From the farm to the Galapagos!

Hi everyone! We left the Timpe farm and have arrived in the Galapagos. It is a dream come true for me. I remember learning about Darwin in my sophomore year of high school, and it just blew my mind, so being here is surreal. But I'm getting ahead of myself! Let's back up.

Our last few days at the Timpe farm were very special. The kids FINALLY got to harvest limas and tangerines. They were SO HAPPY. I'm starting to think Baker belongs on a farm, so LMK if you have a farm and would like some free, semi-reliable help.

The following day, the farm manager, Mentor, packed up the produce and took it to market in Ambato (about an hour away). We went to the market and were blown away by the size of it--maybe about 10 times the size of Pike Place Market. I have never seen anything like it, and we were all overwhelmed by the noise and bustle. But after getting used to it, the kids had more fun. They bought about $25 worth of fruit to take back to the farm, which would have easily been $200 in the states. Here is Baker with $3 worth of fresh tomatoes that we ate with tacos that night and then as spaghetti sauce for lunch the next day:

We also spent a lot of time in Patate, which is such a wonderful little town. The kids fell in love with the ice cream shop and the cheese & sugar empanadas from a street vendor (6 for $1!).

It was so hard to leave the Timpe family, but the Galapagos were calling. The kids sobbed as we drove away from the farm, and were only calmed by our promises to bring them back next year. This farm is a magical place, and I sure hope we fulfill that promise.

We spent a rest day in Quito (the kids binged the entire first season of the "Not Quite Narwhal" series on Netflix while Ryan and I relished some time in the hotel gym), and then we were off for the Galapagos. Our first day here has been everything I had hoped. We flew to Balta, an uninhabited island that has the airport, crossed the Itabaca Channel on a boat, landed on Santa Cruz, and drove to see the Giant Tortoises. Holy moly you guys, these reptiles are amazing! (We are standing a few feet behind this big boy...he's big, but not that big.) We went to privately owned land where the tortoises roam freely, and I was so impressed by how seriously the local people take the conservation of these animals.

Then we walked through a crazy lava tunnel created by a volcanic eruption centuries ago. The little kids were scared out of their minds, which I understand, but it was absolutely amazing down there.

Finally, we headed to Safari Camp, where we'll be staying while on Santa Cruz. Now, here is the BEST part for all our Bertschi people out there. When we arrived, we had a note from the wonderful Teri B., who had stayed here with her family last winter! She wrote that she hoped our trip was full of wonder and wonderings (oh, Teri), and it made us all feel so loved and cared for. And speaking of feeling loved, thank you friends for all your messages, check-ins, and general love and support. We love you and miss you.

All my love,

Madeline