8, ended up eating breakfast of arroz crocante cereal and pancakes with coconut whipped cream. After breakfast, some went back to bed, some read books on the beach, and some watched Pirates of the Caribbean 3. The only real activity of the day was Theo's snorkeling adventure. Saphir, Eliot, Deb, Margaux, and I managed to raise enough energy to join him in his search for manta rays in a sheltered bay of mangroves. The manta rays did not oblige us with their presence, but we did manage to find a sea cucumber (secret cumber, as Theo would say) and have a small water fight. We managed to snorkel in earnest for at least 20 minutes before we decided that it had gotten too cold. Dinner was the usual fare of rice, plantains, and meat with papaya to follow. We watched the community basketball game afterwards, bought some ice cream, and walked on the beach. Our day drew to a close with the relaxing feeling of contentment, and we went to bed with happy expectations for the day to follow.
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Sunday, July 22, 2007
Bartolome Day!
Author: Saphir and Eliot
Location:
We started the day half conscious at 4am. We then headed to the opposite side of the island where we all disembarked from the port on our boat. Most of us took a nap, while some watched dolphins, manta rays, and sea turtles. We had a brief breakfast with fabulous hot chocolate. After we arrived at San Bartolome where we started hiking. On our way to the top, we were amazed at how species adapted to nature. Lava lizards have the same color as the ground. We thought some plants, which were growing all over the area, were dead. But the tour guide told us with its narrow leaves it could save water rare in the volcanic islands. At the top, we enjoyed the majestic scenery that was a fantastic blend of volcanic islands, craters, corals, sea, sky, and beach. After we returned we started snorkeling. Snorkeling for the next 2 hours was an adventure in itself. We saw several sea lions, many large sea cucumbers, coral, and starfish. But this was only the beginning! We found hundreds of nearly invisible jellyfish, rare puffer fish (one puffed up!), and trumpet fish. We then saw some penguins, some drying on the beach and one darting in and out of a huge school of fish trying to find lunch. The little guy would pop up right in front of us. We thought there was nothing more we could possibly see, when some white tipped sharks were spotted! Some of us had been in the cold water for a full 2 hours, and so we headed out from the great island. We napped, sunbathed, ate lunch, and admired the view as we crossed the silent, serene ocean. Some of us were lucky enough to see a manta ray doing a triple back flip only 20 feet from the boat. Many agree that this just might be the best day we've had in Galapagos.
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Location:
We started the day half conscious at 4am. We then headed to the opposite side of the island where we all disembarked from the port on our boat. Most of us took a nap, while some watched dolphins, manta rays, and sea turtles. We had a brief breakfast with fabulous hot chocolate. After we arrived at San Bartolome where we started hiking. On our way to the top, we were amazed at how species adapted to nature. Lava lizards have the same color as the ground. We thought some plants, which were growing all over the area, were dead. But the tour guide told us with its narrow leaves it could save water rare in the volcanic islands. At the top, we enjoyed the majestic scenery that was a fantastic blend of volcanic islands, craters, corals, sea, sky, and beach. After we returned we started snorkeling. Snorkeling for the next 2 hours was an adventure in itself. We saw several sea lions, many large sea cucumbers, coral, and starfish. But this was only the beginning! We found hundreds of nearly invisible jellyfish, rare puffer fish (one puffed up!), and trumpet fish. We then saw some penguins, some drying on the beach and one darting in and out of a huge school of fish trying to find lunch. The little guy would pop up right in front of us. We thought there was nothing more we could possibly see, when some white tipped sharks were spotted! Some of us had been in the cold water for a full 2 hours, and so we headed out from the great island. We napped, sunbathed, ate lunch, and admired the view as we crossed the silent, serene ocean. Some of us were lucky enough to see a manta ray doing a triple back flip only 20 feet from the boat. Many agree that this just might be the best day we've had in Galapagos.
