On the Rocks

Lava rocks, that is.






How many iguanas can you count in this picture?




Yes, he's really here.



Ernest says this is one of his favorite pictures.

Flora in the Galapagos

POW! I think this is the greatest picture ever!

Hungry for naners?

Here's a little fauna.

Dewdrops.

Fronds.

These are some of Ernest's best pictures ever. They may be going up on a wall, if I can find some wall space.

Join us on the rocks tomorrow.

How to Make a Shrunken Head

CAUTION: This post is NSFTS (Not Safe For The Squeamish). You have been warned.

I think it's self-explanatory:

Real shrunken monkey head..

Real shrunken human head.

Ernest says this was "at the Equator museum." This link seems to cover all the tourist attractions at the Equator: so it was probably the Inti-Ñan Solar Museum.


(OK, I must say that I LOVED that he took pictures of the step-by-step instructions. Way to make your mom happy, son.)

Don't worry, there will be pretty things tomorrow.

Looking Up in Quito

Without being aware of it, Ernest followed my "looking up" motif in Quito. How wonderful, to live vicariously through your child.

...here are a few examples.








Tomorrow's installment is something small...

Ernest on the Equator

My lovely M-I-L asked me for more pictures of her longest-haired-grandson*'s trip. Well, she asked for it. There will be several days of travelogue here.

*Cousin Josh can dispute this statement if he wishes to stretch out the curl in his ponytail and measure it.

If you saw that gorgeous floral post on Google Reader and can't find it here, don't worry! It will show up here in a few days...I hit the wrong key and published it for all of 5 seconds, but it showed up on the reader anyway. I am trying to put Ernest's photos in somewhat chronological order. And here it begins...

Ernest on the actual Equator.

Yes, he performed the flushing-water-flow experiments. He says: Right on the Equator, it goes straight down. And there is a difference to the north or south.

There is a large monument, built by the French in the 1700s, which is about 300 feet off of the actual Equator. But I think that's pretty darn close, considering they didn't have GPS. I guess they didn't know the flushing trick. (But they've since wised up to that Google trick.)

Stay tuned tomorrow for some looking up!

Who Do You Love?

Why, Lonesome George, of course. The last living Pinta Island Tortoise.


Ernest had a wonderful trip, but with 500+ pictures I'm a little overwhelmed at putting together an overview for you. So I'll just start with the tortoises!

Itinerary, Part Last

Day 12, they were supposed to visit the Tunguhuara Volcano, but I guess it's been especially active so they have been rerouted...back to the spa for lunch (Quel disappointment. --Kidding!), returning to Quito in the evening.

Day 13, the Avenue of the Volcanos, Cotopaxi National Park, and Limpiopungo Lake.....then they get on the plane at 10:30 p.m. or so.

Day 14, Travel Day (This is the only day I plan to stress out, what with the unaccompanied minor on Delta issue.)

This is the 5th year I have had one (occasionally both) of my children traveling with this group. If your child has the chance to travel with them, I say grab it! These are once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Itinerary, Part 3

Ernest will spend days 9-11 in the Amazonian jungle.

They left the Galapagos last night and spend the night here, at the Papallacta Hot Springs. Can you say "jealous mom?"

On day nine they will hike through the jungle by a waterfall, eat lemon ants and stay at the Huasquila Lodge.

Day 10, they visit an animal rescue center, a butterfly garden, see a shamanic ceremony, and stay at the Casa del Suizo.

Day 11 is their service project in a small village, helping to plant and cultivate trees which will finance the studies of the children in the community.

He took 2 cameras...I hope he takes a lot of pictures

Itinerary, part 2

Days 4-8, The Galapagos Islands.

I'll just share this National Geographic video (sorry about the commercial at the beginning.)



I hope he sees a blue-footed booby. I think his grandfather (MorFar) gave us this book.

My dad (the aforementioned grandfather) has been to the Galapagos before, along with many other amazing places in the world. I love that my sons are traveling in their grandfather's footsteps, and also making their own way.

Luggage Yes!

Ernest called earlier tonight, and said that YES, his suitcase did arrive with him. So despite the long agonizing wait in the Special Services line, and the warning that the suitcase might not make it, I have to compliment the TSA and luggage handlers who got that suitcase onto the correct plane in time. One less worry! Ta ta for now.

Ernest's Itinerary, Part 1

Day 1, Travel Day
Day 2-3 Quito and the Equator.

Ernest will be interested in the whirlpool effect at the equator. Frank was supposed to test which way the toilets swirled when he went to Australia a few years ago, but he said the toilets jetted water from either side too fast to tell.



Their first dinner is supposed to include " a select menu of Ecuadorian foods." That's better than when he went to England and had Mexican food the first night! But we've watched a little too much Bizarre Foods at our house...who knows what he will be eating?



They are also going to the famous market at Otavalo city, visiting Cuicocha Lake, and seeing the Folkloric Ballet.

Then, on to the Galapagos Islands.

Stay Tuned...