Equator (Shannon)

We´re in Guayaquil, Ecuador, hoping to find space on a Galapagos tour boat we can afford. We´re staying at a great, cheap hostel with parrots and marmosets zipping around. We´re already seen more animalitos in this city than in all of Peru. Large, lazy iguanas have taken over Simon Bolivar park, and I was chased by the world´s biggest turkey, who didn´t want any humans using the outhouse in his chicken yard.

Another animal is on my mind, my dog, Sila, at Vesla´s in Ithaca, who had a cancerous thing removed from her mouth. Vesla says Shay´s eating, running around, acting normal, but that dogs with cancer can go suddenly. Now the Galapagos calls. To go home or not? Our trip ends in 3 weeks, but we may cut it short to get the girl. Any advice from friends is welcome. sbr_bear@yahoo.com