NOTE TO READERS - NOW YOU CAN POST COMMENTS MORE EASILY. I UPGRADED THE COMMENT RULES SO POST COMMENTS!!!!! TITO
Three months ago, Patricio Proano was devastated to discover that his son, Patito, had just been killed in a car accident. Determined that such a tragedy be prevented from ever occurring again, Patricio founded an organization called Cambio Por La Vida, or Change for Life. One of its purposes is to convince drivers and cyclists to share the road, and, towards that end, his organization has organized a day without cars. This Saturday, the entire downtown of Puerto Ayora (meaning about 10 blocks of streets) will be for cyclists and pedestrians. Via Activa is dedicated to Patito and, as such, will offer workshops on bike maintenance as well as on preservation of the unique flora and fauna of the islands.
We had a meeting last night, and reps from the CDF, mayor's office and police force were there. I asked if they intended to do an evaluation of the day. The immediate response was "yes!." The mayor's rep said "we must document the good, bad and ugly" with photos. I happened to have my somewhat fancy camera with me, raised it in the air and offered to do the documentation. They happily took me up on the proposal.
The members of Change for Life are cycling maniacs of many ages, from their 20s to much older. They are a rollicking crowd and I was privileged to be able to join them last Saturday for a ride to the highlands, as the area of Bellavista is called. On this island, Santa Cruz, there are four climate zones, ranging from the coastal areas to the very wet and cool mountains. We biked to the higher areas, from which you can see the village and the sea breaking its waves near the tour boats.
As we entered the highlands, we left the road and biked through one of the many farms. This one was different, though, since it is a tortoise sanctuary. Hundreds of giant tortoises, most weighing well over 400 pounds, loll around and have ET-looking faces. They browse in a solitary way, maybe realizing that being a Type-A personality has little value when you will live for well over a century. They munch on grass, make deep hissing noises when they back into their shell, and don't pay much attention to visitors.
2 comments:
Ouch regarding Carlos and his injury! A lesson there for any displaced "Irregulars"? Or maybe you were displace this summer and are now "in place".
I am thinking that those turtles don't need the type of "rescue" many cyclists here in the states engage in. No / not much asphault upon which to sun themselves, and much too large for one person to move.
Many of the tortoises are almost the size of VWs. The rescue they need is freedom from rats and dogs that often eat the eggs. The Park is doing what it can to remove the feral animals! Tito
Post a Comment