The Trip Of A Lifetime - COVID-19 Stress Recovery
When was the last time you had an experience where you were able to just let everything go? I mean “everything” as in: disconnecting from technology, setting aside all responsibilities, and enjoying the current moment surrounded with loved ones, no worries in the world. If you asked me this question a month or two ago, I would’ve stared at you for a moment, racking my brain, only to realize that I wouldn’t be able to tell you. With the heaviness and stress resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, my family and I were due for a rejuvenating escape from the rest of the world. Recently, we were able to fulfill that dream and take a trip to the isolated Galápagos Islands.
How to Prepare?
As much as I’d like to tell you that this vacation was intended solely to recover from the trials and tribulations of the last year and a half, that’s not actually the case. We planned the excursion a little over a year and a half ago and of course, we never thought at the time that our family vacation would be in jeopardy due to a pandemic.
Months leading up to our departure, planning and expectations were a bit challenging. We removed our family from the trip months prior because of the risk of COVID, but thankfully our kids (2 of 3) were able to get vaccinated in advance, due to the approval to let kids 12 and above get fully or partially vaccinated. This gave the entire family more comfort about venturing to South America and solidified our plans, but it still required lots of commitment. On top of that, we realized planning was more than what we could do on our own. We used a travel agent named Indagare who helped coordinate all of the details and the complexity of having 22 people along for the ride (our family of 18 people and another family of 4 - how crazy). However, utilizing the agent allowed us to mentally prepare for the experience of a lifetime that was slowly creeping up.
This trip was our first time going abroad with our children, so it was something my family was looking forward to. We think it’s so important for our kids to see what else is out there, especially cultures in poor and not as fortunate regions like Ecuador - this was the perfect opportunity to do just that! Aside from vacationing outside of the U.S. for the first time, we were also looking forward to sightseeing for the first time since COVID started. Our family travels a lot and it had been almost two years since being on a plane, so it was nice to get back into the swing of how things were, even if it was just temporary.
Though there were many things to look forward to on our visit to the Galápagos, our main goals were to appreciate getting away, put COVID aside, and enjoy special time with cousins, siblings, grandparents, and no technology.
And We’re Off!
Upon arrival, we spent 7 nights on an old Japanese fishing boat from the 1970’s called “The Evolution.” The boat didn’t have any cell service or Wi-Fi, so as parents, we were looking forward to everyone being unplugged for the length of our stay, including stopovers in Quito - 12 days!
Each day, there were two sets of activities, aside from the morning and afternoon siestas that helped us relax. Activities included snorkeling, hiking or walking on volcanic islands, swimming with sea lions, and kayaking. To make the experience educational, there were two naturalists on our boat that led our activities and taught us about the culture and environment of the Galápagos and its connection with Charles Darwin.
We saw pretty much everything except for hammerhead sharks and pink flamingos, the animals you’d expect to see when you hear about the Galápagos. The animals of the Islands were ridiculously curious, active, and vibrant. The wildlife and scenery was unreal – three types of iguanas (land, marine and Santa Fe), blue-footed booby, Orca Whales, Galápagos Penguins, sea turtles...the list goes on and on. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. We ventured up and down the east side of the islands to Mosquera Islet, Chinese Hat Island, Puerto Egas, Tower Island, North Seymour Island, Santa Fe Island, Floreana, and Santa Cruz.
When the day was done, we returned to the boat and each evening, before dinner, the two naturalists gave us lectures for about an hour. Each lecture was very educational and informative for all ages. We learned about different aspects of the Galápagos, its connection with Darwin, and were given a brief overview of the next day’s activities and expected wildlife. We had so much fun that we could hardly bear to say goodbye to our newfound happy place. Alas, all good things are temporary, and we eventually had to return home to Rhode Island.
Looking Back
Though the experience was amazing for all of us, it was especially impactful for the kids. At first, we didn’t know if the trip would be too grown up or educational for our children. That was not at all the case, and the kids loved every minute of it. My oldest kept a personal animal log recording all details of the names of each wildlife species we saw every day. His list is extensive and gives me so much joy - I know he’ll look back years from now and value the memories we made.
The kids’ eyes were always wide open and they participated in many activities like snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, and even swimming with the sea lions. We truly experienced the island through our own eyes and the eyes of our children. It was a time of our lifetime and for them to experience one of the wonders of the world is something I am so grateful for.
This trip slowed us all down, including the kids. Not having any Wi-Fi or cell coverage for 12 days was the best way to disconnect. After being so cooped up at home during the pandemic, it was especially important to get away with our extended family. Putting everything aside and immersing ourselves into a new culture and community filled with animals was breathtaking.
If I had to sum up my experience in two words, what comes to mind is “peace” and “nature.” You don’t see that too often here in the U.S. as we’re always moving around, investing in the news, and engrossed in technology. This getaway showed me how to slow down, how to engage with wildlife, and how to put things aside and just relax in peace – far, far away from any civilization. Though it’s always nice to be home, these isolated islands will always hold a special place in our hearts.
As I sift through the 1500+ photos I took on my visit and relive my experience in the Galápagos, I’m reminded why I do what I do. You see, I’ve always been a storyteller, having worked as a photographer. As much as I love photography, my true desire is to help people grow their businesses and passions to help them succeed.
That’s why I started Aperture - to be able to help early to mid-stage businesses break into new markets and strategically take their business to the next level. Despite not doing photography full-time, I’m still influenced by that passion and incorporate it into the work I do. In photography, aperture refers to the opening through which light enters a camera. At my business, also named Aperture CPG, my unique approach to helping other businesses succeed is to shine a light on new opportunities and help them concentrate on where to focus next.
Much like a camera goes everywhere with you, know that I am here for you on every step of your journey. I hope you’ll join me for my next blog as we dive into the heart of my Galápagos adventure and how it relates to my business as a “fresh lens for growth.”