Victor enjoying the view with his new barbie doll - she's a tame one.

Yes, this is the "junior girls" section of the Venezuelan "Target"  My friend was having a blast with her camera snapping photos of manaquins and Christmas decorations. 

A LITTLE COLD IN THE STORE.  SERIOUSLY, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AT THE GYM IN HUMAN FORM.

DAMAS -MANAQUIN...WHOA

Camp Escondida, Edventures, Zip line in background



Pronounced of course, Damas (women) but my friend says DAM ASS, cracks me up.

 

ISABELLA "CAMPER OF THE WEEK" Really, she won camper of the week - we are so proud :)



Isabella had a great time on her trips.  Their outdoor EDventures week was a super success.  A little different from Montana but a wonderful experience for sure.  They were cut off from cell phones and computers, something her classmates and (some parents) could not understand whatsoever.   They were able to do climbing walls, zip lines, camp songs, team building activities and the coolest thing was caving.  They went into a cave where they were up to their chests in water, pitch black but for their headlamps, crawled 45 meters on their stomachs, put on gas masks due to the toxic mushrooms in one area and then experienced a complete black out with all headlamps turned off and total silence.   Brings back memories as the darkness exercise is something I did with my students once in a cave in Colorado.

Of course, after 10 days of traveling nearly 1/2 the school ended up with a really fun flu- like illness.  Isabella got it and just got back to school today after 4 days in bed.   Now soccer season starts and Xela had a fun first practice with the middle school girls.   Isabella won't start until tomorrow as she needs to continue resting.

We are all planned and ready to leave next Tuesday for Canaima National Park and be on a river for 3 days ending up at Angle Falls for days 4 and 5.   Should be very exciting.   Victor continues to run or bike every morning at 5am with Alexa.  Alexa is doing really, really well. Tropical life agrees with her. Her hind leg that was damaged and had surgery is back to full muscle development, she doesn't limp or have major arthritis pain and seems happy.  She gets vacation time as well when we leave. She goes to a teacher's house up in the mountains and gets to run around 3 acres with a bunch of other dogs.  She's always happy there.  Here,  she only gets a little bit of free time off the leash (at night, when we are far out on the pier/levy away from the very aggressive cats and iguanas and pet bunnies).  Although someday,, she is going to jump right off the seawall into the crashing waves going after the crabs.  At night, we 've been having these crazy winds and swells that are no normal.  

The new friend I have who we have had dinner with a few times and will join us for Angle Falls will move in a month.  She just arrived a month ago, and her husband is getting transferred to Houston (after 10 years of being overseas, they are not ready to go back to Houston).  I am sooooo bummed.  She is my age, but kids all in college, infectious laugh, is NOT with Chevron so we are outsiders who GASP…….rely on private taxi services and don't have shipments of American food sent to us.  

I am getting invited to some lunches and hang out with a few ladies at the gym.  OMG, tomorrow, my OLDER Norwegian friends talked me into doing an "exercise" class at the gym…..ahhhh, it is this salsa,  pulsating dance class (balaitherapia - dance therapy).   I shall be in the back row, without my 38D boobs, size two bathing suit outfit, nor any coordination and my gringa foot slapping dancing. (really, it is something to see these woman do these classes).   Well, gotta keep it interesting and keep trying new things. 

We went out in a friend's boat last weekend and enjoyed the beaches and islands.  Ate fresh fish and relaxed.  All is good.  Life is good.  We miss Big Sky but are taking advantage of the Caribbean way of life. 

Isabella at Edventures climbing wall

DIVING AND CAVING

Last Saturday was the postponed underwater pumpkin carving contest with Bahia Divers and Xela's open water certification dive.  While Isabella was in Valencia, Venezuela at a volleyball tournament, Victor, Xela and myself went out on the dive.  Victor snorkled and we saw some great corral and fish. The pictures don't do the dive justice as most of the pictures I posted were during the cluster time of carving thus we were moving around a lot of sand while we carved.

The second set of pictures below are on an island where we dropped down into a cave and saw bats, cool geology and fun crawling around.  A hidden little place where few people know about. 

Isabella's volleyball tourny went well. They won their first 5/5 games, went into the playoffs and lost the first round and ended up in 3rd to the two teams they had already beaten.  But, they had fun and Isabella had 14 points straight in one game and had the 2 winning spikes in two different tie breaker matches.  She came home for one night, repacked and left for Adventure Camp with her MS classmates on an eco, team building, outdoor ed week.  Kind of quiet around here.  Next sport is soccer and Xela is going to give the MS team a tryout.  We'll see...

All is calm and easy going right now around here.  Trying to organize a book club to start in January.  More expats are moving here and the school now has a waiting list.  Victor continues on at PDVSA but also continues to farm out offers etc.  It seems every company here needs Geophysicists. 

Latin America is reving up for the holidays.  The stores, malls and streets are all decorated and ready to go.  wow.  we leave for Angle Falls and the jungle for Thanksgiving for 5 days in the jungle. We added on a couple of days to the normal AF trip to travel along a river and sleep in hammocks....I won't sleep a wink in a hammock.  oh well.  It's all for the experience.

