A Year of Building, Growing, and Showing Up

This year was less about checking destinations off a map and more about putting down roots—literally and figuratively—in Galápagos. It was a year defined by construction dust, permits, community, resilience, and the satisfaction that comes from seeing multiple projects come to fruition.

The year began with continued construction at Plaza Comercial Surf Discovery (PCSD). The Campbells arrived in mid-January, hauling supplies and energy for their month-long visit. Together, we built out the shipping container office for Galapagos Surf Discovery and added much-needed storage to our apartment terrace. Progress was steady, hands-on, and very real.

February brought a major milestone: the occupancy permit for PCSD was officially issued. Considering the scope of the project, the fact that we managed to complete primary construction in eight months still feels remarkable. We celebrated with an inauguration party—though construction continued well beyond the ribbon-cutting as we added more windows, pergolas, and other refinements and improvements throughout the year.

In July, the Campbells returned for two intense weeks of projects—both for us and for our friends—while we also remodeled the empty space behind the plaza. The month ended on a dramatic note with a tsunami alert, a reminder that life in the islands often comes with a dose of the unexpected.

August opened new doors when PCSD received official permission to host events in the back lot and on the third floor. Since then, the space has come alive with movie nights, streaming of live sports, birthday parties, festivals, and gatherings that have transformed the plaza into a true community hub.

In September, I launched a GoFundMe for our friends, Bella and Andrés. We have now raised almost $5,000 which puts us close to halfway toward our overall goal. If you are reading this and are able to make a donation, please know that every little bit helps! At the same time, I was also dealing with the diagnosis of serious medical issues for two dear friends, and the subsequent implosion of their business here in San Cristóbal, a reminder that not all challenges are structural—and not all solutions are simple.

In November, Fabian and I made a long-delayed trip to Guayaquil for medical checkups. Thankfully, we are both in overall good health, but MRIs confirmed my cervical spine issues and a rotator cuff tear. For now the treatment is more physical therapy, which has not been particularly effective. It also marked a personal statistic that still feels surreal—887 consecutive days in Galápagos, from May 30, 2023 to November 2, 2025.

In December, another milestone arrived: PCSD was finally rented out at full occupancy. While modifications continue, the plaza is now operating as we envisioned. Even more meaningful, on December 13 we officially began construction on a home for Bella and Andrés, turning collective effort into something tangible and lasting.

Throughout all of this, our travel agency and tour operation continued to grow as we personally operated or coordinated over 566 unique tours, transportation, and other services in Galapagos and Ecuador. I also translated a book from Spanish to English, continued to provide administrative support for local businesses, and attended community meetings and participated in local events as much as possible.

In summary, this wasn’t a year of pause. It was a year of commitment—to projects, to people, and to the long game. And as always, the adventure continues.