13th Jan 2016Today we have arrived at Chinese Hat a small island, just of the coast of Seymour Island The sea around here is the most incredible turquoise and the thought of snorkelling later today is wonderful, I just can't wait. But first we have marine and land iguanas to see, a sea lion or 2 to watch playing just off the pure white beach. There are Lava tubes (where the lava from long past volcanos have spilled down to the sea and as the lava cools around...

12th Jan 2016Firstly can I say a very happy birthday to my son, Adam. I hope you had a great day, due to lack of Wifi, he'll read it late, but the thought was there xxxToday's Tuesday and here we are moored by another island, this time South Plaza. We travel on our Queen of the Galapagos at night between islands. Peter and I have Cabin 3 which isn't ideal when it comes to the anchor being lifted before we sail or at the end of each evening voyage. Due...

11th Jan 2016Galapagos, here we come!Quito domestic airport is a delight. One flight a day leaves for San Cristobal in the Galapagos and we are once again up early, breakfasted and with all luggage left the Hotel by 7a.m. and bused to the airport by 8. Our guide Vivi advises us once at the airport and very quickly we are through security, checked in and ready for boarding. Quick, clean, efficient. The flight stops at Guanquil after 40 minutes to refuel and within...

10th Jan 2016Quito is a large city of around two and a half million people. The properties range from tiny one room shacks clinging to the side of hills that surround the outskirts, to many, many flats of various types and sizes from the very basic to the quite large, Spanish styles. The huge range of rich and poor is the same as in most parts of the world and although we travelled through a great deal of Quito on our travels, we personally didn't see any beg...