Xela on her open water dive, practicing sitting nuetral criss cross

FLOATING PUMPKINS WEIGHTED DOWN READY FOR CARVING AFTER A NICE DIVE

Stephanie (right) and her buddy carving away. Vis not so good, considering everyone was kicking up sand

CHILI COOKOFF, BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT AND HOLLOWEEN

Chili Cookoff at Colegio Internacional de Puerto La Cruz

4 and a half latinas

5th grade chili HOT PUPPIES

5TH GRADE

ELENA, XELA(WITHALEXA), JULIA, STEPHANIE AND EMILY

SOLD OUT OF CHILI

ELENA, STEPHANIE, XELA AND MS MUNROE

CIPLC 4/5 GREEN TEAM AT OUR FIRST/LAST TOURNY

4/5 GIRLS GECKO GIRL TEAM

SECOND PLACE

ALL TEAMS CELEBRATE

GETTING READY FOR THE BIG NIGHT

AT THE MANEFFA HOUSE

DISCO, ZOMBIE WITCHES, ELENA, XELA AND MARIANA

HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLE KILLER AND CAROLINA AS A NERD

VICTOR WITH THE GIRLS

WHO IS THE BIGGEST KID?

Galapogos and what's happening

I finally got some internet speed to post the pictures and electricity always helps too.  We are getting a generator for our building but will take another 2 weeks to be completely installed.  Back to blackouts again...due to weather this time...I think.

The Galapogos were an amazing experience.  What was so cool was seeing wildife that adapted to such a strange and far away place. And, to see animals that "looked" the same, but actually had different DNA due to being on a different island.  We were able to see some very rare things like a short eared owl (didn't make it to the blog).  We snorkled and tons of angel fish, parrot fish, et al, turtles, and two sea lions who decided to jump in and check us out...or show off.  It was incredible.

Four days on the sailboat were just enough since our last night was a 10 hour sail back to Santa Cruz Island.  Xela was the only one who didn't become green and could not wait to get off the boat.  We then spent 2 days enjoying SC Island and 2 days in Quito.  The girls were really into learning about the wildlife and I was so surprised at how well organized and protective the Ecuador government and many other organizations were of operations of the Park.  You can absolutely not travel beyond Santa Cruz without a certified boat and guide. 

Quito was fun.  We walked the kids right into a pro-president rally by mistake, taking the kids to the Grande Plaza.  I was the only stand out.  So, they hung on to their dad. (the Pres. is buddies with Chavez so not so good for me to be walking around :)).  We ended up in a wonderful French restaurant, see pictures for more.

Read below to the nightmare I returned home to. But, we now have everything fixed and in order. Holloween will be posted next.  That was a wigged out experience.  We went with friends to Las Villas (where all the big houses that Chevron people live) to trick or treat on Saturday.  We were surrounded by Chevron security, victor and I were the only adults dressed up, (all the other dads  in kaki pants with polo shirts) and we were in a safe gated neighborhood - but really, the security detail with flashing lights on a truck, radios, et al was rediculous.  It just made them all bigger targets.  Probably like Denise walking up BeeHiveBasin with the SS.   The kids had a blast though and we ended up at a Chevron home for a garage party, although people were from all over the world, they are so insular.  The good thing is, I am branching out with friends from other companies that live independently like us and met one lady who is a RIOT.  She just got here and is basically on her own like me so we've been doing stuff together. 

I was offered a full time 5 prep (5 different classes) in HS English as the current teacher decided to break contract and return to her sick mother.  It is not my field, and I saw it as a huge challenge to be teaching and grading over 100 papers to ESL kids with 5 preps plus extracurricular duties, plus help victor with his business, plus help the kids with sometimes 2-3 hours of homework plus the usual orthodontist appts et al and living here.  Really, I am not qualified to teach HS English with the expectation that these kids are ALL to be in AP by 11 or 12th grade.  I offered part time, but the director didn't want that, so he got a new fresh, first time teacher who has never taught or lived overseas to fill the position.   I sought out advice from friends who are HS English teachers and they told me that I really should not take that kind of load on.  5 preps is actually more than most teachers ever have anyway.  I would have gone crazy. I appreciated the fact that I was offered the position but I am sure I shot myself in the foot for any other possibility at the school.

Isabella leaves tomorrow at 5am for her Volleyball tournament.  They play for 3 days then return late Saturday....hopefully.  The airport here is suppose to be closed this weekend.  They then leave for outdoor ed camp with the school for a week. The camp looks really cool, with ropes courses, a caving day, zip-line et al. Of course, (Chevron again) there will be escorted security.  It wigs me out not because I am scared, just that they create such fear-mongering and actual attention to themselves. 

Here is a typical injustice.  We have no Chevron kids on our bus, so our kids bus has a new pickup which is not on our route or even remotely close to our route. But, it is on the Las Villas/Chevron route.  But, Chevron rules are that their school busses (same bus service as us) do not make stops to non-chevron kids.  Chevron gives millions to the school, incorporates their security at the school so the same ol same ol....money and influence talk.  So, now we are debating switching the kids off the school busses for the morning route and hiring our own guy for the morning.  (transportation is not included in tuition) because our kids are sitting on the bus for an extra 20 - 30 minutes in heavy traffic getting tardies which lead into detentions.  Of course, there is no fighting this, just accept or make our own plans.

