Ever hear of the Galapagos Islands? Do you know what makes these islands so special? Do you know where the Galapagos Islands are? I didn’t know until a short while ago. Where do I begin? The side trip we took there was amazing! You really must go there sometime and go for at least a week as our 2 ½ day visit was too short, although we were limited by the cruise ship schedule. (As a free advertising plug, we direct you to Debbie Hughes of Marlin Travel at (403) 255-6707 in Calgary who did a great job in booking our Galapagos adventure – Thanks Debbie!)
The Galapagos Islands are made up of 13 large islands, six minor ones, and more than 40 uninhabited outcroppings, all from volcanic eruptions. Some of the younger islands still have active volcanoes. These islands have mammals, birds, flora, and fauna different from any others found elsewhere in the world. This makes these islands so special. You can find sea lions, dolphins, whales, multitudinous colourful fishes, different species of giant tortoises, and iguanas. Galapagos is home to a variety of birds such as: blue footed, red footed and masked boobies, flamingos, frigate birds, albatrosses, unique small penguins, non-flying cormorants, and different types of finches.
We were the only passengers from the ship to venture off to these remote islands which are located 1000 km. west off the coast of Ecuador. We left the ship at Manta, Ecuador and drove with our guide and a driver to Guayaquil, Ecuador’s economic hub. This 200 km. road trip took over four hours, over a very rough and bumpy road.
The next day a new guide met us to take us to the airport. There is only one flight daily to the Galapagos Islands and this flight took us to the Island of Baltra. This island only serves as an airport site and was originally built for US military defence of the Panama Canal during World War II. A short 10 minute drive took us to the Itabaca canal and a ferry ride took us across the canal over to the Island of Santa Cruz. A 45 minute van ride with a full police escort took us to the town of Puerto Ayora and made us feel like royalty (ok, we were the 4th van in a parade of about 20 vans and buses, but it was our first police escort!). In Puerto Ayora we stayed at the beautiful Red Mangrove Inn and it would be our home for the next few days.
Puerto Ayora is a quaint small town with shops, art galleries, restaurants, a harbour, and the Charles Darwin Foundation headquarters. This was our first stop to explore where our guide showed us the giant tortoises breeding center, as well as a small land iguana breeding center. We learned of their conservation efforts for these endangered species and their varieties. There we also saw the Opuntia Cacti which is endemic of the Galapagos and 14 different types of finches that would wake us up in the morning with their song.
The next morning we went to the harbour and picked up a boat that would take us on a tour of some of the other islands and eventually the island of Floreana with the black sand. The boat ride like the taxi ride to Guayaquil is not for anyone with a weak stomach. We first went to a small island and saw frigate birds nesting in the rocks. Another island introduced us to blue and red footed boobies. The next stop was a place to go snorkelling with sea lions, large sea tortoises, colourful fish. It was so much fun that even small sharks could not scare Erin out of the water, although they got me back to the boat quickly despite claims from the crew that they were “friendly” sharks. A friendly shark is an oxymoron to me! At Floreana Island there were playful sea lions and very small penguins, iguanas sunning themselves on the rocks, and more sea tortoises. After this island and a few more opportunities to snorkel we went to an island where we saw pink flamingos and cacti that you couldn’t believe could grow there because of the barren lava rock found there. Too soon we were back in the harbour. It was difficult to believe we had been out for more than 8 hours!
That night we explored the tiny gift and craft shops, as well as the art galleries. We also stopped by the fish market where we saw pelicans and sea lions poised to pick up any leftovers from the catch of the fisherman cutting up the tuna.
Too soon we left this oasis of nature. We retraced our steps to Guayaquil and then flew to Lima, Peru to catch the Royal Princess and set sail to Easter Island. This is one place we all want to go back to. Muchas gracios Ecuador!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
I AM NOT A POLLYWOG ANYMORE! by Erin Boyle
A Pollywog is someone who has never have been across the equator before. The equator is an imaginary line on the earth’s surface. It divides the earth into either the northern or southern hemisphere. The latitude of the equator is zero degrees. The equator’s length is around 40,075 km and is one of the five main circles of latitude lines that goes around the earth.
On January 25th, I was a Pollywog but after I crossed the equator and took part in a traditional seafaring ceremony conducted by King Neptune himself (a.k.a. the cruise staff), I became a Trusty Shellback. The ceremony begins by being accused of a crime that you have committed. My crime was missing school and taking puzzle pieces from a puzzle in the library. Other people were accused of other things like overeating. I was seated on a chair in front of King Neptune and asked if I was “guilty or not guilty”. The crowd yelled “guilty” and I was punished. My punishment was being drenched in cranberry juice, raw eggs, jello, flour, yogurt, whipping cream, ice-cream, and chocolate cake. Yuch!
