Nine years ago, just a couple of weeks after 9/11, Irene and I went to the Galapagos Islands to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Until we were actually on our way, we weren’t sure we’d make it. Two of the three Washington, D.C. area airports were still closed, and it took us around three hours and 45 minutes from the time we arrived at BWI until we made it through the heavy security and to our gate, arriving with only minutes to spare.

Once we joined our Lindblad tour in Guayaquil, we learned that only 29 of the 80 passengers had shown up; the rest had either chickened out, not wanting to risk traveling, or had just been unable to find a way to get to Ecuador. But we’d ignored any flying jitters we might have felt, and besides, we felt the few weeks after 9/11 were likely to be the safest travel time ever. Besides, we weren’t going to let anyone steal this trip from us.

We didn’t yet own a digital camera back in 2001, and the Lonely Planet guide advised us to bring 2-3 rolls of film per island we’d be stopping on. Even then, we were told we’d feel we hadn’t taken enough pictures. (The book was right!) When we had the photos developed, we paid extra to have them put on CDs, which I’ve done nothing with until now. But having just run across them, I figured, why not toss them up on Flickr? So check them out if you’re in the mood. Be careful, though—they’re liable to make you want to book your own trip there. They certainly made me want to go back again.

Here I am with sea lions lazing on the beach behind me.

And here I am at the Wasi Cuy restaurant in Quito, having just dined on cuy. You know what cuy is, don’t you?

Guinea pig! And the head of the poor little fella who ended up in my stomach can still be seen peeking out of my mouth …