Galapagos Cruise 2023

By Laurence E. Habenicht ’79-B

The Alumni Association trip to the Galápagos Islands July 12–24, was the first Lifetime Experience trip that we have been on. It was exceptional—well worth the effort and money.

The Galápagos Islands were what one would imagine the Garden of Eden was like—birds and animals in abundance and close and approachable. Ecuador has over 1,600 bird species, so we flew to Quito early and spent two days with a bird guide exploring bird hotspots around Quito and the amazing birds.

The fact that all the guests on the ship were alumni, family, and friends made the trip even more special. Initially, we only knew three to four people on the cruise, but by the end, we had 40 new friends because of our School of Medicine connections. We enjoyed the many excellent vegetarian meal options, daily worship, and even daily CME by alumni. What a blessing to be part of the LLUSM family.

Despite all of our camera equipment, it seems that everyone’s pictures with their phones were just as great because the wildlife was so approachable. The daily excursions (walking, Zodiac rides, snorkeling, or kayaking) were well organized in small groups, so we never missed a thing and could always interact with the very knowledgeable guides.

Even though we all got great pictures, what we share with everyone back home is the video the Alumni Association made of the trip. Thank you, Alumni Association staff, for making this a lifetime experience for us.