Bob and I have just returned from a wonderful adventure in Ecuador. While the focus of the trip was a visit to the Galapagos Islands, we also spent some time in Quito and Guyaquil, both major cities, and made side trips to Bellavista Lodge near Quito, and Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil. We learned a lot about the history and culture of Ecuador, and had up close and personal experiences with wildlife. During the Galapagos portion of the trip, we lived on a 16-passenger boat, the Tip Top II. From the boat we made numerous landings on the various islands in the Galapagos Archipelago. We visited the following islands: Baltra, Santa Cruz, Rabida, Bartolome, Genovese, North Seymour, South Plaza, Espanola, Punta Suarez on Espanola, and Floreana. Each island has its own ecosystem, and its own wildlife. We were able to walk among the boobies, albatrosses, gulls, sea lions, and iguanas. It was a truly amazing experience.