Connections, friendship and globalisation

Puerto Ayora seen from Playa de la Estación. November 2018

no he escrito en años, se siente como siglos

pero eh

aquí va

...

Teddy Roosevelt said: "No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care"

I ´beyond´ care for Galapagos! 

I am who I am (professionally) because of my life in Galapagos. I arrived alone in 1995. We left in 2015. For most of those 20 years, I worked at the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), and WWF-Ecuador back when Galapagos was their focus. Forging the start of my knowledge base, the connections, the friendships and relationships that still make me warm inside. 

I now live in Darwin, Australia. Not visited by Charles Darwin in his voyage on the Beagle. 

Molly, Theo, Leo and Kai with
Galapagos Deli ice cream - Feb 2009

My dear Darwin-friend Mandy (and her family) are in Galapagos now. They have hugged our mutual friends and visited our home in El Eden while visiting with Wonderful Margarita. They went to the Galapagos Deli, and visited with Don William de los Encocados. They ate bolon and freshly caught fish (I mean, that day's catch).

I came to Darwin (Australia) because of Mandy (and because I got a scholarship for Charles Darwin University - CDU to do my PhD). Mandy, then life-partner of our dear Galapagos-life-long friend Mark Gardener (dating back to 1998), visited us in Galapagos in 2006 with Molly. By 2008, Mark, Mandy and Molly were back in Galapagos, with Mandy doing her PhD in the parte alta de Santa Cruz with CDU. Now, Mandy (and Mark and Molly) are staying at Noemi's house al otro lado. 

V, Mandy, Noemi and Sabine - Dec 2011

I met Noemi back in 2001 when she came as an expert volunteer to Biomar (Area de Biologia Marina, CDF) where I worked as a marine scientist. Noemi developed the much needed Access database to manage the Fisheries Monitoring Program. The results from that Access database helped monitoring fisheries catches (i.e. fin fish, sea cucumber, spiny lobster) providing info for the management of the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Then, in 2003 Noemi returned and set roots. Noemi is among my dear friends that are still living in Galapagos. Most of my queridas 'Susanitas' have migrated outbound. 

Galapagos, is a set of big and small islands. Only five islands are inhabited: Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela, Floreana y Baltra with about 30,000 people living on those five islands. Two airports connecting to mainland (Ecuador) plus one local one connecting all three; and, 184 km of roads all in all. For most of the residents in Galapagos, there is no real knowledge of the uniqueness, the specialness of Galapagos. Most of them have never left the island, unless to fly to mainland. There were 329,475 tourists in 2023, they saw what the real Galapagos is about. 

Back in 2020, our dear friend Roby Pepolas (his sons Leo and Kai are in the photo of the kids with ice cream) envisaged what is now Galapagos Infinito. Galapagos Infinito is an experiential education program that aims to take all Grade 6 (12 yo) students on guided visits to other islands. This will strengthen their belonging to Galapagos, nurture their love for the islands and deepen their connection with their environment. Galapagos Infinito is now sailing in our dear neighbours (Rafael Gallardo and Ale Camacho) on their sailboat "Ballenato" and yesterday they took students from the (public) Oswaldo Guayasamin School. Noemi is the one who runs the show with the help of many other volunteers like another beautiful amiga Colette Moine, back from the 'Cuatro Linternas' time in 1996.

With Mandy's trip to Galapagos, my dear friend Catrin, responsible for widening my social circle upon my arrival to Darwin, and I had a serious chat. 

Catrin and V, 2 April 2016

One day, out of the blue in April 2016, at the Nightcliff Public Pool, I heard a 'Vero' that would significantly change my life. Catrin, whom I had known (and partied with at Bongo) in Galapagos is now a Darwin-local. Catrin introduced me to most of the most amazing people I could think of. Catrin and I, we both have been back to Galapagos, with a pending trip back again, together.

Mandy (and Noemi), Catrin and I, all lived in Galapagos at the same time. With Noemi being the one holding the fort now. 

Our privilege allowed us to see the real Galapagos. 

We, all four of us, understand that if Galapagos is to be kept at its best, we need to do transformational change in the younger generations. Galapagos Infinito spreads the privilege of sailing and seeing the real Galapagos, thus imbuing environmental literacy with a hands-on approach. Just what is needed in this mobile-infused lives. 

Sailing away - Galapagos Infinito 4 Dec 2024

Please consider donating using the link created by Mandy earlier this week. Us – Mandy, Catrin and I, would like to invite you to generate this transformational change by donating to ensure this program keeps running.

To date, over 150 students from Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela, Floreana have sailed to different sites such as Playa Ochoa and Five Fingers in San Cristobal; and, Playa de los Marinos y Daphne in Santa Cruz/Baltra. The kids are guided by experienced local naturalist guides who volunteer their time. 

Daphne is where Professors Rosemary and Peter Grant worked on Galapagos finches for over 40 years. They witnessed evolution in real time. 

Running a school of the sea in Galapagos is an expensive affair, we need your support.

You know WE care, you can care too. 

Thanks amigos y amigas, apologies for only having it in English.