On January 25th, I was a Pollywog but after I crossed the equator and took part in a traditional seafaring ceremony conducted by King Neptune himself (a.k.a. the cruise staff), I became a Trusty Shellback. The ceremony begins by being accused of a crime that you have committed. My crime was missing school and taking puzzle pieces from a puzzle in the library. Other people were accused of other things like overeating. I was seated on a chair in front of King Neptune and asked if I was “guilty or not guilty”. The crowd yelled “guilty” and I was punished. My punishment was being drenched in cranberry juice, raw eggs, jello, flour, yogurt, whipping cream, ice-cream, and chocolate cake. Yuch!
CONTEST UPDATES
So far we have four guesses at the total distance travelled:
Brad guessed 51,714 km.
Marjolyn & Pleun guessed 58,524 km.
Adam guessed 51,706 km. (this was totally independent from Brad!) and then updated his guess to 52,605 after seeing Brad's guess
Erin guessed 51,614 km.
Our Superbowl contest has drawn more entries as follows:
Adam - Arizona wins with 43 total points (26-17 Cardinals)
8A (Mr. Angus' Grade 8 class) - Minnesota Vikings win wth 35 total points (35-0)*
Ralph - Arizona wins with 35 total points (25-10)
Marjolyn & Pleum - Arizona wins with 35 total points
Erin - Arizona wins with 36 total points
Maggie - Arizona wins with 43 total points (23-20)
Brad - Pittsburgh wins with 45 total points (31-14)
* Drug tests are currently being undertaken for this entrant and 2 men in white jackets have been sent to assist with psychological testing
GOOD LUCK ALL!!
Brad guessed 51,714 km.
Marjolyn & Pleun guessed 58,524 km.
Adam guessed 51,706 km. (this was totally independent from Brad!) and then updated his guess to 52,605 after seeing Brad's guess
Erin guessed 51,614 km.
Our Superbowl contest has drawn more entries as follows:
Adam - Arizona wins with 43 total points (26-17 Cardinals)
8A (Mr. Angus' Grade 8 class) - Minnesota Vikings win wth 35 total points (35-0)*
Ralph - Arizona wins with 35 total points (25-10)
Marjolyn & Pleum - Arizona wins with 35 total points
Erin - Arizona wins with 36 total points
Maggie - Arizona wins with 43 total points (23-20)
Brad - Pittsburgh wins with 45 total points (31-14)
* Drug tests are currently being undertaken for this entrant and 2 men in white jackets have been sent to assist with psychological testing
GOOD LUCK ALL!!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
THE PANAMA CANAL by Adam Boyle
Today (January 24, 2009) we traveled through the Panama Canal. It is an amazing engineering structure that was completed in 1914. There is a series of steps to enable ships to get through its 80 km. length that takes you from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean.
The Continental Divide is also passed through. This is the highest point where it is determined where waterways will drain or flow to either the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. For example, in B.C. there is also a point where the Continental Divide is.
Charles I of Spain ordered the first survey of a proposed canal route in 1534 but construction did not occur for about three centuries. It was the French that began construction in 1880. For 20 years they tried dredging out the canal but due to disease (malaria and yellow fever), financial, and engineering problems they had to stop. It is said that 20,000 people died during that construction period. So in 1904, the United States bought the French Canal Company rights and properties for $40 million and they began construction. The canal was completed in 1914 with a total cost of $387 million dollars with a loss of only over 500 lives due to injuries during construction. It is Leonardo da Vinci that is credited to be the mind behind the concept of the lock system.
The Panama Canal is made up of three pairs of locks that raise boats up 26 meters above sea level to the level of Gatun Lake that is situated in the middle of the canal system. It is interesting to note that this lake is a freshwater lake and the dam that was built to form this lake was the largest in the world at that time. As you transit through this lake channel, you then go to another series of three more locks called the Miguel Locks and the Miraflores Locks that lower boats to the sea level of the Pacific Ocean.
Construction is now underway to build an even bigger canal to accommodate larger vessels through the Isthmus of Panama.
I found it interesting that the canal is cut through a very thick jungle. It took us 10 hours to get through the canal and we were moving all of the time. Also, it is amazing how much ships must pay to use the system. Large cruise ships have to pay over $300,000 as a toll to use the canal. Lastly, it is impressive that a ship can save over 7,000 miles or 11,200 km. in distance traveled by using the canal rather than going around South America.
The Continental Divide is also passed through. This is the highest point where it is determined where waterways will drain or flow to either the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. For example, in B.C. there is also a point where the Continental Divide is.
