A year ago I was in The Galapagos…... maybe my heart still is

Remembering the trip of a lifetime (so far 😉)

Of all the things I write about, my favourite is travel.

Last year was my 50th birthday and I was determined to do something special.

There were (still are!) so many repairs needing doing to my house it’s unreal, how could I possibly justify travelling half way around the world?

On paper, I couldn’t.

But what kind of losers let practicality and being sensible get in the way of the path of dreams?

One life, right?

You see, of all the things I’ve ever spent money on, travel is the only one I have never ever regretted. I look upon old travel photos and postcards the way some people pour over love letters.

Travel is my love.

When I relive my adventures, I am a hive that found her bees. They sing and vibrate through me - and how I want to swarm the world with my passion, have it enter another.

At the end of this post, I will put the links to more detailed archived articles on my trip, but for now, I want you to relive with me, some of the sensory delights of an evening in San Cristóbal.

Do you ever look into your own eyes on a photograph and you’re inserted into that moment again? This is one of those pictures for me.

I see my plain, relaxed face and clearly remember my state of mind.

Bliss.

Pelicans were diving. The spectacle was unlike anything I’d ever witnessed. They would plunge dramatically in vertical lines, like swords piercing the rippling silver heart of the ocean.

There were families of sea lions and fur seals everywhere around me. A colony had decided to take up residence in the main harbour in town. No-one minded. On the contrary, it was an honour. Not only had I landed in a magical new land but there was a new hierarchy. One that better served all of us. Some sprawled lazily across the sand, feeding pups, others hogged the jetties, blocking walk ways with their milky bulk.

There was a fiesta of noise; snorts and squeals, growls, cackles and screeches. The air held the odour of hundreds of mammals and birds. Whilst this might sound unpleasant, there was something raw and life affirming about it.

As I strolled nature’s playground, the other thing I remember about the evening, is kids playing. San Cristóbal was a paradise for little ones. Playgrounds were not tucked away down side streets but given pride of place by the harbour side next to ice cream sellers and across from the bars and restaurants. Colourful murals lifted tired walls with cheer. As a result, laughter rang like bells and dark, curious eyes shone like olives.

The rocks glistened with wet red crabs, open sacks of crawling rubies. Iguanas held yoga poses, their faces stiff as masks. The last butterflies of the day were sometimes undistinguishable from rogue petals.

And I was there. Of it.

Present.

Filling.

I have many wonderful memories of the trip.

I travelled alone yet never once did I feel lonely. How could I with so much incredible nature surrounding me? Every day I experienced communion with the Earth. I loved to walk barefoot in the morning before the heat of the day struck. Sometimes I wonder if the soul lives in the soles because whenever I do that, I feel so braided to life itself.

Galapagos hit my senses like the notes of a xylophone; warm, whole and earthy. It continues to chime its magic in my heart.

If I have whet your appetite to know more about my adventures in this jaw dropping place, you can read more in depth here. ¡Disfruta!

My trip to Ecuador

My trip to Ecuador - Arrival in Galápagos

Tortoises, Iguanas and bays of blue

Snorkelling, sharks and a glorious sunset

Return to Quito and heading home