Oct 18. Bartolome: Volcano flows

A pre-breakfast hike up the boardwalk on this small island formed by volcanos and lava flows. Everything is a shade of brown from the high iron content. Flora and fauna are sparse. We spotted a couple of lava lizards, a grey-green low shrub on the lower, gentler slopes, lava cacti growing on the roc, and a whispy plant that looks like a mess of dead things.

Mid-morning we went ashore to snorkel. If I was looking for color I
was disappointed. There was no coral, no colorful fish, and even the
parrot fish had subdued colors. The coarse yellow sand stuck to
everything.

After lunch the "host" professor - emeritus in geology at MIT - gave
a lecture on volcanos. Definitions. Must be volcanos 101.

Oct 17. North Seymour: Overturned Hierarchy

Our naturalists/guides say it is beautiful, but I have a different

emotion. I feel disturbed, upended - the hierarchy of man (sic) over
nature that I am used to has been reversed.

The landscape is stark, brown boulders and "gravel". The fauna are "in charge". Birds nest or
perch wherever it suits them, and are completely unconcerned by thetour group passing by, stopping to peer and photograph them. It'stheir place and space, but humans ar

e welcome (but ignored).

We saw:
* Blue footed booby on nest with chicks

* Frigate birds - lots, all ages - great frigates flying and
magnificent frigates with their red pouches inflated. The photos in
the "required reading" books had spoilt the WOW! moment for me - they looked just like the photographs.

* On the far side of the island we saw pups lions. One bull angrily
defended his harem against us with threatening noises

as he waddled towards us because we

were between him and the cows. Our naturalist
distracted him by swinging her backpack in front of her while walking
backwards. The rest of the group hurried past - they wanted to go
round a different way, but the naturalist said, "No," humans must
stick to the designated narrow path.

Oct 17. Baltra: Embark

The "Tarjeta de control de transition de Galapagos" lists main

activities and asks me to prioritize them-
"Enjoy the landscape; Wildlife watching; Photography &video; Learn
about the local history and culture; Snorkling; Diving; Panga ride;
Surf"Without a second thought I checked the last item: "To be in a unique place"

I am here

Galapagos overview

Jack described the experience as follows:

Consider the Galapagos to be like a mini-planet located about 7/8 of
the way to the moon from the Earth. The moon being rock with no
living species and the Earth bountiful with millions of species. The
Galapagos has several thousand species, but they are really unusual to
survive in such a harsh environment. It was a totally amazing expedition!

Read the later posts for details of each island

Internet issues

Big internet problems on board ship -- hard to do email let alone upload a picture

So all posts will come once we are back in civilized email environment. Sorry! But the stories and photos will be well worth waiting for.

Guayaquil, Ecuador

This city is characteristic of Ecuador's state of "becoming" - just what remains to be seen. But the currency is the US dollar, so that may be a sign. The plane from NY, a 767, was full of Ecuadorians returning home ( with the exception of a handful of Anglos like us). as the plane touched down everyone started clapping, then there was much laughter and high-spirited conversation among strangers in the long linewaiting for immigration. Jack and I have never seen anything like it! And tomorrow, when we fly within Ecuador there are no restrictions on carrying liquids and things like that - in fact I wonder if there will even be a security check! yet there's a policeman on every corner in the tourist district.

This morning we dealt with travel details and repacking our bags for different parts of the trip. After lunch we took a taxi through the old part of town (reminded me of the favellas in Rio) to the renovated section. We climbed 440 steps (numbered) to a lighthouse on the top of the hill. Then we walked along the waterfront to Iguana Park where there were many almost tame iguanas basking in the sun - no, I should say they were in a pose that helps them keep cool in the hot sun. I tried to coax an iguana to come to my hand -- you'll have to wait for the photo. And we're not even in the Galapagos yet. Finally we watched families entering the cathedral for 4 pm mass. Everyone was wearing their best - and children, from toddlers to 10 year-olds were wearing white. The girls were in tulle dresses and the boys in white satin 3 piece suits. Could they all be having first communion, or is that the custom in the cathedral?

I'm back in the land of flan!

I couldn't resist two photos (travel rule is one per page) - the contrast between old and new is so striking. The two communities are on opposite sides of a hill.

Refurbished buildings create tourism opportunities and ..

...replace the old

Checklist

* Mail BDL book with edits to Design/Production editor - yes
* Buy a new "free reading" book for trip - yes
* Visit A&P for last time (it will close on Nov1- has been sold to Big Y, do not know yet if they will reopen a grocery store) - yes
* Move last pieces of furniture from deck -yes
* Call bank to make sure they would let me use ATM in Ecuador and Peru-yes

* Collect sails from sailmaker-yes

* Go to dump-oops, landfill-with trash - yes

* Send travel and contact info to Karen, David, Mary - yes

* Pack & repack at least 3 times - yes

* Weigh suitcases to make use under weight limit - yes

* Get boarding passes - yes, as far as we could with checkin process

* Eat up all perishable food - yes, but some meals have been strange

* Check weather at departure (JFK) and arrival (Guayaquil, Ecuador) airports - yes

* Embroider personal logo (see Design Class last winter) on sunhat for third time (unpicked previous two) - yes

* Take photo of hat - no, you'll have to spot in blog photos
* Finish required reading - NO! (not ready for class)

* Back up and Shut down computer - as soon as I post this.

