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Critics Choice Vacations
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador...an adventure of a lifetime!!!!
An adventure of a lifetime.....aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II
with
I am not a writer, so bear with me on this blog post. The experience I have just come back from is so difficult to adequately put into words to convey all that it meant to me. This might be a long one!
I am a designer of people's travel dreams, wishes and hopes. I have the rare privilege to craft and create amazing one of a kind adventures to places all over this wonderful globe for clients from all ages, backgrounds, income levels, walks of life and interest levels. People have all kinds of reasons they travel; celebrations, family reunions, vacations, work, funerals, births, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, to fulfill a wish list, to "find" themselves, to "get away" from themselves, to protect wildlife, to help people in struggling countries, to explore, to rest, to capture moments in time, etc.
Even in the travel business, we as agents, have our own reasons we travel including all of the reasons above but ALSO to explore new destinations, understand the amazing suppliers and vendors we work with so that we can come back to our offices and help guide you, our dear clients,to find the right fit of location, including using the right suppliers, adding in all fine details to fit and craft your next travel dream. We also are frankly all a bit "nuts", we will travel just about anywhere, anytime if we have not been there before. We have the bug, and it is incurable! :-) One of the reasons I went to the Galapagos....one of many.
When we arrived in the Galapagos we were first told by one of the amazing Naturalists, Celso Fuentes, that whatever we had read or heard about the Galapagos, had not prepared us for the week of adventure that lay ahead of us. He could not have been more accurate.
Galapagos Islands were never super high on my bucket list. I always wanted to go but it was not in my TOP 10 list, but am telling you this trip was OUT OF THIS WORLD. Surreal, other worldly, every day different, every landscape unique and animal wildlife super intimate and amazing. I have sold the Galapagos Islands and not every supplier is the same. Lindblad/National Geographic
IS the way to go in my opinion! So before we get into details about what we saw and did, let me share a bit about the basics of the trip.
About the Ship:
We sailed on the National Geographic Endeavour II
which was an amazing vessel equipped with wonderful warm staff, clean and spacious cabins (with great storage) along with comfortable beds and always provided a feeling of "coming home". A very well thought out lounge area (where presentations and briefings were held daily), open, comfortable dining with amazing food every day (and many special Ecuadorian dishes to try and enjoy). The spa room had one of the best views on the ship with a functional gym (which probably did not get used much as busy as we were) right next door. A relaxing and very well stocked library with all kinds of books on everything Galapagos as well as many other varieties of reading materials to fill everyone's wishes, along with several computers for public use. All public areas were refreshed throughout the day with amazing homemade waters or juices, coffee bars available at any time as you wished, and a "honors" system bar when the bar was not staffed and small snacks. The entire staff was friendly, professional, well educated, working together as a team, visible and open to helping at any time. A big thanks to our Hotel Manager, Juan Sebastian Guijarro and his entire team for their hard work and dedication!
About our Lindblad Expeditions Team:
The Expedition team including the adorable Vanessa Gallo (our Expedition Leader) worked day in and day out with a smile on her face and a smile in her voice. Even her wake up calls every morning at 6am (to her "dear guests") were soothing and non-obtrusive and I know she hated to wake us up each morning! The Naturalist team were a team unto themselves - (Wow... if I had half the knowledge they have...) just an amazing group of folks who were with us the entire week sharing their knowledge and passion and skills. Thank you Gilda Gonzales, Lourdes Pesantes, Socrates Tomala, Lenin Villacis, Ximena Cordova for sharing your love and passion of the Galapagos. We are richer for knowing you and all that you shared with us. An extra special thanks to Antonio Adrian and Celso Montalvo (Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructors with National Geographic) for not only sharing their knowledge of these Islands, but also their love and skills of photography. Truly the Galapagos Islands are a photographers dream. I also must take a moment to thank all of our super skilled Zodiac drivers who know how to "ride the waves", getting us on/off shore safely 100 times a day! A shout out to our charming, approachable, friendly, excellent Captain, Eduardo Neira. Not only did he do a great job getting us from A-B, but he hosted a wonderful evening of his live acoustic musical skills one evening, as well as joining us several times for dinner. The Bridge is always open! You are free to explore. The entire Lindblad Expeditions & National Geographic
team from start to finish went above and beyond in customer service and delivery execution! Well done and thank you for all of your efforts!
What to expect agenda wise:
Before I went, I contacted several of my clients I had sent before and asked their input and advice. One of my clients (quite a few years younger than me, and I am sure more fit) replied and said, “nap often” to which I laughed. I get it now! There is not a lot of down time and as the guides joked, "you can sleep when you are home."
