Galapagos Islands Photo Tour Oct 1st Travel Day

We are now in Quito, Ecuador at our hotel.  We flew out of Toronto at 8:50 this morning arriving in Miami at 12:00 noon.  We had some time to relax in the airport, have lunch and then at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon flew from Miami to Quito.  It was approximately a four hour flight.  

Everyone in now settled into our hotel with a 4:00 a.m. wake up and 5:45 a.m. departure for the airport as we continue our journey to the Galapagos Islands.  It is approximately a two and a half hour flight.  We will meet our ship at Darwyn Station and sail overnight to our first Island destination.

A funny story today departing Toronto, as many of you folk know Nancy McRae and she is a quest on this tour.  Well to back the story up a couple of years ago when we went to Death Valley, Nancy missed our flight out of Detroit to Las Vegas.  As luck would have it the airline got her on a flight an hour later and all was good and she caught up to the group.  This morning just as our flight was boarding, Nancy was sent back to security because her boarding pass was not stamped to show she had cleared customs.  One of the other members of the group informed me and I got out of line to go make sure she was OK.  Just as I rounded the corner Nancy came walking down the concourse with an airline representative.  They walked up to me and he put his hand on my shoulder and said I’m sorry unfortunately this guest won’t be flying with you today ...

I could feel the blood drain from my face as he said it, thinking this poor woman, not again.  With that he smiled and then Nancy smiled and the gentleman said “she told me to say it!”  Everything was fine, Nancy had told him the Death Valley story and put him up to giving me a hard time.  It was great, I have not been taken by surprise so well for a long time.  Thanks Nancy for kicking the tour off with some fun.

Here are some images from today’s departure ...

Nancy and Sandi waiting to board our Miami to Quito flight.

Michelle checking messages before our departure.

Nancy and James, enjoying the laugh over her earlier joke.

Our first sighting of a blue footed boobie (galapagos bird) no it’s not ... it’s Erika always dressed up for the tour occasion.

Joyce and Dick checking on our Quito flight departure time.  We experienced a slight delay when we finally boarded the aircraft.  The pilot came over the loud speaker and said we are waiting for the fuel truck to come back as they did not give us the minimum required amount of fuel for the flight.  What’s this minimum business????

Frank and Tom waiting to board ... Kate kept them smiling with some chocolate treats.

Kate, Bill and Lorna in the background as we wait in Miami for our flight to be called.

Once onboard Bonnie and Karen getting comfortable.

Terry looking in good spirits or is that with good spirits?

A shot of the clouds and the setting sun as we fly over the ocean between North and South America.