Return to the moon

Yesterday I got a chance to read the text of Bush's speech at NASA. It feels to me like he is inspired by the moon colony in 2001: A Space Odyssey. I can't imagine there is the political will to increase the NASA budget. And I wonder if there is even a conceptual design for a new vehicle to go to the moon. Much less a cost estimate--Bush wants to spend 11 billion over 5 years but that covers only the period before any construction starts. What is the connection to his father's proposal?

scattered

Much to do to get back and into the swing of the semester (I missed a few days). I have added more pictures to the page linked below.

More pictures

are here (caution--large page)

We're back!

Too tired to say much except to post this picture from the open-air restaurant at the airport on the way home. The Galapagos National Park is very careful to keep people from changing the animals' behavior, but the airport restaurant is one place where the Darwin's finches have learned a new source of food.

off we go

Information on our boat is here, though we have a customized itinerary:

Day 1 Baltra, South Plaza
Day 2 Espanola (Gardner Bay, Punta Suarez)
Day 3 Floreana ( Punta Cormorant, Devils Crown and/or Champion, Post Office Bay, Highlands)
Day 4 Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Research Station, Highlands)
Day 5 Genovesa (Darwin Bay, Prince Philip Steps)
Day 6 Bartolome, Santiago (Puerto Egas)
Day 7 Rabida, Santa Cruz (Cerro Dragon)
Day 8 North Seymour, Baltra

It is the two days in Quito first I am worried about--traveling with kids in a third world country. We decided to arrange to have a van meet us at the airport after the person in the Galapagos who is arranging our trip sent us the following information about taking a taxi safely:

It can still be a bit of a scramble getting through the crowd to the taxi van outside, so make sure you keep your eyes on your bags at all times. When travelling as a family we always have the following rule when getting into a taxi of any kind: one parent always gets into the taxi first, before our kids get in. (This is to avoid the very unlikely but still possible danger of having a kid get in the taxi and the taxi driver suddenly driving off with him or her before the parent gets in - unfortunately kidnapping is a real, though rare, event). The second rule is for one parent to get in the taxi before the bags are put in--this is to avoid the driver driving off with your bags before you get into the taxi. Also be vigilant like this when you get out of your taxi when you arrive at your destination. It is best for one adult to stay in the taxi until the bags and kids are out.

We'll be back Jan. 10.

still here, barely

My daughter had a stomach virus a week ago, my husband got it Tuesday, my son last night. I'm not feeling too good myself now. No one was sick Christmas day, and the most important thing is to get through it before we leave on our big trip Tuesday. But there was an awful lot I was hoping to get done this break that isn't getting done. Expect little posting until after we get back Jan. 10.

Holiday Greetings!