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Saturday, July 21, 2007
Cascarilla and Las Grietas
Author: Clara
Location:
Still slightly asleep, we walked to the local high school. When we arrived, it was evident that the mood between the locals and lifeworkers was slightly awkward. We played the "nose-tape" game, which Laura was reigning champion. A few of us, me included, got a ride up to the highlands in the back of an open chicken-like-carrying truck. Knowing my lack of Spanish skills, I smartly sat myself next to Thomas, one of the few kids who spoke some English. After arriving at the bottom of a hill, we prepared ourselves for a rocky hike. After huffing and puffing for a good 15 minutes, we learned about the task at hand. We then set off into the dense woods and ruthlessly pulled out hundreds of invasive cascarilla plants. In total, the numbe we pulled was around 8000. At 2pm, we met for a trip to las grietas, a crack in the earth filled with salt and fresh water. Everyone was awestruck, both by the beauty of the landscape and the insane cliff-jumping by the local people. We all realized how amazingly lucky we were to be in a place this unique. Once out of the water, Daniel stupidly took out his lunch in front of 12 hungry teens. We soon learned the magnitude of teenage hunger. After we were all sufficiently full, except Daniel, we headed back and tried to inform Theo on the correct way to pronounce "pillow." We then showered, stuffed our faces with delicious food, and headed back to Hotel Castro for an early night to prepare for the adventures that lay ahead on our next day of Lifeworks Galapagos!
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Location:
Still slightly asleep, we walked to the local high school. When we arrived, it was evident that the mood between the locals and lifeworkers was slightly awkward. We played the "nose-tape" game, which Laura was reigning champion. A few of us, me included, got a ride up to the highlands in the back of an open chicken-like-carrying truck. Knowing my lack of Spanish skills, I smartly sat myself next to Thomas, one of the few kids who spoke some English. After arriving at the bottom of a hill, we prepared ourselves for a rocky hike. After huffing and puffing for a good 15 minutes, we learned about the task at hand. We then set off into the dense woods and ruthlessly pulled out hundreds of invasive cascarilla plants. In total, the numbe we pulled was around 8000. At 2pm, we met for a trip to las grietas, a crack in the earth filled with salt and fresh water. Everyone was awestruck, both by the beauty of the landscape and the insane cliff-jumping by the local people. We all realized how amazingly lucky we were to be in a place this unique. Once out of the water, Daniel stupidly took out his lunch in front of 12 hungry teens. We soon learned the magnitude of teenage hunger. After we were all sufficiently full, except Daniel, we headed back and tried to inform Theo on the correct way to pronounce "pillow." We then showered, stuffed our faces with delicious food, and headed back to Hotel Castro for an early night to prepare for the adventures that lay ahead on our next day of Lifeworks Galapagos!
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Friday, July 20, 2007
Hotel Castro is a Blasto
Author: Laura
Location:
Hola! Yesterday we woke up early and went to our last meal on San Cristobal. After we ate our "feast" we headed for the Blue Fantasy, loaded with huge bags and sea sickness pills! After a 2 hour nap on the yacht, we went to lunch. After checking into Hotel Castro, everyone split into groups for free time. Free time is usually time to find the best candy shops and this time it was time to do laundry! Once free time was over, we headed to Escuela Nacional de los Galapagos, to meet our tour guides (who were the members of the high school English class).
We finished the tour back at the school and went to a performance of dance and music that portrayed the Galapoginian culture, during which we got pulled onto the dance floor to show them how we groove in USA, Canada, Bermuda, Korea, and Romania! Our day with the high school students ended with a game of football (soccer) between the Lifeworks group and the students. We met Guillermina and Mirna (owners of Hotel Castro) who also owned Sayapa (restaurant we eat dinner at). We went to dinner for a great salad, chicken, and potatoes! We went to bed right after dinner so we would be ready for a hard day of work on Saturday.
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Location:
Hola! Yesterday we woke up early and went to our last meal on San Cristobal. After we ate our "feast" we headed for the Blue Fantasy, loaded with huge bags and sea sickness pills! After a 2 hour nap on the yacht, we went to lunch. After checking into Hotel Castro, everyone split into groups for free time. Free time is usually time to find the best candy shops and this time it was time to do laundry! Once free time was over, we headed to Escuela Nacional de los Galapagos, to meet our tour guides (who were the members of the high school English class).
We finished the tour back at the school and went to a performance of dance and music that portrayed the Galapoginian culture, during which we got pulled onto the dance floor to show them how we groove in USA, Canada, Bermuda, Korea, and Romania! Our day with the high school students ended with a game of football (soccer) between the Lifeworks group and the students. We met Guillermina and Mirna (owners of Hotel Castro) who also owned Sayapa (restaurant we eat dinner at). We went to dinner for a great salad, chicken, and potatoes! We went to bed right after dinner so we would be ready for a hard day of work on Saturday.
Flickr Photos from Today
Flickr Photos from this Voyage
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