Catching up

I've been "speed reading" to try to finish my required reading before our Galapagos adventure -- and this post tried to come by way of email in the style of posts-with-pictures from the iPad. The picture did not come through, so more research is needed!

Only 2000 +1 more tasks to finish before we go!

Falling behind

"I'm late / I'm late / For a very important date. / No time to say "Hello." / Goodbye. / I'm late, I'm late, I'm late"

I'm way behind in my posts and even further behind in my thinking ....yesterday proofing and more proofing-it's almost done, then to Hartford to the Stage - can you guess which classic this set is for?

Today to Fairfield to crank on Digital Measures -- and have lunch with friends. No new scenes worth photographing.

Tomorrow ...who knows what -- but it will be busy, guaranteed!

A different world

It's happening! I've always said I was waiting for the toaster to get email -- and today I read a headline that suggests that this will happen soon. What is the world coming to?

I think I'll take a praying mantis as my next dance partner -- he's obviously

been practicing!

An autumn day

Wind 'n' Go was "put to bed" for the season, we enjoyed lunch on the deck, and took advantage of the current low price for lobsters.

In between I worked on proofing the New Perspectives book. There's a lot to be done.

From there to here

It was a long way and took a long time to get from (t)here ....

back to here. But look how much the brussels sprouts have grown in the interim!

While I processed laundry and sorted mail I thought about "whole" aesthetic experiences from the past three weeks that might be considered art in the Deweyian sense - the soup created by a designer within the physical organization of a kitchen and the informal organization of a group of friends, the play that created experiences of time and place through the organization of actors by directors and set designers and ... there must be a third experience ....yes! ... the structural organization (and strategies) of the School of Business, Economics and Law (SEBL) and the (management-related) design of the Visiting Professor Program that created the aesthetic experience of using my talents to further the work of the Business & Design Lab -- whereby the totality of the experience in Deweyian terms will be realised only when the "New Perspectives" book is finally published. (Aren't you glad you waited for this one!)

Long last day

Ulla and I met as we were both hurrying to the office at 7:45 am to do stuff before a breakfast meeting with our guest of the day from the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (and our guest of yesterday from Brasil was still here too). The day proceeded with meetings, seminars, fikas, and a webinar streaming from the US 1-2 PM ET, or 7-8 PM SE time about why design matters to management. Then back to Ulla's place for food, wine, and summarizing the things we still need to do. I keep thinking of all the people I didn't find time to meet and talk with .... next time.

Tomorrow I have an exit interview with the co-ordinator of the visiting professor program 9-10 am, before the taxi comes at 10. Then the long day's journey will begin.

The big event - saving a big fiasco

Today was the much-anticipated release party for the book of writings from members of the Business & Design Lab that I edited. Many people had been invited and some important guests were present.

But, we didn't really have a book -- when the rushed special printing of enough copies to hand out arrived on Friday it was immediately clear that it was not acceptable -- there had not been enough checks, and the overall look of the book that Ulla and I had questioned but the design/production manager said we would like when we saw it all together was as undesirable as we first thought. Ulla and I had many conversations over the weekend as to what to do: cancel the party? she said we could not. Cut the corner of the pages to signify it was not a real book? Maybe. Kaj came up with the solution -- a sign on the cover saying it was a pre-publication copy before final proofing and editing.

So, we presented the book as prepared in this format due to new printing techniques that allowed one to have a "real book" for proofing.

Tomorrow morning Ulla and I meet with the design/production manager to start the process of getting it right. More work for the editor!

Long day's journey ...

Into left-brained AACSB-land with four long meetings with various groups preparing for the accreditation process .... my "insights" were well received - and I was content that no one left with a rosy view of the work that lies ahead.

... followed by a right-brained evening with a delicious mushroom soup that was an aesthetic experience of smell and taste - due to the designer/chef and organization/kitchen.

"Art, design, and organization" reminds me of the project that I need to work on tomorrow with both sides of my brain.

The end of a nice day

I had a very pleasant day on Ockero. Ulla and I did some of "our" work and made progress on our next article and conference paper. We had a productive morning and were pleased with what we had achieved. Then we had a brisk walk, I started to putmy head into AACSB for tomorrow's workshop, and enjoyed an apple pie (crumble) that Viktor had made with apples from the tree in the garden.

Then back to Gothenburg , check in at the Vasa Hotel, and pick up a copy of the Hot Pot book. Yes, the publication (not the the contents) is as problematic as my face suggests. (I had been anticipating this because of lack of response from graphic designer.)

I put on my thinking cap and Ulla, Kaj and I devised a

plan. We need to

wait to the release party on Tuesday to see if it is successful.

Saturday on Ockero

With good company, walking, working, and good food and drink. How to capture that in a photo?

You'll have to imagine how the crayfish looked "before," or the bubbles in the champagne, or the apple pie that Viktor made. No need to imagine the work!

Reconnecting ...

My stay in London was an intense period of reconnecting with my "past" -- my family and the familiar in my favorite city.

(See below for the familiar.)

My gosh, am I becoming nostalgic?

Signs of the familiar ...

Randomly posted - don't try to reconstruct my route from the order of pictures.

... and not so familiar!