Xela takes her PADI test today, and victor, xela and I are all going diving this weekend.  Whew, almost there, and we are all certified divers.  Planning our trip to Angel Falls, sleeping in hammocks at the base of the falls, river trip for over thanksgiving.  That's my other job. Travel agent. I guess i better get on the Cuba trip soon too.

more later, s

The Galapogos Islands

"IT IS NOT THE STRONGEST OF THE SPECIES THAT SURVIVES, NOR THE MOST INTELLIGENT THAT SURVIVES. IT IS THE ONE THAT IS THE MOST ADAPTABLE TO CHANGE THAT SURVIVES." - CHARLES DARWIN

Victor organizing camera equipment in our "suite" on board the Encantada

Where are you taking us Isabella? 

The Encantada Sailboat

Early Morning on the Encantada

Rabida Island "Galapogos Sea Lions" migrated from North America 1000's of years ago, now have their own DNA.  Red Volcanic Sand

Xela's snorkling equipment is now a nice comfy pillow

Hey, where are you going with my pillow?

Week old pup nursing

After a busy morning of fishing, one must nap.

Frigated Birds fishing in front of the Encantada

This is MY nap space

Alpha male gets no rest.  He swims all day long, watching over the harem and not letting any bachelors come near the beach.  Until the day, he becomes too old and tired, another male will try to take his place.  All the sea lions on the beach are females or male pups only.

Typical volcanic rock look of the islands

Encantada with our friends Juttah (Germany), Steven (France), Xela (reading of course)

Bartolome Island, view of the Galapogos Islands

Boats waiting for their passengers

Volcanic craters

Masked Booby with chick.  The chicks stay with their parents almost a year.

Red Footed Booby

Masked Booby "hey this is my turf"

ahhh, aren't we cute?

he Galapagos Islands are home to Marine Iguanas, Land Iguanas, a hybrid mix of the whose father's are marine iguanas and mother's are land iguanas.

5:30 am, on Genovesa Island.  Although a very dry environment, every morning there is a mist-like rain on Genovesa creating these great colors in the vegetation.



Genovesa Island



Genovesa Island

Land Iguana, thought to be the one of the oldest species on the planet (10 million years).  Theory is they arrived via riding on some wood or something, adapted to the ability to purify the salt water internally into non-saline water. Hence, they spit all the time...the salt out.

Geovesa Island 6am

LONESOME GEORGE: around 95 years old still has another 100 or so left. He is the LAST of his species found on Pinta Island.  The two females are from a different island and have a DNA make-up of 75% closeness to George.  The problem is....George doesn't feel like mating. 

Charles Darwin Research Center.  A research and breeding center.  Once the tortuese's reach about 4 years old they are released to the wild within the park islands.  Unfortunately, 100's of years of ships passing through used them for food, for trade and then illegal trade.  The park is incredibly protected and is excellent with tourism controls, sustainability, protection and research.

Reserva Primicias, tortoise's are wild but mellow

Tourist Photo

This was hysterical watching this guy try to get through the trees.  There was a less direct and easier route, but this was point A to Point B thinking.  He made it.

Shells found on the island

Entrance to the LAVA caves on Santa Cruz Island

Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz Island. Considered one of the most beautiful beaches in SA.  Most likely due to the massive amount of protection not only of the islands but of the surrounding seas.  White, white sand, no garbage, no people, just wildlife.

Marine Iguana (can reach 3 feet long)  Tortuga Bay

Lagoon at Tortuga Bay

Lava cave formed millions of years ago, with Marcus, our bud,  from Switzerland

Entrance to our hotel on Santa Cruz Island

Hotel grounds, Santa Cruz Island

Mangroves in Black Turtle Cove

Going under mangroves to get inside the Mangrove gardens

Large sea Turtle

After a long journey on a sailboat, must have a milkshake

Breakfast on the Encantada, USA, Finland, Hong Kong, Switz, France, Germany represented our small group.

The Encantada

The STRENGTH of my children....lava boulders are very light. haha

seriously, my kids are strong....:)

All lava material and lava craters

Sailing at night

Dinner is served on the Encantada

Isabella's favorite, one of the many Darwin Finches.  Thanks to Ms. Barton's science class she knew the whole evolution/adaptation story of the finch.  We have A LOT of pictures of Finches. :)

The two naturalists and the camera equipment

how did you get the bird to get in your hands?

Highlands of Santa Cruz, very moist, rainy, humid.  This is one of the huge lava craters found in the highlands.

Two tired travelers waiting to check in Quito.

Mrs. Dork with the Opera Singer

One of the best meals we ever had.  Gorgeous renovated Colonial building in the "old town" of Quito next to the Presidential Palace, French amazing food and Opera.

Dessert

On the roof of the Grande Plaza Building after dinner

Old Town, Presidential Palace, Quito, Equador