Decision Made

It was curious to experience the difficulty of choosing which Galapagos boat to take. We had settled on two after our discussion with a very friendly and helpful travel agent. The Santa Cruz is a large boat with 100 passengers when full, has a great itinerary, and I have taken the cruise several times and know exactly what to expect. The Nemo II is a sailing catamaran, with only 12 passengers, a small crew, smaller cabins, and a better itinerary. Tara was concerned about seasickness, and the Nemo, being much smaller, is more likely to be unsteady. I wanted a new and different experience than the past, and the Nemo would offer that. I finally contacted Eric, who insisted on the Nemo, since the itinerary was so much better and suggested that I do something different than I had in the past. So finally, we handed over the thousands of $20 bills we had in our pockets, and we return tomorrow to buy our plane tickets and we are off on Sunday for eight days of sailing through the islands. This is a wonderful way to celebrate our time in Ecuador. I will see the Galapagos through Tara's eyes, which will remind me of the first time I came to the islands, with all the joy and wonder and awe....and I will be traveling the Galapagos in an entirely different way, and it will be amazing.

I am lucky to have Eric's support; in truth if I am happy, he is happy, and I have been getting restless and tired of my fear and my indecision. Eric will be back and forth between Bellavista and Quito, and will be able to care for Maya, with a little help from Isabel.

Suddenly, we have so little time until we leave, and I do not want to leave anymore. I like my life here, except for the violent crime we have been exposed to,  and Maya is happy too. Why drag her away from all that is working so well for her, and force her to start a new life so far away.

I have been loving the incredible sunshine every day; it bathes us in warmth every day without fail. And I appreciate our friends, all who are missing us already. We are trying to see each of our friends before we leave; Isabel and her family will join us tomorrow night, Emme and her children Saturday morning for a ride up the Teleferico, Maria and Gabriel and Hernan later in the day for a bite. Maya has her choreography performance Saturday night at her school, and we will visit with her schoolmates and their parents then. Maya wants a goodbye party the Saturday before she leaves. The apartment will be a party venue, with lights and music and dancing. None of us want to leave our lives here!