On My Way - Quito and Celebrity Xpedition

Contrasts. I can tell already this will be a journey of contrasts. Tonight, I’m sitting in the wonderful lobby of the JW Marriott Hotel in Quito, enjoying the sound of the waterfalls, the soft music and unbelievable service. Tomorrow, I’ll be on a ship in the Galapagos going back in time and seeing nature and evolution in all their glory. Tonight we had dinner at a historic Opera House while being serenaded, tomorrow we’ll be in shorts and tee shirts and pretty much that’s the dress code for the next week. Tonight is city refinement, tomorrow is nothing but nature.

I should probably take a step back here. How have I gotten here? What is going on so far? And what’s ahead?

Welcome to my “Not Quite Live From Celebrity Xpedition” blog. Because of logistics, both with internet access and time constraints onboard, it was not really possible for me to duplicate the live blog I did from Antarctica earlier this year. So just consider this a time-delayed version, with entries that will be sent out over the next several days. With pictures, of course! Some of the blogs were mostly written on site, while others were completed after the fact. So forgive grammatical lapses with tense and such, and know it’s because of the time I was actually writing that segment.

Galapagos has been on my “top three” places to see list for a very long time, along with Antarctica and Africa. Ever since Celebrity announced their ship the Xpedition in January, 2004, I’ve known she was the ship I wanted to sail on in these mystical islands. Just over a week before I arrived here, I was given the opportunity to come down and experience this ship for myself. You know I jumped at it, even though the planning was a bit harried. This is definitely not your typical cruise, so packing is more challenging. Can we say 30 pound luggage weight limit? That’s not per bag, that’s per person. And they pretty well mean it.

Flights are also a bit of a challenge from the US, as there aren’t that many airlines that serve Quito direct from the US, though connections through other cities in Central and South America are common. Direct flights come from Houston on Continental or Miami on LAN or American Airlines.

Fortunately, the trip here was relatively uneventful. I don’t count airplane “mechanicals” as an issue unless they cause you to miss a flight. Ours didn’t, though they allowed everyone catching the flight to Quito off the flight first, as we had a very tight connection in Miami.

Upon arrival, you’re in the caring hands of Celebrity. On the 10, 11 or 13 night packages, your pre-cruise and post-cruise stays in Quito on the way to the Galapagos are included, as are the transfers, tips, most of the meals in Quito, the day tour, and on and on. They really pride themselves in giving a full service experience.

That care and attention is matched by the associates at the JW Marriott. Truly wonderful staff. The hotel itself is beautiful, with a great lobby and restaurant area, along with excellent pool and spa facilities, and of course what you know and love about Marriott rooms.

The first full day of the trip starts with an included breakfast, then a city tour of Quito, a wonderful lunch a bit outside of town up in the Andes on the edge of a volcanic crater, a fun visit to the Equator, and a really nice dinner at the old Opera House. The day is paced to allow for those having altitude adjustment issues (as Quito is at 9,000 feet). It’s definitely not as full a day as those which are ahead. The best part of the day for me was definitely getting to know some of the other passengers. This ship only carries about 90 passengers, so there’s an opportunity to really get to know your fellow adventurers. This was a good start to that.

I’d actually recommend an extra day here, either at the start or as part of the 11-night package with an additional day at the end, so you can go out into the countryside to see the nature and wildlife in the Cloud Forest or experience the indigenous culture in some of the large Indian Markets.

The visit to the Old City was wonderful. Many of the Cathedrals are encrusted in gold and gold leaf, some of which dates back to Colonial era. The Colonial buildings in the historic district take you back and put you in another time. Beautiful streetscapes are everywhere. It’s really wonderful for history buffs. But even if you’re not a historian, the narrow, winding roads are enjoyable, as is seeing some of the interior courtyards and the people.

By the way, if you’re at all sun sensitive, do wear sunscreen on this excursion, even if it’s cloudy. The thin atmosphere, high altitude, and strength of the sun at the equator combine to make for extreme sun exposure. Trust me on this one. Right now, I’m more than a tad pink, and I was wearing sunscreen.

Oh yes, the people. Have to talk about the people. Beautiful, friendly, open, warm, hospitable. I’ve not encountered a sour face or anything but exceptional service. I definitely want to come back and spend more time with the locals, both in the city and the indigenous people. It’s fantastic to see people in traditional dress on the street, mingling perfectly with those in modern, western clothes. I also have to admit a country where I’m considered tall at just under 5’ is nice and an unusual experience.

Then there’s the food. Take every chance you get to try traditional Equadorian food. Especially the breads. They’re light and flavorful and delicious! Then there’s the potato soup, served with cheese (similar to Monterey jack) and avocados. The sauces are light, but very tasty. But do be careful in Quito about salads, fruits and vegetables, and of course water and ice. Do use bottled water, eliminate ice, and even brush your teeth with bottled water. And wash your hands. Celebrity does take you to quite good restaurants, but as anywhere different to you, precautions are wise.

We’re off very early tomorrow morning for the Galapagos. It’s about a 2 hour flight, then we board zodiacs to reach the ship (there are no docks in Galapagos). Almost immediately, we’ll have our first excursions. Of course, all the excursions (except scuba diving) are included.

It’s the start of the true adventure, and exploration of the contrasts in nature. I can’t wait!