One for the bucket list.

I did not blog all of last year, because we did not go on a « big » trip.  Which in my mind meant that, instead of going to airports, dealing with security, luggage check, etc..., we packed our car (and on one occasion) our dog, and traveled through New England and then Quebec.  I don’t know why at the time I did not think of these as blog-worthy....  I now regret it, because, although we now have lots of wonderful pictures of these trips, we do not have the « story behind the pictures » that a blog provides.
So - This trip will definitely get blogged about!  For one thing, it does involve airports (where, it goes without saying, we arrived over 2 hours early), security, etc...  But, and much more importantly, it involves blue footed boobies - and also penguins!  (Have I mentioned I love penguins??).
We are off to the Galapagos, which has been on the top of the bucket list for a while now.  Flying to Quito via Miami.  We will first spend 2 days visiting Quito (because it would just be wrong not to), and then 7 days at sea, on a much smaller boat that our last trip (to Alaska)-  only 45 passengers.  I am trying to think about marine iguanas, tortoises and boobies, and not about getting sea sick.....
For now, I’m looking at planes parked at gates, coming and going...  I would post a picture, but can't figure out how to do that from the iPad into Blogger (????????). I guess I’ll use Joe’s laptop when there are interesting pictures to post......  Should be able to post something from Quito this evening or tomorrow!
It is now Wednesday the 7th, but updating this, since it is still about the travel to Quito.
We spent a long time at LGA, looking at this:

Because Elon Musk was launching a Tesla into orbit, which was blocking airspace around Cape Canaveral.  Since we had a tight connection in Miami, this was a stressful way to start the trip, but we made it!  (required a sprint through the airport, but since that's the only exercise we got all day, that's fine)


Our trip began at last!

We saw nothing of Quito upon arrival (other than it's airport which, what a surprise, is MUCH nicer than LGA), because it was night and foggy.  But we arrived at our gorgeous bed and breakfast - a restored mansion in the old part of town- and met our colorful hosts, Pascal and Deborah  (more about them later).

 Even with the fog (it is rainy season), the view from the terrace is lovely.
Also - it's delightfully warm - which is lovely in February......).