When I was 14, my science teacher game me an inscribed copy of the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, and ever since then I’ve wanted to go to the Galapagos Island.  Five years later, in university, I met one of my now best friends, who just happened to be an Ecuadorian.  It would take another 10 years for me to make the trip there, but it was so worth the wait.  Being my first vacation trip alone, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but my friend was there to guide me.
Guayaquil is your standard, busy South American city, where people use their horns rather than their signal, where you can buy fresh coconut on the side of the road, and where culture scan be found everywhere.  It’s parks offer a place of serenity and calm, and aren’t far from the busyness.
Quito was like a character foil to Guayaquil.  Perhaps it’s the cooler climate, or less business-oriented mentality, but Quito had a quiet calmness to it compared to Guayaquil. The city of churches, has a very noticeable European flare, but still maintains its South American identity.
The Galapagos Islands were my book come to life.  Puerto Ayora was a lazy, beach town, and a short walk along the main street can lead you to the Charles Darwin Research Station. And although it’s a prime tourist destination, sighs of local life can be seen all around.