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Last night we had a much appreciated dinner ashore, big thanks to Dusty and Victor who
made reservations while ashore arranging an early morning dive trip. The restaurant,
Barranco Bar, is quickly accessible by boat taxi. To get there from Ayora would be a one
mile walk. We are not even going to put our dinghy in the water, the water taxi takes you
for shore and back for 50¢ one way. To chance dinging the dinghy on shore is just not
worth it.

After sundowners on the Bella Donna, the water taxi drops us off at the Barranco. The
restaurant and bar is all outdoors. Twinkle lights trim all the railings. The tables are
all candle lit with place settings formally set, even a wooden charger is at each place at
the table. The dinner and drink prices and the menu are like the US. The food was very
good. We had heard that one should not drink the water, but we do it anyway and everything
is alright, so far.

Today we go to shore to explore and find an internet café that offers wifi or at least a
wired internet connection. We start in the first store, a supper market, not to buy but
just to see what is available. We shop moving from store to store down the main street not
buying anything. The idea is to compare prices, see everything that is available and then
make any purchases in the days ahead. The prices are again like the US, not cheap like
Panama. The American dollar is the only currency used here; most tourists here are
American. A lot of the stuff in each store is unique and each store has items that are
made by craftsmen here, Ecuador or somewhere else in central-south America. What is
missing is the typical tourist fare made in places like China.

The thing you notice is the town is very clean, but also very simple. There are 18,000
people on the Santa Cruz Island. There are cars and trucks, mostly Toyota and Mazda. Most
of the people ride bicycles, scooters or motorcycles to get from A to B. You will see a
mother with her 2 year old on a single bike. The little one sits holding the handlebars
with both hands. Kids are always smiling, shinning with total enjoyment. Whole families
ride one scooter; the father drives, the youngest in front of him with both hands on the
handlebars, the older child behind him and the mother last. Everyone just leaves their
bike unlocked when they arrive wherever they are going. Unlocked bikes line the streets.
Bike theft does not seem to be a problem.

The closest comparison I can make to life here is Greece. The language is different, but
the buildings, standard of living and people remind me of the trip we made to Corfu in the
Ionian Sea.

Tomorrow we visit the Darwin Center, stay tuned.

God Bless Bella Donna.