Galapagos sellout!

One of my favorite time-wasters of the moment is reading fanfiction online. Today I stuck my foot in my mouth as I called out the author of a fic on having the main characters hide out in villas on the Galapagos Islands. I wrote in that I was sorry, but there was no way I could suspend my disbelief enough to accept that people could rent villas on the Galapagos Islands. There was no way that the country of Ecuador would allow that sort of thing on their precious islands. When I was there, there was only a couple buildings on the islands--just enough space for the few scientists that worked there, and those were barely allowed. But then she sent me a link to the website for the hotel she used in her story. And sure enough there it was, a fancy-pants hotel complete with villas. Further research shows no less than 19 hotels on the Galapagos islands!

I immediately sent an apology to the author for faulting her research, but this news has completely crushed me. I'm flabbergasted, horrified, appalled! How could such a thing happen? When did this happen? I know it's been a good 22 years since I lived in Ecuador, but those islands were a major source of national pride. They would never think of doing anything to damage the precious and unique ecosystem. Those islands were more than sacred--I can't even begin to describe it. Terry joined me in laughing at the concept of staying in villas on the Galapagos, because as recently as 12 years ago (when he was there on his mission) the attitude toward the Galapagos was the same as I experienced.

What has happened in the last 12 years to make the country do such a 180 on their policy toward the islands? I am sorely disappointed in the country of Ecuador for selling out like this. I have always dreamed of doing another Galapagos cruise, now that I'm old enough to really enjoy the experience (not that it wasn't GREAT when I was eight, but my memories that far back are pretty fuzzy) and appreciate the science. But now this news has disillusioned me, and I'm not so sure anymore.

Today I am in mourning for lost innocence and misplaced trust. It seems there is truly nothing sacred on this earth anymore. Okay, yeah, I know there's the temples, but you know what I mean. I can't believe it's affecting me like this, but it's been bothering me all day now. I kind of feel like curling up in a ball and crying myself to sleep over this.