Darwin & my mom

In 1835, a young, bright naturalist on the good ship HMS Beagle stopped in a smaller cluster of islands 2000 miles off the coast of Ecuador, South America called the Galapagos for a few months.

What he observed would form the foundation of a scientific theory that would shape our understanding of life on Earth... he didn't take his mom.

Your friendly neighbourhood adventure loving couple, Heather & Riad, ready to set out into this great big world again, bring you, our faithful readers all the fun and hijinx.

But wait, there is more... this time friends, we have brought along a special guest... that special someone who lovingly brought me into this crazy world, who nurtured me, guided me, instilled the lessons that made me the man I am today, and whom I have repeatedly tortured with breathtakingly silly and downright stoopid decisions over the years... all captured for the world's entertainment on this blog.

What better way to say I love you Mom, than inviting her to bear witness, first hand to my shenanigans.

So unlike Darwin, on this trip to the Galapagos... I am bringing my MOM.

This one broke the record… Uber from the OC to LAX, flight from LAX to Quito Ecuador, flight from Quito to Guayaquil, flight from Guayaquil to Baltra island, bus from Baltra airport to ferry, ferry from Baltra to Santa Cruz island, bus from ferry landing to Puerto Aroya (the main port city)… well anything worthwhile has to be difficult right?

A random bump from cattle to first class had Heather all smiles... 

And an even bigger smile when we found our first night hostel had air conditioning...

The first day is always about getting settled and meeting the locals... we met this nasty bit of work down by the docks. Apparently he did not appreciate having his picture taken.

I have been puked on plenty of times before; friends, family, children, random acquaintances... adding pelican to the list.

My Spanish is not great, but pretty sure Xeroxcopia is not a thing, but I was pleased to finally find a place where I could actually rent the Internet. This will really come in handy one of these days.

It goes without saying I love Boobies... exclusively the ones attached to my lovely wife.
In my recent research on the Galapagos, I must admit to have fallen for a new set of Boobies... the famed blue footed Boobie, standard looking bird except their feet are a beautiful aqua blue, and not only that, they do a super cool mating ritual where the guy bird dances whilst showing off his blue feet to possibly interested lady birds... literally exactly how I met Heather.
This trip essentially turned into a fanatical search for the blue footed Boobie.

Not just a happy hour, not just a crazy happy hour, not just a super crazy happy hour... no an all capitals, block, multi colored SUPER CRAZY HAPPY HOUR

Finished an exhausting 2 days of planes, boats and automobiles, with some delicious Ecuadorian street food... why so sad dear Grouper?

cuz you are going into my belly... YUM!!!