- Early mornings, wake up calls at 6am.
- First exploration beginning about 730am. This could be a hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, photo or glass boat tours. It might also be swimming on the beach or a snorkeling opportunity. Morning events normally last 2-3 hours. You will thank your Expedition Leader later for getting you out early before the beaming sun is at it's peak from 11-2pm or 3pm.
- Back on the ship for lunch and a change of clothes. Perhaps a short briefing.
- About 2-3pm (depending on heat of sun) back out for more of the same as in the morning agenda, but a different island location or different location all together. Trust me, no TWO stops are the same. The landscapes are completely different, animals and wildlife also as varied as the terrain. Out again for 2-3 hours.
- Back on board for an afternoon shower, happy hour briefing or update, onto dinner. Perhaps some post dinner local entertainment (or by the team), a star gazing show, or light show off the ship (seeing sharks, sea lions and flying fish, for example).
- To bed you go about 930-1030pm...and you are ready!
Now for the tough part....WHAT DID WE SEE:
Literally everything you can imagine. East Pacific green sea turtles, sea lions, fur sea lions, Galapagos Marine Iguanas, Galapagos Land Iguanas, crabs of all sorts, sizes, shapes and colors, all kinds of fish and sea life below the surface, birds galore: Galapagos penguins, Blue Footed Boobies, Red Footed Boobies (did you know they existed? I did not), swallow-tailed gulls, amazing red breasted Frigate birds and about 100 other types I fail to mention here. Instead of telling you, I have spent time uploading almost 400 some photos to my CCV Facebook page and labeling each photo so you can, at your leisure, go and have a look for yourself! As they say, a photo is worth a 1000 words. This way, you can go back as time permits and enjoy for yourself.
PLEASE VISIT: CCV Galapagos Islands Album
(this is really where all of the magic and impressions can be made).
IMPRESSIONS:
OUT OF THIS WORLD. Surreal, other worldly, every day different, every landscape unique and animal wildlife super intimate and amazing with #LindbladExpeditions
and #NationalGeographicEndeavorII. WOW, I did not go expecting to come back the way I feel now. I came back feeling so super blessed and grateful for the experience. It really was such an honor and unexpected privilege to be there so up close and personal and intimate with these islands and animals. I should mention in our short time there, we went almost a week without seeing other humans besides our group of 96 guests and staff. Super warm staff, friendly, trusting, very well educated and informed and overall just amazing. Very interesting crowds/guests on board as well, and overall just a great group. I have made so many new amazing friends! I am on sensory overload a bit and still trying to recover. I think about the trip every day.
This is not a destination for everyone. If you are looking for shopping and sleeping in and sitting on the beach for hours, then this is not for you. However, if you are interested in exploration, shocking and amazing days filled with wonder, excitement, variety, fun and wonderful people, then this is for you. If I could give such a gift to every person interested, I know everyone would come back more than richer for it. A gift, a giant gift to experience such a place. What else can I say? I hope YOU can go one day! Take your kids, your grandchildren and plan to be amazed!
If you want more details or to hear about some amazing specials right now, please feel free to email me at Susan@CriticsChoiceVacations.com
or call me at 480-831-9076.
Like so many other parents this Fall, my husband and I became “Empty Nesters”. Our baby girl, and youngest of three was heading off to college and we were faced with the reality of being alone for the first time in 26 years. We decided that this was a life milestone that we should observe, rather than dread. We had spent years devoting endless time and energy to our children and now they were all out in the world as healthy, happy, productive members of society. We had much to celebrate. So, after dropping our daughter off at college we traveled to Montana’s Paradise Valley and spent a few days at Sage Lodge to mark this special occasion. Montana’s Paradise Valley starts near Livingston, which sits on I-90, and stretches south along highway 89 towards Yellowstone National Park. It is the major river valley of the Yellowstone River and is flanked by the Gallatin and Absaroka Ranges. Highway 89 was the original entrance into Yellowstone National Park, although there are now two additional entrances, one each in Montana and Wyoming. Along with its unmatched beauty and world-class fly fishing on the river, the valley also offers other natural wonders such as several natural hot springs.
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With Paris and Rome, London forms the trifecta of must-visit cities for those first taking the dive into European culture. A hub of history, politics, architecture (both very old and very new), and the arts, London has a little bit to offer everyone. This November, Susan had the opportunity to tour over a dozen of the city’s best boutique hotels so you know where to stay during your visit. In addition, Susan also toured some of the charming villages that surround London that are perfect for a day trip, or quick weekend, to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. She hopes her exploration of this British metropolis will help you know where to start when planning your first (or next) European getaway.
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