My eyes were glazing over and I was giving the odd robotic nod while wishing like hell I had never gotten myself into this conversation. It was the last time I would ever engage an American in the Clinton vs Obama debate.

We were having our last dinner on the yacht in the Galapagos Islands and I was being bored stupid by an American who was fired up about US politics.

When we all heard Edwin screaming that there were sharks by the boat, we rushed eagerly outside. Most of the group had been gagging for some sharkish action for days. I was just keen to get away from the mind numbing details of the American fiscal crisis.

It was deeply dark outside and we all gathered along the railing and screamed with excitement as each luminous shark came to the surface.

There were four of them hunting a sea lion which was bobbing beside the yacht. We watched the action as if it was a sports game with the brutal nature of the sea forcing us to take sides. I desperately didn't want to see the sea lion turned into dinner but most of the men were rooting for carnage.

We were eventually called inside for some bloodless festivities and saw the yacht crew lined up in front of the bar dressed in their finest whites.

They had made us special cocktails and we all toasted each other with Edwin's goofy Galapagos shuffle, a ludicrous dance which everyone tried (and failed) to master.

Leaving Galapagos was a sad affair. We'd been living in each others pockets and were sad to say goodbye to our new friends.

But mainland Ecuador was waiting for us, as was our flight to Miami, a pretty exciting prospect.

Next stop: Big bro stores our fingerprints and ugly mugs at the Miami International Airport.


Check out more photos from my trip in my Flickr album.

Read more of Kelly's blogs.