Charles I of Spain ordered the first survey of a proposed canal route in 1534 but construction did not occur for about three centuries. It was the French that began construction in 1880. For 20 years they tried dredging out the canal but due to disease (malaria and yellow fever), financial, and engineering problems they had to stop. It is said that 20,000 people died during that construction period. So in 1904, the United States bought the French Canal Company rights and properties for $40 million and they began construction. The canal was completed in 1914 with a total cost of $387 million dollars with a loss of only over 500 lives due to injuries during construction. It is Leonardo da Vinci that is credited to be the mind behind the concept of the lock system.
The Panama Canal is made up of three pairs of locks that raise boats up 26 meters above sea level to the level of Gatun Lake that is situated in the middle of the canal system. It is interesting to note that this lake is a freshwater lake and the dam that was built to form this lake was the largest in the world at that time. As you transit through this lake channel, you then go to another series of three more locks called the Miguel Locks and the Miraflores Locks that lower boats to the sea level of the Pacific Ocean.
Construction is now underway to build an even bigger canal to accommodate larger vessels through the Isthmus of Panama.
I found it interesting that the canal is cut through a very thick jungle. It took us 10 hours to get through the canal and we were moving all of the time. Also, it is amazing how much ships must pay to use the system. Large cruise ships have to pay over $300,000 as a toll to use the canal. Lastly, it is impressive that a ship can save over 7,000 miles or 11,200 km. in distance traveled by using the canal rather than going around South America.
Contest 1 Update: How Far Are We Going?
Here’s your chance to win four movie passes for your family. You need to guess how far the Boyle family is going to travel on this adventure. The segments of our trip are as follows:
1. We flew from Calgary to Toronto and then from Toronto to Ft. Lauderdale where we boarded the Royal Princess cruise ship.
2. We will be on the cruise ship following the itinerary posted below concluding in Rome, Italy. Major stops include Ecuador, Peru, Tahiti, the Cook Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, China, Korea, Malaysia, Cambodia, India, Dubai, Oman, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Greece, France, Spain and Italy.
3. From Rome we fly to Frankfurt, Germany and from there we fly directly to Calgary.
Here are a couple hints. The circumference of the Earth at the equator is about 40,075 km. The distance traveled from Calgary to Ft. Lauderdale was 4,448 km. Brad's guess is 51,714 km.
You must reply to this posting or send us an e-mail at bboyle@shaw.ca no later than midnight, January 31, 2009 to be eligible to win the movie passes.
GOOD LUCK!
1. We flew from Calgary to Toronto and then from Toronto to Ft. Lauderdale where we boarded the Royal Princess cruise ship.
2. We will be on the cruise ship following the itinerary posted below concluding in Rome, Italy. Major stops include Ecuador, Peru, Tahiti, the Cook Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, China, Korea, Malaysia, Cambodia, India, Dubai, Oman, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Greece, France, Spain and Italy.
3. From Rome we fly to Frankfurt, Germany and from there we fly directly to Calgary.
Here are a couple hints. The circumference of the Earth at the equator is about 40,075 km. The distance traveled from Calgary to Ft. Lauderdale was 4,448 km. Brad's guess is 51,714 km.
You must reply to this posting or send us an e-mail at bboyle@shaw.ca no later than midnight, January 31, 2009 to be eligible to win the movie passes.
GOOD LUCK!
CONTEST #2 – ARE YOU A SUPER GUESSER?
Every contest page must have a Super Bowl pool of some sort, and ours is as follows:
1. Pick the team that will win Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009.
2. Guess the total number of points that will be scored by both teams combined.
3. The person who guesses the winning team correctly and has guessed closest to the actual total number of points scored will win our contest.
The winner will get a large pizza delivered for the finals of a future sporting event (Stanley Cup, Grey Cup, Super Bowl).
You must respond to this posting or send us an e-mail at bboyle@shaw.ca no later than midnight, January 31, 2009 to be eligible to win the prize.
Hint for Non-football Fans: The Arizona Cardinals are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Hint for Male Grade 8 Teachers: If you are living in a fantasy land and think that the Minnesota Vikings still have a chance to win, you will receive a visit by two men in white jackets from a nearby sanatorium institute. Congratulations!
1. Pick the team that will win Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009.
2. Guess the total number of points that will be scored by both teams combined.
3. The person who guesses the winning team correctly and has guessed closest to the actual total number of points scored will win our contest.
The winner will get a large pizza delivered for the finals of a future sporting event (Stanley Cup, Grey Cup, Super Bowl).
You must respond to this posting or send us an e-mail at bboyle@shaw.ca no later than midnight, January 31, 2009 to be eligible to win the prize.
Hint for Non-football Fans: The Arizona Cardinals are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Hint for Male Grade 8 Teachers: If you are living in a fantasy land and think that the Minnesota Vikings still have a chance to win, you will receive a visit by two men in white jackets from a nearby sanatorium institute. Congratulations!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
