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Revised Packing List

This mostly for my information in the future doing trips similar to this in climate, temperature (hot and cool), etc. However, if you're doing a trip similar to this one, hopefully you find it useful as well! Clothes: 1 rain coat 4 shoes (1 flip flops, 1 walking sandal, 1 tennis shoes, and 1 casual shoes for cold nights to wear with socks - like keds) 10 underwear 2 bras (1 light, 1 dark) 2 sports bras (1 thick, 1 thin) 4 socks 2 bathing suits 1 warm jacket (hoodie or fleece) 1 cardigan 1 lightweight jacket 1 or 2 dresses  (2 dresses maybe only 1 skirt then) 1 or 2 cute tank tops 3 or 4 simple tank tops 2 shorts 2 skirts 1 Jean 1 crop leggings 1 long leggings 1 Fleece lined leggings (or warmer bottom than just leggings or jeans) 1 long sleeve shirt 1 quick dry tee shirt 2 tee shirts 1 workout t shirt 1 workout tank top 2 running shorts 1 warm scarf Toiletries: Tooth brush Toothpaste Hair brush Shampoo Conditioner Razor Bar of soap Deodoran...
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Day 48: La Casa del Arbor (Baños)

3/12/ 2017 Today we took a taxi up to La Casa del Arbor which means "The Tree House." It's a tree house that someone built up on the hill really close to Tungurahua (the volcano that is 8km south of Baños.) The weather was sort of cloudy, but it's been hit or miss. The "park" area had two zip lines, six rope swings, a balance log over a small pond, and a small restaurant. It was quite lovely, and all for $1/pp. The rope swing was my favorite part, and is what they're known for. The two main ones are attached to the tree house. The lines were a little long, but it was worth the wait. There was even a guy there that pushed everyone. The first time I went, he didn't hold back. I went flying through the air and he spun me around fearlessly. The next guy was a bit more tame though. He didn't push quite as high and was very cautious in spinning people. We were there for a while. People watching, swinging, and I even tried the zip line. After a...
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Day 42: Snorkeling with Sharks and Sea Lions (Galapagos Islands)

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3/6/2017 This morning I woke up about 20min bwfore the sunrise (6:20) so decided to stay up and watch it. It was beautiful to see over the ocean and wonderful to watch from the comfort of our balcony. Then today, we set out for our first yacht tour. However, on our way via taxi boat from Finch Bay to Porta Ayora, we saw a boat sinking! My dad and I had noticed it before because it looked so delepadated and totally abandoned. He even saw some sort of notice sign on it before. But this morning when we drove past, the stern was in the water (see photo.) However sad, especially as an ecological disaster in a place such as the Galapagos where the ecosystem is so fragile! Anyways, for the tour we took a bus from Porta Ayora to the north end of Santa Cruz to the canal where we met the Sea Lion, the hotel's yacht. It was my dad and I, the Evans (the family from yesterday), a couple, and a few others that joined us. On our way, we saw a spotted ray, brown ray, and several seals. Our first...
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Day 41: Darwin Research Center (Galapagos Islands)

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3/ 5 / 2017 Today was our first full day in the Galapagos! We woke up to Beautiful blue sky, which was a nice surprise. It's the hot and wet season here so we've been very unsure what the weather will be like. After breakfast we got ready for our first tour. We met with three other people from the hotel, a family with a daughter a few years younger than me. Then, we set out for tortuga Bay. Here we walked out to the beach at Tortuga Bay that is known for the marine Iguanas. Ironic that it's named Tortuga Bay isn't it? On the beach we saw several marine iguanas and sand peckers. The marine Iguanas adapted to be able to swim to eat the algae on the rocks, and they even have teeth. They are also only found in the Galapagos. The sand pecker would run from waves, then stick it's beak in the sand, run back into the water, and then repeat. The beach was beautiful with blue skies and large waves. From tortuga Bay we went around the corner to another Bay that is secluded a...
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Day 40: Giant Land Toirtous' (Quito to Galapagos Islands)

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3/4/2017 This morning we left our hotel in Quito to fly to the Galapagos! Unfortunately our plane was an hour late so we hung out at the airport for three hours. Ironically, we booked Tame airlines because Avianca is known to be late. But no, Tame was late and Avianca was on time. Anyways, we finally made it to the Galapagos. A tour guide from the hotel met us at the airport and escorted us all the way to the hotel. Which was nice because we had to take a bus, then a ferry, then a car, then a boat, and then walk there; it was quite complicated. On the way, we stopped for lunch and a tour at the Giant Land Toirtous Reserve. Lunch was delicious and served by the restaurant on site. The reserve is privately owned, but focuses on the land Toirtous' there because they were there first and there is such an abundance of them. At one spot where I was standing, I could count 17 of them! They ranged from young teenagers to old adults over 120 years old. After the Toirtous Reserve we finis...
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Day 47: Off to Baños! (Quito to Baños)

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3/ 1 1/2017 Today is the day we're going to Baños! After breakfast we packed to catch a bus. The weather is partly cloudy with a beautiful sky. Quito is surrounded by several volcanoes, which we have never seen before because of the clouds. However, this morning, way off in the distance is one. Finally. We caught a local bus in town to go to the main south station of Quito which was about an hour. Then we got a tourist bus from there to Baños. On the way, there was some sort of automobile accident so we didn't arrive until about 12:30. Once in Baños we walked to our hotel and checked in. Then for lunch, we went to a little cafe (Cafe Moon) which is just down the street and was delicious! Afterwards, we spent a little time at the hotel. Then in late afternoon we walked around to explore the town. We went to see the waterfall of Virgin Mary, then up towards the church, and down Ambato, the main street. Afterwards we had dinner at the hotel, which was once again delicious...
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Day 45: The Equator!!! (Quito)

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3/9/ 2017 The day finally came that I got to stand with one foot in the northern hemisphere and one foot in the southern hemisphere!!! I was pretty excited. Especially to do the tests to prove it (the scientist in me.) We started out today with a leisurely morning and breakfast, then met our tour guide. We drove from the southern end of Quito to the north end and up to Mitad del Mundo (middle of the earth.) On the way, we talked about various things such as getting to know each other, the upcoming election, and how cars and car parts are expensive here but gas is very cheap ($1.5/gl.) He brought us first to the monument for the equator which was created before the invention of GPS. However, this is the "old" or incorrect equator. Now, with the use of GPS, the correct equator is known to be close by. We knew that there were two places to go to. 1, the old monument, and 2, the new line which is basically a museum in someone's back yard. We looked at the monument, then mo...
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