Today is my first full day in the Amazon area today, with a full day of activities planned, including a 6.30 start to go bird watching. But first a catchup on last night's dinner after yesterday's post.As darkness fell, the place got incredibly noisy with insect noises, and as there are no windows, only fly screens, I was hoping that my head adapts and ears turn off quickly as I did to the QB's engine etc noises.On the way to dinner through the dark (...

Today's I leave Quito and take a short (30 minute) flight to the town of Coca, which is in the Amazon rainforest, east of Quito and on the confluence of the Coca and Napo Rivers. My home for 3 nights will be the Yachana lodge on the Napo River. My research on Yachana (www.yachana.com) found that it is more than just accommodation and my trip notes indicate that I will be doing more than just looking at animals and plants, including visiting their training cen...

After a lovely, snuggly and very quiet sleep I woke to a soggy day in Quito with a promise of 9 degrees and 100% chance of rain. A bit of a shock after the Galapagos where it has been 26-27 every day with minimums of 23-24. But not as bad as having to do more than just throw on a pair shorts and a t-shirt to head off to breakfast like I have for the past 7 breakfasts. So, as I was not on anyone else's schedule than my own and breakfast is till 10.30, I roll...

Sadly, I left the Galapagos today and headed back to Quito for 2 nights, where I was greeted by a landslide of emails (fortunately most of it eminently deletable) and a keen desire to post my tales of the last week.As I write this I am showered and sitting up in a lovely soft bed with lots of fluffy pillow to snuggle into (there was only one small one in the boat so this is a treat) enjoying the peace and quiet with my hotel room strewn with my stuff, as the same...

The QB picked up anchor, started engines and moved to another part of Santiago at 3.00 am and I am loving hearing the sound of the water splashing past as we move along at a sedate pace (about 20 knots). Like any boat of this size there are always noises such as the constant generators and when we move, the engines, which are easy to get used to and they certainly do not disturb my sleep. Also, as my room is next to the kitchen, before meal times (which is nearly...