Hi Mike. First of all, congratulations on the completion of the sale of Jennius. We now have Salica on the market, hopefully that might pay for the E and G trip- one day!
Thanks for those experiences from your ARC days. I fully appreciate what you say with regards to seeing Galapagos on your own boat. Disappointing and frustrating, but I think the ethics behind so many of their restrictions are good and well meaning. As we will be on a fixed tour we wont have the limitations you suffered and although we're not on one of the bigger boats, will actually have a little more luxury than we are accustomed to when onboard!!
Did you swim/snorkel there at all and if so what were the water temperatures like and at what time of year? I figure the Caribbean has spoilt me? Am really looking forward to visiting Ecuador as that will be an added pleasure for 9days or so. Using a British company who are small but well experienced, our age and accompany their smallish groups, which suits us, but probably wouldn't have worked so well for you?
Hope all is well with you and Jean and that you are enjoying the next phase of your lives.
