Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands (Weeknotes

Highlights

Here are the highlights from week 2 (January 8–14) of 2024.

🛳️ We spent most of the week cruising the Galápagos Islands on the M/V Silver Origin, one of the larger ships in the area. You cannot visit the archipelago except with licensed guides so chartered passenger vessels of all sizes are very common but heavily regulated. Private vessels are not allowed.

🥾 This was not an ordinary cruise, but rather an “expedition” cruise. That means that despite having access to an open bar, we rarely had time to drink (or eat or relax) because virtually every waking moment was scheduled with hikes, zodiac tours, kayaking adventures, snorkeling, and other activities. It was amazing.

🦩 The Galápagos islands have very low biodiversity, but (to paraphrase John Travolta in Primary Colors) what they do have is choice. Did you know that flamingos live there? I didn’t. We saw so many fascinating and interesting species it became difficult to keep track of them all. I managed to get a few decent photos, some of which I’ve already shared. I hope to share a few more in a separate blog post soon.

🌋 Besides all kinds of interesting animal species, the many islands themselves are just as fascinating. The product of a volcanic hot spot, the islands range in age from just hundreds of thousands of years old in the west, to five million years old in the east. One of may favorite experiences was walking through a lava field.

🍫 This week I learned that chocolate is basically a vegetable. Cocoa beans, which are the seeds of the fruit of the cacao tree, are fermented, dried, roasted, and separated before being made into chocolate. We visited a small artisanal chocolate factory in Mindo, Ecuador, where we saw a demonstration of the entire process. We tasted the raw beans and several varieties of rich dark chocolate. Of course we brought several bars home with us.

Media Highlights

🥏 Re-watched TRON: Legacy before we left on the trip and I gotta say, I’d put this movie up against any of the great science fiction films ever made. It fires on all cylinders: originality, plot, layered storytelling, visual effects (I look past the uncanny valley to other virtues), nostalgia, timelessness, and meaning.

🦾 Speaking of artificial life, I also watched The Creator this week, but it left me wanting. Although timely, the film doesn’t add anything new to the AI conversation. It’s a shoot-em-up version of Blade Runner.

Time to get back to the grind.