I’d been on the road for nearly a year and should know better, but somehow Galapagos was giving me a little test. This was the third example of stupidity since I’d arrived. First, I’d left my bank card at El Chato and had to pay for a taxi to take me back for it, completely cancelling out any financial benefits of sharing a ride there in the first place. Secondly, the whole ATM, no-money fiasco once I arrived at Isla Isabela.
And now this. I’d had this horrible feeling that I’d forgotten something, but then I often have that worry. Only this time it felt real.
Sure enough, once I got back to Puerto Ayora and unpacked my bags I realised I’d left my hard drive and banking key hidden under the mattress in the hotel on Isla Isabela. A two hour boat ride away. How silly.
Time to pull myself out of my drifty traveller dreamspace and tune back into reality, switch back on.
‘Dejo mi disco duro bajo el cochón en Hotel Sandrita en Isabela’. I was back on Isla Santa Cruz in the Galapagos trying my best to explain to Maria who ran Los Amigos in Puerto Ayora that I’d left my hard drive behind on Isla Isabela, trying to ask her for some help.
She got the phone books out, made a few enquiries and dialled me through to Señora America at Hotel Sandrita, the place I’d stayed over in Puerto Vilamil on Isla Isabella. ‘Ah yes’, said America, ‘I’ll send it through on a boat tomorrow. Be there at 0800’.
After barely four hours sleep I was up and standing bleary-eyed at the water’s edge trying to decide which boat was my boat. I hadn’t fully understood America’s instructions. My Spanish failed me. So I did the rounds and chatted to captains and crew, but no one had a parcel for me.
After some minutes a guy who had been skulking around (and also looked like it was too early for him to be up and about) approached me. ‘Are you looking for a parcel from Isabela? Are you Finola?’ he asked.
He directed me to a little office and sure enough, there was a small package. For me.
Oh happy day.
Privileged worries and a shallow blog posting ? Yes, maybe. But, a reality of backpacking nonetheless, and another story from the road.
travelola 
While I was reading it, I was really wondering what the ending would be. Good to hear you had it back. 🙂
South America was good to me, the Galapagos in particular. None of the horror stories that some travellers tell… I was very lucky on many levels. Thanks for reading and commenting!
No problem. I’ve always wondered about that place. I heard the big tortoise (that almost celebrity one) died already. =(
RIP Lonesome George (
So frustrating, but at least you had a happy ending!!
Yep! South America (and the Galapagos in particular) did a good job of reinstilling my faith in human nature… trust… Frustrations were worth it, in that respect! Thanks for stopping by!
me alegro mucho que conseguiste explicar tu problema en español, ¡y funcionó!
Some progress!
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